State legislative elections, 2026

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2026 elections
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In the 50 states, there are 99 state legislative chambers altogether. Across 46 states, 88 of those chambers are holding regular legislative elections in 2026. The general election for state legislative races is on November 3, 2026.

States will also hold special state legislative elections in 2026 to fill vacant seats.

In the U.S. Territories, five legislative chambers are holding regularly scheduled elections in 2026. Elections will be held for the American Samoa House of Representatives, the Guam Legislature, the Northern Mariana Islands Senate and House of Representatives, and the U.S. Virgin Islands Legislature.

On this page you will find:

Partisan balance

As of November 29th, 2024, Republicans controlled 54.98% of all state legislative seats nationally, while Democrats held 44.11%. Republicans held a majority in 56 chambers, and Democrats held the majority in 41 chambers. Two chambers (Alaska House and Alaska Senate) were organized under multipartisan, power-sharing coalitions.

Partisan balance of all 7,386 state legislative seats
Legislative chamber Democratic Party Republican Party Grey.png Other Vacant
State senates 837 1,117 3 16
State houses 2,421 2,944 19 29
Total: 3,258

4,061

22

45


Trifectas

See also: State government trifectas

State government trifecta is a term to describe single-party government, when one political party holds the governorship and majorities in both chambers of the state legislature.


Elections by state

Historical competitiveness data

See also: Annual State Legislative Competitiveness Report: Vol. 13, 2023

Ballotpedia began examining the competitiveness of every state legislative race in the country in 2010. Three factors are used in this analysis: seats where the incumbent did not run for re-election, incumbents who ran in contested primaries, and seats contested by both major parties.

The following table details competitiveness data collected from regularly scheduled state legislative elections between 2010 and 2023. Odd-year elections are shown grouped together first followed by even-year elections.

Competitiveness in state legislative elections (2010-2023)
Year Total seats Open seats No major party competition Incs. running Incs. in contested primaries
# % # % # %
Even-year elections
2022 6,278 1,492 23.8% 2,560 40.8% 4,852 1,299 26.8%
2020 5,875 876 14.9% 2,044 34.8% 4,999 1,006 20.1%
2018 6,065 1,194 19.7% 2,045 33.7% 4,874 1,082 22.2%
2016 5,916 1,032 17.4% 2,508 42.4% 4,887 985 20.2%
2014 6,051 1,019 16.8% 2,663 44.0% 5,041 983 19.5%
2012 6,013 1,314 21.9% 2,384 39.6% 4,790 1,117 23.3%
2010 6,127 1,143 18.7% 2,142 35.0% 4,984 995 20.0%
Odd-year elections
2023 578 138 23.9% 319 55.2% 443 115 26.0%
2021 220 13 5.9% 9 4.1% 137 24 17.5%
2019 538 105 19.5% 301 55.9% 433 125 28.9%
2017 220 20 9.1% 45 20.5% 200 32 16.0%
2015 538 79 14.7% 332 61.7% 460 107 23.3%
2013 220 15 6.8% 61 27.7% 205 24 11.7%
2011 578 98 17.0% 312 54.0% 485 104 21.4%

Political context

Changes in chamber partisan control, 2010 to 2023

See also: Partisan composition of state legislatures

From 2010 to 2023, 41 chambers switched control: 21 switched control once, 15 switched control twice, four switched control four times, and one—the New Hampshire House of Representatives—switched control five times. During that same time, there were 58 chambers that did not switch control.

Before the 2010 elections, Democrats controlled 60 of the country's 99 state legislative chambers, Republicans controlled 37, and neither party controlled the remaining two chambers. After the 2023 elections, Democrats controlled 41 chambers and Republicans controlled 56. Multipartisan majorities controlled the Alaska Senate and House.

