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The average margin of victory across 2025’s state legislative elections was 24.7%, down from 28.7% in 2023


The average margin of victory across 2025’s 180 state legislative elections was 24.7%. This is the second-lowest average margin of victory in odd-year elections since 2019, and down from 28.7% in 2023.

The Nov. 4, 2025, state legislative elections included all 100 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates and all 80 seats in the New Jersey General Assembly. The average margin of victory in the New Jersey General Assembly was 12.5%, and the average margin of victory in the Virginia House was 30.2%.

The table below shows how many seats were up for election in each chamber and how many seats each party won. It also includes a breakdown of how many seats Democrats and Republicans won by 10% or less. It also shows how many candidates ran unopposed in each chamber, as well as the average margin of victory for each party.

Thirty-seven (20.5%) seats of the 180 state legislative seats up for election in 2025 were decided by a margin of victory of 10% or less. This was the second-highest share of legislative elections to be decided by this margin in an odd year since 2019. The share of seats decided by a margin of victory of 10% or less was 9.7% in 2023, 20.9% in 2021, and 10.6% in 2019.

Of the 37 state legislative races decided by a margin of victory of 10% or less in 2025, Democrats won 22 (59.5%) and Republicans won 15 (40.5%). In 2023, Democrats won 35.7% of races with a margin of victory of 10% or less, and Republicans won 64.3%.

Two races—both in New Jersey—were decided by a margin of 0.5% or less.

The average margin of victory in 2025 (24.7%) was the second-lowest of all state legislative elections since 2018. The lowest percentage was 23.6% in 2021. The highest was 28.7% in 2023.

Click here to see our full margin of victory analysis for the 2025 state legislative elections.