State legislative elections, 2022
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On November 8, 2022, members in 88 of the country's 99 state legislative chambers were up for election across 46 states. These elections were for 6,278 of the country's 7,383 state legislative seats (85%).
Heading into the election, Democrats controlled 36 chambers and Republicans controlled 62. A bipartisan coalition controlled the Alaska House.
As a result of the election:
- Democrats gained control of four chambers—the Michigan House and Senate, Minnesota Senate, and Pennsylvania House—bringing their total to 40.[1] Wins in Minnesota and Michigan created new Democratic trifectas in those states. Both had previously been divided governments.
- In Alaska, a bipartisan coalition gained control of the Senate. The coalition in the House changed from being made primarily of Democrats and independents to one made primarily of Republicans.
- Republicans lost control of five chambers, bringing their total to 57.
More chambers changed partisan control in 2022 than in 2020, but fewer than in 2018.
During the 2020 elections, two of the 86 chambers up for election—the New Hampshire House and Senate—changed from Democratic to Republican control. This was the fewest number of chambers to change party control in an even-year election since at least 1944, when four chambers switched control.[2]
In 2018, seven of the 87 chambers up for election changed party control. Six of those changed from Republican to Democratic control and the Alaska House created a bipartisan governing coalition.
Regarding state legislative seats, specifically, partisan composition of all 7,386 state legislative seats changed by less than half a percentage point.[3]
- Democrats had a net loss of four seats, representing 0.1% of all state legislative seats.
- Republicans had a net gain of 27 seats, representing 0.4% of all state legislative seats.[4]
- Independents and minor party officeholders had a net loss of 20 seats, representing 0.2% of all state legislative seats.
States also held special state legislative elections in 2022 to fill vacant seats. Click here for more.
In the U.S. Territories, five legislative chambers held regularly-scheduled elections for 76 seats in 2022. Elections were held for the American Samoa House of Representatives, the Guam Legislature, the Northern Mariana Islands Senate and House of Representatives, and the U.S. Virgin Islands Legislature.
Partisan balance
As of November 7, 2022, Republicans controlled 54.02% of all state legislative seats nationally, while Democrats held 44.31%. Republicans held a majority in 62 chambers, and Democrats held the majority in 36 chambers. One chamber (Alaska House) was organized under a multipartisan, power-sharing coalition.
| Partisan balance of all 7,383 state legislative seats | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legislative chamber | 
|
|
 Other
|
Vacant | ||||
| State senates | 864 | 1,092 | 6 | 10 | ||||
| State houses | 2,408 | 2,897 | 33 | 73 | ||||
| Total: | 3,272 | 3,989 | 39 | 83 | ||||
Changes in chamber control
Five chambers changed party control: the Michigan House, Michigan Senate, Minnesota Senate, and Pennsylvania House changed from Republican to Democratic control. The Alaska Senate changed from Republican control to a bipartisan coalition made up of Democrats and Republicans.
As a result of these changes, Democrats won full control of 19 state legislatures, Republicans won full control of 28, bipartisan coalitions won full control of one, and two were divided with Democrats and Republicans each controlling one chamber.
Changes in partisan control
The partisan composition of all state legislative seats changed by less than half a percentage point in 2022.
- Democrats had a net loss of four seats, representing 0.1% of all state legislative seats.
- Republicans had a net gain of 27 seats, representing 0.4% of all state legislative seats.[5]
- Independents and minor party officeholders had a net loss of 20 seats, representing 0.2% of all state legislative seats.
Of the 46 states that held elections on Nov. 8, Democrats had net gains in 16 states, Republicans had net gains in 21 states, and independent or minor party candidates had net gains in two states.[6]
The map below shows the 46 states that held elections on Nov. 8 based on whether Democrats, Republicans, or independent or minor party candidates gained seats in the legislature. Hover over each state for more information, including the number of seats, the percentage of the legislature, and before and after looks at partisan control.
Incumbents defeated
General elections
In state legislative general elections, 179 incumbents lost to challengers, 3.9% of incumbents running for re-election, the lowest number and percentage of incumbents defeated in general elections since at least 2010.