Most changes in partisan control came from major elections, but some also came through special elections (Louisiana House in 2010; Washington Senate in 2017) and party-switching (Louisiana House in 2010; Mississippi Senate in 2011). In some cases, the party that gained control did not have a numerical majority but instead controlled the chamber through a bipartisan coalition (i.e., Alaska House in 2016). This table does not account for changes in party control or ties in a chamber that lasted for less than one year and were not the result of a regularly scheduled election. An example of this is the brief period of Democratic control in the Virginia State Senate in 2014.[61]

For this chart, a red box indicates that the chamber changed from Democratic to Republican control, and a blue box indicates that the chamber changed from Republican to Democratic control.[62]

Chamber changes in partisan control: 2010-2023
Party changes in 2010 Party changes in 2011 Party changes in 2012 Party changes in 2014 Party changes in 2016 Party changes in 2017 Party changes in 2018 Party changes in 2019 Party changes in 2020 Party changes in 2021 Party changes in 2022 Party changes in 2023
Alabama Senate Louisiana Senate[63][64] Alaska Senate Colorado Senate Alaska House Washington Senate Alaska House[65] Virginia Senate New Hampshire Senate Virginia House Alaska Senate[66] Virginia House
Alabama House Mississippi Senate[67][68] Arkansas Senate Maine Senate Iowa Senate Colorado Senate Virginia House New Hampshire House Michigan House
Colorado House Mississippi House Arkansas House Minnesota House Kentucky House Maine Senate Michigan Senate
Indiana House Virginia Senate[69] Colorado House Nevada Senate Minnesota Senate Minnesota House Minnesota Senate
Iowa House Maine Senate Nevada House Nevada Senate New Hampshire House Pennsylvania House[70]
Louisiana House[71][72] Maine House New Hampshire House Nevada House New Hampshire Senate
Maine Senate Minnesota Senate New Mexico House New Mexico House New York Senate
Maine House Minnesota House West Virginia Senate
Michigan House New Hampshire House West Virginia House
Minnesota Senate Oregon House[73]
Minnesota House Washington Senate
Montana House[74]
New Hampshire Senate
New Hampshire House
New York Senate
North Carolina Senate
North Carolina House
Ohio House
Oregon House[75]
Pennsylvania House
Wisconsin Senate
Wisconsin House
Total changes: 22 Total changes: 4 Total changes: 11 Total changes: 9 Total changes: 7 Total changes: 1 Total changes: 7 Total changes: 2 Total changes: 2 Total changes: 1 Total changes: 5 Total changes: 1


The chart below shows how many chambers each party controlled after the November elections in a given year.

Partisan control of state legislative chambers: 2010-2023
Election Democratic chambers Republican chambers Other
Before 2010 60 37 2
2010 38 59 2
2011 35 60 4
2012 41 56 2
2013 41 56 2
2014 30 68 1
2015 30 68 1
2016 31 68 0
2017 32 67 0
2018 37 61 1
2019 39 59 1
2020 37 61 1
2021 36 62 1
2022 40 57 2
2023 41 56 2


Trifectas from 2010 to 2023

See also: State government trifectas

A state government trifecta occurs when one political party controls the primary levers of power in a state: the governor's office, the state Senate, and the state House. From 2010 to 2018, the Republican Party increased its number of trifectas and the Democratic Party saw a decline in its trifectas. Democrats picked up six trifectas in the 2018 elections, and Republicans lost four trifectas. Following the 2021 elections, the Democratic trifecta in Virginia became a split government after Republicans gained control of the state House and governorship. After the 2023 elections, the divided government in Louisiana became a Republican trifecta when Jeff Landry (R) won election as governor.

This chart shows the number of trifectas each party held heading into elections from 2010 to 2023, and the number of trifectas following the 2023 elections.

Trifectas by year: 2010-2023
Election Democratic trifectas Republican trifectas States under divided government
Pre-2010 elections 17 10 23
Pre-2012 elections 11 22 17
Pre-2014 elections 12 24 14
Pre-2016 elections 7 23 20
Pre-2018 elections 8 26 16
Pre-2020 elections 15 21 14
Pre-2021 elections 15 23 12
Pre-2022 elections 14 23 13
Post-2022 elections 17 22 11
Pre-2023 elections 17 22 11
Post-2023 elections 17 23 10


