Author: Nathan Maxwell
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A look back at 2025 state primary election competitiveness
A smaller share of seats were open in this year’s state primary elections than in any odd year since 2011. Ballotpedia’s 2025 state primary election data included competitiveness and incumbency statistics from state legislative and state executive elections in three states — New Jersey, Virginia, and Wisconsin. The percentage of open seats in 2025 (5.9%)…
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What to know about the Democratic primaries for New York City Council
One hundred candidates ran in 28 Democratic primaries for New York City Council on June 24, 2025, including 13 that Ballotpedia identified as battlegrounds. All 51 council seats are up for election this year. The Council is the city’s primary legislative body. It is responsible for adopting the city budget, passing legislation, monitoring city agencies,…
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No incumbents defeated in Virginia House primaries
No incumbents were defeated in the Virginia House of Delegates primary elections on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. Three incumbents ran in contested primaries, 3.1% of the 96 incumbents running for re-election. This is the third time the chamber’s primaries have produced no incumbent defeats since 2011. The first was 2011, and the second was 2017.…
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At least one incumbent defeated in New Jersey’s state legislative primaries
New Jersey held state legislative primaries on Tuesday, June 10, the first of two states doing so this year. Virginia will hold state legislative primaries on June 17. At least one Democratic incumbent—Garnet Hall—lost, representing 1.3% of the 76 incumbents running for re-election and 2.9% of the 35 contested incumbents. With 35 incumbents (46%) in…
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Jack Ciattarelli won the New Jersey Republican primary for governor
Jack Ciattarelli (R) defeated Bill Spadea, Jon Bramnick, and three other candidates in the June 10, 2025, Republican primary for governor of New Jersey. Gov. Phil Murphy (D) was term-limited, meaning the office was open. The last Republican governor was Chris Christie, who left office in 2018. Rider University’s Micah Rasmussen said, “It has been…
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Thirteen battleground Democratic primaries for New York City Council will be held on June 24, 2025
Ninety-five candidates are running in 28 Democratic primaries for New York City Council on June 24, 2025. That’s up from 49 candidates in 17 Democratic primaries in 2023, the special two-year post-redistricting term mandated in the City Charter. That year, just one seat was open, meaning no incumbent filed to run. This year, there are…
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Virginia sees fewest state legislative open seats since 2011
Four of Virginia’s 100 state legislative seats up for election in 2025 are open, meaning no incumbent filed to run in the election. This is the fewest for the state since Ballotpedia began tracking these figures in 2011, and newcomers are guaranteed at least 3% of the legislature. The average number of open state legislative…
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Keri Heintzeman (R) won the special election in Minnesota Senate District 6
Keri Heintzeman (R) defeated Denise Slipy (D) in the special election for District 6 of the Minnesota Senate on April 29, 2025, winning 60% of the vote to Slipy’s 40%. The previous incumbent, Justin Eichorn (R), resigned on March 20, 2025, after his arrest for allegedly attempting to solicit a minor for sex. In the…
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Denise Slipy (D) and Keri Heintzeman (R) are running in the special election for Minnesota Senate District 6
Denise Slipy (D) and Keri Heintzeman (R) are running in the special election for District 6 of the Minnesota Senate on April 29, 2025. The previous incumbent, Justin Eichorn (R), resigned on March 20, 2025, after his arrest for allegedly attempting to solicit a minor for sex. In the 2022 Senate elections, the chamber changed…
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New Jersey to see most contested primaries, fewest open seats since 2011
New Jersey has 29 contested state legislative primaries in 2025, more than in any year since 2011 and an increase of 38% from the preceding cycle. Twenty-two of the 29 contested primaries are for Democrats, 83% more than the 12 Democratic primaries in 2023. Seven primaries are for Republicans, 22% down from nine in 2023.…