In 2022 general elections:
The chart below shows a partisan breakdown of incumbent general election defeats from 2010 to 2022.
Click [show] below to see a full list of incumbents defeated in general elections by state. Winners marked with (i) were incumbents from the same chamber.
Primaries
In primaries, 229 incumbents lost to challengers, 4.7% of incumbents who filed for re-election, the largest number and percentage of incumbents defeated in primaries since at least 2010.
In 2022 primaries:
The chart below shows a partisan breakdown of incumbent primary defeats from 2010 to 2022.
Click [show] below to see a full list of incumbents defeated in primaries by state. Winners marked with (i) were incumbents from the same chamber.
Trifectas
State government trifecta is a term used to describe when one political party holds the governorship and majorities in both chambers of the state legislature.
As a result of the 2022 elections, there were 22 Republican trifectas, 17 Democratic trifectas, and 11 divided governments where neither party had trifecta control.[1]
Trifecta status changed in six states.
- In Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Minnesota, divided governments became Democratic trifectas.
- In Nevada, the Democratic trifecta became a divided government.
- In Arizona, the Republican trifecta became a divided government.
At the time of the 2022 election, there were 23 Republican trifectas, 14 Democratic trifectas, and 13 divided governments.
The table below shows the number of trifectas across the country after each even-year election between 2018 and 2022.
| Trifecta status after even-year elections, 2018-2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | 2018 | 2020 | 2022 |
| Democratic | 14 | 14 | 17 |
| Republican | 22 | 23 | 22 |
| Divided government | 14 | 13 | 11 |
Trifecta vulnerability in the 2022 elections
Thirteen state government trifectas were vulnerable in the 2022 elections, according to Ballotpedia's annual trifecta vulnerability ratings. Democrats were defending seven vulnerable trifectas and Republicans were defending six. On this page, we assessed the likelihood of each existing state government trifecta breaking, and of new state government trifectas forming in 2022.
The Democratic trifecta in Delaware was highly vulnerable. Delaware did not hold its gubernatorial election in 2022, but Democrats had a 14-7 seat majority in the state Senate. Republicans needed a net gain of four seats to win a majority.
Democratic trifectas in Colorado, Maine, and Nevada were moderately vulnerable. Three Democratic trifectas—Illinois, Oregon, and Washington—were considered somewhat vulnerable.
Arizona was the only highly vulnerable Republican trifecta this year. The governor's race was rated as a Toss-up, and Republicans had a one seat majority in both the state House and Senate. Three Republican trifectas in Georgia, New Hampshire, and Texas were classified as moderately vulnerable. The Republican trifectas in Florida and Iowa were somewhat vulnerable.
Ballotpedia also assessed the chances of new trifectas forming in states that were currently under divided government. According to our methodology, states that qualified as a possible Democratic trifecta pickup were Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and North Carolina, while Republicans had pickup chances in Alaska and Kansas. In Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, both parties had the opportunity to establish a state government trifecta.
Elections by state
The table below details the chambers holding elections in 2022 along with the primary election date and the party holding a majority in the chamber. To view election coverage in that chamber, click the name in the first column.
Battleground chambers
Of the 88 chambers that held regularly-scheduled elections in 2022, Ballotpedia identified 28 battleground chambers in 19 states. We anticipated that these chambers would be more competitive overall and had the potential to see major shifts in party control. Two of those chambers (the Nevada State Assembly and Wisconsin State Assembly) were not battleground chambers at any point in the preceding decade.
The columns in the chart below list the following:
- Seats up in 2022: This was the number of seats that were up for election in 2022.
- Margin: This was the difference in seats between the majority and minority parties.
- Majority share of seats: This was the percentage of the chamber's seats controlled by the majority party.
