Eighty-eight state legislative chambers will be up for election this year. Of these chambers, Republicans control 51, Democrats control 34, and three are held under divided government. Nationwide, Republicans hold 56 chambers, Democrats hold 40, and three are held under divided government. Both parties are looking to expand their majorities or gain control of chambers, and have announced some of their targeted chambers.

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee has announced a full list of targeted states on its website. Their site lists 36 states of interest, seven of which the organization considers as battlegrounds: Alaska, Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. 

These states cover a variety of circumstances. In many, Democrats hold state legislative majorities and are looking to keep or expand them. In some, like Michigan, Democrats recently controlled the state House but lost control after the 2024 elections. In Arizona, they're looking to win control after not having it for a very long time: Democrats have not held the Senate since 1992 or the House since 1964. It's the only state on the DLCC list where Democrats have not held a legislative majority this century.

The Republican State Leadership Committee has not publicly disclosed the targeted states and chambers; however, in a press release from October, the organization listed Minnesota, Michigan, and Pennsylvania as battleground states.

Republicans made gains in Michigan and Minnesota in the 2024 elections. In Michigan, Republicans won control of the House in 2024, and they are now targeting the Senate, which they last controlled in 2022 and are currently two seats short of a majority. In Minnesota, Republicans won enough seats in the House in 2024 that the chamber is split evenly between the parties. 

In Pennsylvania, Republicans control the Senate, which they’ve held since 1994, while Democrats control the House, which Republicans last held in 2022. Neither party gained nor lost seats in 2024.

Here are a few other things to know about these battleground states:

• In Alaska, a bipartisan coalition holds the majority in both chambers, and the outcomes of the elections could affect the makeup of the coalition or determine whether there will be one.
• In New Hampshire, Democrats last controlled both chambers in 2020, and were only three seats short of a majority in the House as a result of the 2022 elections.
• In Wisconsin, legislative maps were redrawn in 2024, making this the second election with the new maps.