Tag: State leg
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State legislative primaries in Michigan increase compared to recent election cycles
Michigan has 139 contested state legislative primaries this year, 47% of the total number of possible primaries, the highest rate of contested primaries in the state over the past five election cycles. A primary is contested when more candidates file to run than there are nominations available, meaning at least one candidate must lose. The…
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Contested state legislative primaries in Ohio increase from 2020
Ohio has 56 contested state legislative primaries this year, 24% of the total number of possible primaries, and 40% more that the 40 contested primaries in 2020. A primary is contested when more candidates file to run than there are nominations available, meaning at least one candidate must lose. Of the 56 contested primaries, there…
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Halfway through the primary calendar, the number of state legislative incumbents defeated in primaries is up 65%
State legislative incumbents are losing to primary challengers at an increased rate this year compared to 2020. Across the 26 states that have held primaries so far, 132 incumbents—27 Democrats and 105 Republicans—have lost. This represents a 65% increase from 2020 among these states. This increase has been driven by Republican losses, which are up…
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54% of state legislatures are Republican, 44% Democratic
At the end of June 2022, 54.27% of all state legislators in the United States are Republicans while 44.41% are Democrats. There are 7,383 state legislative seats in the country. Republicans control 62 chambers, while Democrats hold 36. The Alaska House of Representatives is the only chamber organized under a multipartisan, power-sharing coalition. Democrats hold…
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Primary watch: number of contested state legislative primaries is up 28% compared to 2020
There are 28% more contested state legislative primaries this year than in 2020, including 57% more Republican primaries and 18% more top-two/four primaries. Democratic primaries are down 8%. These figures include elections in 32 states that account for 4,050 of the 6,166 state legislative seats up for election this year (66%). A primary is contested…
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4.6% of state legislative incumbents who filed for re-election have lost in primaries
So far this year, 121 state legislative incumbents—20 Democrats and 101 Republicans—have lost to primary challengers. Across the 26 states that have held primaries, 4.6% of incumbents running for re-election have lost, more than in previous cycles. In addition to earlier primaries, these totals include initial results from primaries in Colorado, Illinois, New York, Oklahoma,…
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Contested state legislative primaries in Wisconsin increase compared to 2020
There are 38 contested state legislative primaries in Wisconsin this year, 16% of the total number of possible primaries, and a 15% increase compared to the 2020 election cycle. A primary is contested when more candidates file to run than there are nominations available, meaning at least one candidate must lose. Republican candidates drove the…
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Primary watch: number of contested state legislative primaries is up 30% compared to 2020
There are 30% more contested state legislative primaries this year than in 2020, including 62% more Republican primaries and 18% more top-two/four primaries. Democratic primaries are down 9%. These figures include elections in 29 states that account for 3,661 of 6,166 state legislative seats up for election this year (59%). A primary is contested when…
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New York sees increase in state legislative incumbents facing contested primaries this year
Fifty-one of the 191 New York state legislators running for re-election this year—46 Democrats and five Republicans—face contested primaries. That equals 27% of incumbents seeking re-election, an increase from previous election cycles. The remaining 73% of incumbents are not facing primary challengers. A contested primary is one where more candidates run than nominations available, meaning…
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Decade-high 23% of state legislative seats are open so far this year
A decade-high 23% of state legislative seats up for election this year are open, meaning no incumbents filed to run. This is based on an analysis of 30 states where Ballotpedia has collected post-filing deadline data in 2022. Open seats typically occur when an incumbent leaves office. In post-redistricting years, it is also common to…