- Last time party control changed: This was the election where the majority at the time of the 2022 elections took control of the chamber.
| State legislative battleground chambers, 2022 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber | Seats up in 2022 | Margin | Majority share of seats | Last time party control changed |
| Alaska House of Representatives* | ||||
| Arizona State Senate | ||||
| Arizona House of Representatives | ||||
| Colorado State Senate | ||||
| Delaware State Senate | ||||
| Florida State Senate | ||||
| Georgia State Senate | ||||
| Georgia House of Representatives | ||||
| Iowa House of Representatives | ||||
| Maine State Senate | ||||
| Maine House of Representatives | ||||
| Michigan State Senate | ||||
| Michigan House of Representatives | ||||
| Minnesota State Senate | ||||
| Minnesota House of Representatives | ||||
| Nebraska State Senate | ||||
| Nevada State Senate | ||||
| Nevada State Assembly | ||||
| New Hampshire State Senate | ||||
| New Hampshire House of Representatives | ||||
| North Carolina State Senate | ||||
| North Carolina House of Representatives | ||||
| Pennsylvania State Senate | ||||
| Pennsylvania House of Representatives | ||||
| Texas House of Representatives | ||||
| Washington State Senate | ||||
| West Virginia House of Delegates | ||||
| Wisconsin State Assembly | ||||
Outside ratings
The following legislative chamber race ratings came from CNalysis and Sabato's Crystal Ball.[14][15][16] Use the arrows in the upper righthand corner of the table below to see more states' chamber ratings. You may also search by state, chamber, or rating in the upper lefthand corner.
State legislative special elections
In 2022, special elections for state legislative positions were held for the following reasons:
- 21 due to appointment, election, or the seeking of election to another position
- 24 due to resignation
- 9 due to the death of the incumbent
The partisan breakdown for the special elections was as follows:
- 36 Democratic seats
- 18 Republican seats
As of April 1, 2024, Republicans controlled 54.93% of all state legislative seats nationally, while Democrats held 44.46%. Republicans held a majority in 56 chambers, and Democrats held the majority in 40 chambers. Two chambers (Alaska House and Alaska Senate) were organized under multipartisan, power-sharing coalitions. Control of the Michigan House of Representatives is split.
| Partisan balance of all 7,386 state legislative seats | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legislative chamber |
|
|
Other
|
Vacant | ||||
| State senates | 847 | 1,115 | 4 | 7 | ||||
| State houses | 2,433 | 2,941 | 19 | 20 | ||||
| Total: | 3,280
|
4,056
|
23
|
27 | ||||
Electoral competitiveness
Ballotpedia's 12th Annual State Legislative Competitiveness Report analyzed all 6,278 state legislative seats that were up for election on November 8, 2022, in 46 states.
State legislative competitiveness in 2022 reached its highest level compared to all even-year election cycles since 2010.
In 2022, the nationwide State Legislative Competitiveness Index was 36.6, beating out 2018 (36.1) and the 2012 post-redistricting cycle (35.2).
The overall rise in competitiveness in 2022 was due to the presence of more open seat contests and incumbents facing more primary challenges. At the same time, there was a decline in head-to-head matchups between Republican and Democratic candidates in the general election.
Key findings of this report include:
| Nationwide State Legislative Competitiveness Index, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber | Open seats | Incs. in contested primaries | Major party competition | Competitiveness Index | ||||||||||||||||||||
| House | 23.1% | 26.7% | 58.7% | 36.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Senate | 26.3% | 27.2% | 61.3% | 38.3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 23.8% | 26.8% | 59.2% | 36.6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
The graphic below combines these figures for every election cycle since 2010, showing how, despite a decrease in major party competition in 2022, an increase in the other two factors led to the cycle's increased level of competitiveness.
Open seats
There were 6,278 state legislative seats up for election on November 8, 2022, in 46 states. Of that total, there were 1,492 open seats, guaranteeing at least 24% of all seats would be won by newcomers. This was the largest number and percentage of open seats compared to the preceding six election cycles.
Ballotpedia uses the number and percentage of open seats to help determine the overall competitiveness of an election cycle. A greater number of open seats guarantees more newcomers entering legislatures and typically results in more candidates running for office. A smaller number of open seats guarantees fewer newcomers and typically results in fewer candidates running for office.
In 2022:
| Open state legislative seats, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber | Seats | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Democratic | Republican | Other | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||
| # | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| House | 4,978 | 442 | 610 | 98 | 1,150 | 23.1% | ||||||||||||||||||
| Senate | 1,300 | 141 | 192 | 9 | 342 | 26.3% | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 6,278 | 583 | 802 | 107 | 1,492 | 23.8% | ||||||||||||||||||
The chart below shows a breakdown of open seats from 2010 to 2022. The "Other" value includes seats left open by minor party and independent officeholders. It also includes seats whose previous officeholder could not be determined due to redistricting, resulting in a larger value in 2022.
