Tag: state legislative elections
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New Ballotpedia analysis finds 13 state legislative supermajorities exposed to breaking this year
In eight states holding legislative elections this year, fewer than 5% of seats would need to change party control to break an existing supermajority. We call those state supermajorities highly exposed to breaking. If a majority party loses its supermajority, they lose the ability to override a governor's veto without votes from the minority party. …
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Most contested state legislative incumbents in Colorado since 2010
In 2026, 15% of the state legislative incumbents running for election in Colorado will face primary contests, a record high since 2010. In total, nine incumbents face contested primaries across the Colorado House and Senate. The average number of incumbents contested each year from 2010 to 2024 was five. Six of the contested incumbents are…
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Recent midterm election years featured more open state legislative seats than presidential years
According to Ballotpedia’s annual competitiveness analyses, midterm election years like 2026 tend to feature more open state legislative seats than presidential election years. Voters across 46 states will choose who will represent them in 6,155 state legislative districts this November. On March 3, 2026, three states—Arkansas, North Carolina, and Texas—will hold the first primary elections…
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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…
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Lowest number of Idaho state legislators retiring this year since at least 2010
There are 105 state legislative seats up for election this year in Idaho. Across those, six incumbents (two Democrats and four Republicans) did not file to run for re-election. That's the fewest number of retirements since Ballotpedia began tracking this data in 2010. From 2010 to 2022, the average number of retirements per cycle was…
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Decade-low number of open seats in Pennsylvania Legislature
There are 228 state legislative seats up for election this year in Pennsylvania. Across those, 17 incumbents (six Democrats and 11 Republicans) did not file to run for re-election. That's the fewest number of retirements since Ballotpedia began tracking this data in 2010. From 2010 to 2022, the average number of retirements per cycle was…
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2.6% of state legislative incumbents who filed for re-election have lost in primaries
So far this year, 12 state legislative incumbents — one Democrat and 11 Republicans — have lost to primary challengers. Across the four states that have held primaries, 2.6% of incumbents running for re-election have lost, which is less than at this point in 2022 (3.6%). These totals include data from elections in both legislative…
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Second-highest number of contested state legislative primaries in California since 2014
California has 58 contested state legislative primaries this year. This is the second-highest number and percentage of contested primaries since 2014. All 58 contested primaries are top-two primaries where the top-two vote getters, regardless of party, advance to the general election. This number is down from 60 in 2022. Twenty-seven incumbents face primary challenges, representing…
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Contested state legislative primaries in Arkansas down by 61%
Arkansas has 24 contested state legislative primaries this year, a 61% decrease from 2022. Of the 24 contested primaries, there are 10 for Democrats and 14 for Republicans. For Democrats, this is the same as in 2022, and a decade high. For Republicans, the number is down 73% from 52 in 2022. Ten incumbents face…
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Two incumbents defeated in Louisiana legislative primaries, matching 2019 cycle
Challengers defeated two incumbents in Louisiana's Oct. 14 statewide primary — one in the Louisiana House of Representatives and the other in the Louisiana State Senate. Those incumbents are: • Jonathan Goudeau (R) – House District 31 • Robert Mills (R) – Senate District 36 Two incumbents also lost in the 2019 primaries, one Democrat…