There are eight open seats in this year’s state legislative elections, four percent of all 180 seats up for election. That is the lowest by percentage of any odd-year cycle since 2011.
An open seat is where no incumbent filed to run, meaning it is guaranteed to be won by a newcomer. 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.
Just two chambers — the New Jersey General Assembly and the Virginia House of Delegates — have elections this year, and there are four open seats in each chamber. Four Democrat-held seats are open in New Jersey, and four Republican-held seats are open in Virginia. It is the first time for both states that only one party has open state legislative seats.
This year has the fewest open seats and the lowest by percentage of any odd-year since 2011. Eight seats are open, representing four percent of the 180 total seats up for election. The previous low was 2013 with 15 open seats, representing seven percent of the seats up for election that year.
Four open seats in New Jersey ties 2019 for the fewest since 2011, and four open seats in Virginia is a record low since 2011. The previous low was five open seats in 2021.