Contested primaries
There were 5,862 state legislative districts up for election nationwide, creating 11,419 possible primaries. Of that total, there were 2,334 contested primaries, meaning 20% of all primaries were contested. This was the largest number and percentage of contested primaries compared to the preceding six election cycles.
In 2022:
| Contested state legislative primaries, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber | Districts | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Democratic | Republican | Top-two/four | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | |||||||||||||||||
| House | 4,576 | 628 | 14.6% | 1,065 | 24.4% | 90 | 41.3% | 1,793 | 20.1% | |||||||||||||||
| Senate | 1,286 | 183 | 15.3% | 322 | 26.9% | 36 | 41.4% | 541 | 21.8% | |||||||||||||||
| Total | 5,862 | 821 | 14.8% | 1,387 | 25.0% | 126 | 41.3% | 2,334 | 20.4% | |||||||||||||||
The chart below shows a breakdown of contested primaries from 2010 to 2022.
Incumbents in contested primaries
There were 6,278 state legislative seats up for election on November 8, 2022, in 46 states. Overall, 4,852 incumbents filed for re-election and were running at the time of their respective primaries. Of that total, 1,299 incumbents faced contested primaries, representing 27% of all incumbents who filed for re-election. This was the largest number and percentage of incumbents in contested primaries compared to the preceding six election cycles.
Ballotpedia uses the number and percentage of incumbents in contested primaries to help determine the overall competitiveness of an election cycle. A larger number of contested primaries indicates more opportunities for voters to elect a non-incumbent to office. A smaller number indicates fewer of those opportunities.
In 2022:
| State legislative incumbents in contested primaries, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber | Seats | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Democratic | Republican | Total[17] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Filed | Cont. | % | Filed | Cont. | % | Filed | Cont. | % | ||||||||||||||||
| House | 4,978 | 1,796 | 405 | 22.6% | 2,071 | 629 | 30.4% | 3,878 | 1,034 | 26.7% | ||||||||||||||
| Senate | 1,300 | 476 | 105 | 22.1% | 498 | 160 | 32.1% | 974 | 265 | 27.2% | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 6,278 | 2,272 | 510 | 22.4% | 2,569 | 789 | 30.7% | 4,852 | 1,299 | 26.8% | ||||||||||||||
The chart below shows a breakdown of incumbents in contested primaries from 2010 to 2022.
Major party competition
There were 6,278 state legislative seats up for election on November 8, 2022, in 46 states. Of that total, 2,560 (40.8%) were uncontested and had no major party competition. The remaining 3,718 (59.2%) were contested by both major parties. This was a higher rate of uncontested seats compared to the 2018 and 2020 election cycles, but lower than cycles in 2014 and 2016.
Ballotpedia uses the level of major party competition to help determine the overall competitiveness of an election cycle. A larger number of seats without major party competition indicates fewer options on the ballot. A smaller number indicates more options.
In 2022:
| Major party competition in state legislative elections, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber | Seats | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Uncontested | Contested | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Only Democrats | Only Republicans | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | |||||||||||||||||
| House | 4,978 | 813 | 16.3% | 1,240 | 24.9% | 2,057[18] | 41.3% | 2,921 | 58.7% | |||||||||||||||
| Senate | 1,300 | 185 | 14.2% | 318 | 24.5% | 503 | 38.7% | 797 | 61.3% | |||||||||||||||
| Total | 6,278 | 998 | 15.9% | 1,558 | 24.8% | 2,560 | 40.8% | 3,718 | 59.2% | |||||||||||||||
The chart below shows a breakdown of major party competition in state legislative elections from 2010 to 2022.
Impact of term limits
Of the 88 state legislative chambers that held elections in 2022, 25 of them—14 senate chambers and 11 house chambers—included incumbents who were unable to run for re-election due to term limits.[19] In those 25 chambers, term limits affected 1,449 seats up for election.[19]
252 state legislators—86 state senators and 166 state representatives—were term-limited in 2022. This represented 4.1% of the 6,166 total seats up for election in November 2022.[20]
155 Republicans were term-limited, while 86 Democrats and 11 independents were term-limited. In even-numbered election years between 2010 and 2020, Democrats averaged 113 term-limited legislators, while Republicans averaged 142 term-limited legislators.
Political context
The 2022 elections occurred in the aftermath of Republican gains in the 2020 and 2021 elections, which followed Democratic gains in 2017, 2018, and 2019. This was the first even-year state legislative election during Joe Biden's (D) presidency. In the 2021 elections, Republicans gained control of the Virginia House of Delegates.
Changes in chamber partisan control, 2010 to 2022
From 2010 to 2022, 41 chambers switched control: 21 switched control once, 15 switched control twice, one switched control three times, three switched control four times, and one—the New Hampshire House of Representatives—switched control five times. During that same time, there were 58 chambers that did not switch control.
Before the 2010 elections, Democrats controlled 60 of the country's 99 state legislative chambers, Republicans controlled 37, and neither party controlled the remaining two chambers. After the 2022 elections, Democrats controlled 40 chambers and Republicans controlled 57. Multipartisan majorities controlled the Alaska Senate and House.
Most changes of partisan control came as a result of major elections but some also came through special elections (Louisiana House in 2010; Washington Senate in 2017) and party-switching (Louisiana House in 2010; Mississippi Senate in 2011). In some cases, the party that gained control did not have a numerical majority but instead controlled the chamber through a bipartisan coalition (i.e., Alaska House in 2016). This table does not account for changes in party control or ties in a chamber that lasted for less than one year and were not the result of a regularly scheduled election. An example of this is the brief period of Democratic control in the Virginia State Senate in 2014.[21]
For this chart, a red box indicates that the chamber changed from Democratic to Republican control, and a blue box indicates that the chamber changed from Republican to Democratic control.[22]
| Chamber changes in partisan control: 2010-2022 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party changes in 2010 | Party changes in 2011 | Party changes in 2012 | Party changes in 2014 | Party changes in 2016 | Party changes in 2017 | Party changes in 2018 | Party changes in 2019 | Party changes in 2020 | Party changes in 2021 | Party changes in 2022 |
| Alabama Senate | Louisiana Senate[23][24] | Alaska Senate | Colorado Senate | Alaska House | Washington Senate | Alaska House[25] | Virginia Senate | New Hampshire Senate | Virginia House | Alaska Senate[26] |
| Alabama House | Mississippi Senate[27][28] | Arkansas Senate | Maine Senate | Iowa Senate | Colorado Senate | Virginia House | New Hampshire House | Michigan House | ||
| Colorado House | Mississippi House | Arkansas House | Minnesota House | Kentucky House | Maine Senate | Michigan Senate | ||||
| Indiana House | Virginia Senate[29] | Colorado House | Nevada Senate | Minnesota Senate | Minnesota House | Minnesota Senate | ||||
| Iowa House | Maine Senate | Nevada House | Nevada Senate | New Hampshire House | Pennsylvania House[30] | |||||
| Louisiana House[31][32] | Maine House | New Hampshire House | Nevada House | New Hampshire Senate | ||||||
| Maine Senate | Minnesota Senate | New Mexico House | New Mexico House | New York Senate | ||||||
| Maine House | Minnesota House | West Virginia Senate | ||||||||
| Michigan House | New Hampshire House | West Virginia House | ||||||||
| Minnesota Senate | Oregon House[33] | |||||||||
| Minnesota House | Washington Senate | |||||||||
| Montana House[34] | ||||||||||
| New Hampshire Senate | ||||||||||
| New Hampshire House | ||||||||||
| New York Senate | ||||||||||
| North Carolina Senate | ||||||||||
| North Carolina House | ||||||||||
| Ohio House | ||||||||||
| Oregon House[35] | ||||||||||
| Pennsylvania House | ||||||||||
| Wisconsin Senate | ||||||||||
| Wisconsin House | ||||||||||
| Total changes: 22 | Total changes: 4 | Total changes: 11 | Total changes: 9 | Total changes: 7 | Total changes: 1 | Total changes: 7 | Total changes: 2 | Total changes: 2 | Total changes: 1 | Total changes: 5 |
The chart below shows how many chambers each party controlled after the November elections in a given year.
| Partisan control of state legislative chambers: 2010-2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Election | Democratic chambers | Republican chambers | Other | ||
| Before 2010 | 60 | 37 | 2 | ||
| 2010 | 38 | 59 | 2 | ||
| 2011 | 35 | 60 | 4 | ||
| 2012 | 41 | 56 | 2 | ||
| 2013 | 41 | 56 | 2 | ||
| 2014 | 30 | 68 | 1 | ||
| 2015 | 30 | 68 | 1 | ||
| 2016 | 31 | 68 | 0 | ||
| 2017 | 32 | 67 | 0 | ||
| 2018 | 37 | 61 | 1 | ||
| 2019 | 39 | 59 | 1 | ||
| 2020 | 37 | 61 | 1 | ||
| 2021 | 36 | 62 | 1 | ||
| 2022 | 40 | 57 | 2 | ||
Trifectas from 2010 to 2022
- See also: State government trifectas
A state government trifecta occurs when one political party controls the primary levers of power in a state: the governor's office, the state Senate, and the state House. From 2010 to 2018, the Republican Party increased its number of trifectas and the Democratic Party saw a decline in its trifectas. Democrats picked up six trifectas in the 2018 elections, and Republicans lost four trifectas. Following the 2021 elections, the Democratic trifecta in Virginia became a split government after Republicans gained control of the state House and governorship.
This chart shows the number of trifectas each party held heading into elections from 2010 to 2022, and the number of trifectas following the 2022 elections.
| Trifectas by year: 2010-2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Election | Democratic trifectas | Republican trifectas | States under divided government | ||
| Pre-2010 elections | 17 | 10 | 23 | ||
| Pre-2012 elections | 11 | 22 | 17 | ||
| Pre-2014 elections | 12 | 24 | 14 | ||
| Pre-2016 elections | 7 | 23 | 20 | ||
| Pre-2018 elections | 8 | 26 | 16 | ||
| Pre-2020 elections | 15 | 21 | 14 | ||
| Pre-2021 elections | 15 | 23 | 12 | ||
| Pre-2022 elections | 14 | 23 | 13 | ||
| Post-2022 elections | 17 | 22 | 11 | ||
Changes in partisan control during a president's first midterm
The 2022 election cycle is the first midterm election during Joe Biden's (D) presidency. Since 1922, Democratic presidents saw their party lose an average of 388 state legislative seats in their first midterm elections. Republican presidents saw their party lose an average of 345 seats.
Two presidents in that time—Franklin D. Roosevelt (D) and George W. Bush (R)—saw their parties gain seats during the first midterm election of a presidency. Under Roosevelt, Democrats gained a net 94 state legislative seats after the 1934 midterm elections during the Great Depression. During Bush's presidency, Republicans gained 129 seats during the 2002 midterms, the first after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
In the two most recent presidencies, Barack Obama (D) saw a net loss of 702 Democratic state legislative seats during his first midterm in 2010, the largest loss for any Democratic president over this span. Donald Trump (R) saw a net loss of 349 Republican state legislative seats in 2018.
The chart below shows the overall net changes in state legislative seats during the first midterm election of each presidency. Partisan totals represent those as a result of regularly-scheduled elections. They do not take into account any special elections or other changes that may occur between elections. If a chamber does not hold even-year elections for all members every two years, the results of the most recent regularly-scheduled elections are pulled forward and used as an estimate for any off-years.
Use the links below to view more in-depth analyses of the changes in state legislative seats during the:
Wave elections
- See also: Wave elections (1918-2016)
In 2018, Ballotpedia conducted a study of wave elections throughout the preceding century from 1918 to 2016. In that analysis, a wave election was defined as the 20% of elections where the president's party lost the greatest number of seats during that time.
Between 1918 and 2016, four of the 10 wave elections happened in a president's first midterm election. The median number of seats lost by the president's party was 82 and the average number of seats lost was roughly 169.
The chart below shows the number of seats the president's party lost in the 10 wave elections. To see the full set of elections from 1918 to 2016, click here.
| State legislative wave elections | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | President | Party | Election type | State legislative seats change | Elections analyzed[36] | |
| 1932 | Hoover | R | Presidential | -1022 | 7365 | |
| 1922 | Harding | R | First midterm | -907 | 6907 | |
| 1966 | Johnson | D | First midterm[37] | -782 | 7561 | |
| 1938 | Roosevelt | D | Second midterm | -769 | 7179 | |
| 1958 | Eisenhower | R | Second midterm | -702 | 7627 | |
| 2010 | Obama | D | First midterm | -702 | 7306 | |
| 1974 | Ford | R | Second midterm[38] | -695 | 7481 | |
| 1920 | Wilson | D | Presidential | -654 | 6835 | |
| 1930 | Hoover | R | Presidential | -640 | 7361 | |
| 1954 | Eisenhower | R | First midterm | -494 | 7513 | |
Analysis of state elections
- See also: State legislative elections, 2022
On November 8, 2022, members in 88 of the country's 99 state legislative chambers were up for election across 46 states. These elections were for 6,278 of the country's 7,383 state legislative seats (85%).
Heading into the election, Democrats controlled 36 chambers and Republicans controlled 62. A bipartisan coalition controlled the Alaska House.
As a result of the election:
- Democrats gained control of four chambers—the Michigan House and Senate, Minnesota Senate, and Pennsylvania House—bringing their total to 40.[1] Wins in Minnesota and Michigan created new Democratic trifectas in those states. Both had previously been divided governments.
- In Alaska, a bipartisan coalition gained control of the Senate. The coalition in the House changed from being made primarily of Democrats and independents to one made primarily of Republicans.
- Republicans lost control of five chambers, bringing their total to 57.
Featured analysis
- State legislative seats that changed party control in 2022: As a result of the Nov. 8, 2022, elections, partisan composition of all 7,386 state legislative seats changed by less than half a percentage point. Democrats had a net loss of six seats, representing 0.1% of all state legislative seats. Republicans had a net gain of 28 seats, representing 0.4% of all state legislative seats.[39] Independents and minor party officeholders had a net loss of 20 seats, representing 0.2% of all state legislative seats.
- Annual State Legislative Competitiveness Report: Vol. 12, 2022: Competitiveness refers to the presence of choice throughout the election cycle. A greater level of competitiveness means voters have the ability to make more decisions. A lower level of competitiveness equals fewer choices. State legislative competitiveness in 2022 reached its highest level compared to all even-year election cycles since 2010. In 2022, the nationwide State Legislative Competitiveness Index is 36.2, beating out 2018 (36.1) and the 2012 post-redistricting cycle (35.2).
- State legislative special elections
- Impact of term limits
- Open seats
- Contested primaries
- Incumbents in contested primaries
- Data on incumbents defeated
- Summaries of incumbents defeated in primaries
- Incumbent win rates by state
- Pivot counties in state legislative elections
- Trifecta vulnerability in the 2022 elections
- Rematches in 2022 general elections
- Elections without a Democratic or Republican candidate
- States with two or more statewide offices up for election
- Wave election analysis
- Seats that changed party control
- Veto-proof state legislatures with opposing party governors
- Ballotpedia's Top 15 elections to watch, 2022
- Candidates with the same last names, 2022
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 In the Pennsylvania House, Democrats won 102 seats but would enter the legislative session with 99 members due to three vacancies: one due to the death of an incumbent and the others due to resignations to assume higher office. Vacancies are filled by special elections. According to CNAlysis, all three vacant districts voted for President Joe Biden (D) by margins of more than 15 percentage points in 2020:
- House District 32: Biden +26
- House District 34: Biden +62
- House District 35: Biden +16
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislature, "2020 Legislative Election Results: It’s Status Quo in the States," Nov. 5, 2020
- ↑ These figures treat vacant seats as of Nov. 8 as belonging to the party that most recently held control.
- ↑ This total includes three seats created in Wyoming during the 2020 redistricting process, which affects the net changes before and after the Nov. 8 elections.
- ↑ This total includes three seats created in Wyoming during the 2020 redistricting process, which affects the net changes before and after the Nov. 8 elections.
- ↑ Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia did not hold regularly-scheduled elections in 2022.
- ↑ Rep. Thomas Peterson (R) was appointed following the resignation of Rep. Joel Ferry (R). Ferry's name remained on the general election ballot and Peterson ran as a write-in but lost to Ferry. Utah treats all write-in candidates as nonpartisan.
- ↑ Blair was serving as a full-time substitute for state Sen. Dan Johnson (R) at the time of the primary and was counted as an incumbent seeking re-election.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedqueryexplainer - ↑ Defeated in convention.
- ↑ Defeated in convention.
- ↑ Defeated in convention.
- ↑ Nebraska's state legislature is officially nonpartisan.
- ↑ CNalysis, "State Legislative Forecasts," accessed October 20, 2022
- ↑ Sabato's Crystal Ball, "The Battle for State Legislatures," May 19, 2022
- ↑ Sabato's Crystal Ball, "The (Updated) Battle for the Statehouses," October 20, 2022
- ↑ Totals may include minor party or independent officeholders.
- ↑ Includes four seats uncontested by both major parties.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 The Arkansas House and California Assembly were up for election in 2022 and have term limits, but no incumbents were term-limited in 2022. In the two chambers, a total of 180 seats were up for election in 2022.
- ↑ Some of the 252 term-limited state legislators in 2022 may have resigned before their term ends. These legislators were still counted in the total number of term-limited legislators in 2022.
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Virginia Republicans snatched control of the state Senate, ended budget-Medicaid impasse," June 9, 2014
- ↑ 2015 and 2013 are not included because no chambers changed those years.
- ↑ The chamber first changed from Democratic to Republican control in a February 2011 special election. Republicans increased their majority to 24-15 in the 2011 elections.
- ↑ Fox News, "GOP Candidate Wins Lousiana [sic] Senate Special Election, Shifting Majority," February 20, 2011
- ↑ Chamber went from being controlled by a Democratic-led bipartisan coalition to being led by a coalition with power split between the parties.
- ↑ Chamber went from a Republican majority to a bipartisan governing coalition.
- ↑ The chamber changed partisan control prior to the 2011 elections due to Democrats switching to the Republican Party and special election wins by Republicans. Republicans increased their majority in the 2011 elections to 31-21.
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Southern Democrats in dire straits; 2011 looms large," January 11, 2011
- ↑ In the 2011 elections, the chamber changed from a 22-18 Democratic advantage to a 20-20 tie. Republicans effectively controlled the chamber because Lieutenant Gov. Bill Bolling (R) could cast tie-breaking votes.
- ↑ Democrats won a majority of seats, but did not have a majority when the legislative session began due to vacancies created during the interim.
- ↑ This chamber did not hold elections in 2010. It switched partisan control in December 2010 when Democrat Noble Ellington changed his party affiliation to Republican. In the regularly-scheduled 2011 elections, Republicans increased their majority to 58-45.
- ↑ Nola.com, "Louisiana Republicans take first House majority since Reconstruction with latest party switch," December 17, 2010
- ↑ In this election, the Oregon House changed from a 30-30 tie to a 34-26 Democratic advantage.
- ↑ This chamber went from a 50-50 tie to a 68-32 Republican advantage in the 2010 elections.
- ↑ This chamber went from a 36-24 Democratic advantage to a 30-30 tie in the 2010 elections.
- ↑ The number of state legislative seats available for analysis varied, with as many as 7,795 and as few as 6,835.
- ↑ Lyndon Johnson's (D) first term began in November 1963 after the death of President John F. Kennedy (D), who was first elected in 1960. Before Johnson had his first midterm in 1966, he was re-elected president in 1964.
- ↑ Gerald Ford's (R) first term began in August 1974 following the resignation of President Richard Nixon (R), who was first elected in 1968 and was re-elected in 1972. Because Ford only served for two full months before facing the electorate, this election is classified as Nixon's second midterm.
- ↑ This total includes three seats created in Wyoming during the 2020 redistricting process, which affects the net changes before and after the Nov. 8 elections.
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