See also

Other elections

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Justia, "Alabama Constitution, Article IV, Section 46," accessed November 22, 2016
  2. ↑ JUSTIA US Law, "Alaska Statutes, Sec. 24.05.080," accessed November 1, 2021
  3. ↑ Alaska’s Constitution, "A Citizen’s Guide," accessed November 1, 2021
  4. ↑ Arizona Revised Statutes, "41-1101, Section B," accessed November 22, 2016
  5. ↑ Justia, "Arkansas Constitution Article 5 - Legislative Department Section 5 - Time of meeting," accessed October 26, 2021
  6. ↑ California Constitution, "Article 4, Section 2. (a)(3)," accessed November 1, 2021
  7. ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Colorado Constitution - Article 5, Section 7," accessed February 9, 2021
  8. ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Colorado Constitution - Article 4, Section 1," accessed February 9, 2021
  9. ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Colorado Constitution - Article 4, Section 3," accessed February 9, 2021
  10. ↑ Colorado LegiSource, "Surprise! The 2019 Legislative Session Convening a Week Earlier," September 20, 2018
  11. ↑ Connecticut Constitution, "Article Three, Section 10," accessed November 1, 2021
  12. ↑ Delaware Constitution, "Article II, Section 3," accessed November 1, 2021
  13. ↑ Delaware Constitution, "Article II, Section 4," accessed November 1, 2021
  14. ↑ Florida Constitution, "Article III, Section 15(d)," accessed November 22, 2016
  15. ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Georgia Constitution - Article III, Section IV, Paragraph I," accessed February 12, 2021
  16. ↑ Legislative Reference Bureau, "Hawaii Constitution, Article III, Section 4," accessed November 1, 2021
  17. ↑ Idaho Constitution, "Article III, Section 3," accessed December 18, 2019
  18. ↑ Illinois Constitution, "Article 4, Section 5a," accessed November 1, 2021
  19. ↑ Indiana Constitution, "Article 4, Section 3," accessed November 1, 2021
  20. ↑ JUSTIA US Law, "Iowa Code, Section 39.8 - Term of office," accessed November 1, 2021
  21. ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Terms of Offices for Elected Officials," accessed November 1, 2021
  22. ↑ Iowa Constitution, "Article III, Legislative Department, Section 3," accessed November 1, 2021
  23. ↑ Kansas Constitution, "Article Two, Section 2", accessed February 9, 2021
  24. ↑ Kentucky Constitution, "Section 30," accessed February 10, 2021
  25. ↑ Maine Constitution, "Article IV. Part First., Section 2," accessed November 1, 2021
  26. ↑ Maine Constitution, "Article IV. Part Second., Section 5," accessed November 1, 2021
  27. ↑ Excludes three nonvoting members representing the Penobscot Nation, the Passamaquoddy Tribe and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians.
  28. ↑ Maryland Constitution, "Article III, Section 6," accessed February 11, 2021
  29. ↑ Massachusetts Constitution, "Article LXXXII," accessed February 12, 2021
  30. ↑ Michigan Constitution, "Article XI, Section 2," accessed February 12, 2021
  31. ↑ Minnesota.gov, "Minnesota Statute 3.05," accessed February 12, 2021
  32. ↑ Minnesota.gov, "Minnesota Statute 3.011," accessed November 1, 2021
  33. ↑ Missouri Revisor of Statutes, "Article III Section 20. Regular sessions of assembly — quorum — compulsory attendance — public sessions — limitation on power to adjourn.," accessed November 1, 2021
  34. ↑ Montana State Legislature, "Montana Code Annotated 2021, 5-2-102. Term of office," accessed November 4, 2021
  35. ↑ Nebraska Constitution, "Article III-10," accessed November 4, 2021
  36. ↑ Nevada Constitution, "Article 4, Section 4," accessed November 1, 2021
  37. ↑ New Hampshire Constitution, "Part II, Article 3," accessed February 10, 2021
  38. ↑ New Mexico Constitution, "Article IV, Section 4, accessed November 1, 2021
  39. ↑ New York Senate, "New York Constitution, Article XIII, Section 4," accessed November 1, 2021
  40. ↑ North Carolina Constitution, "Article II, Section 9," accessed February 12, 2021
  41. ↑ North Dakota Constitution, "Article IV, Section 7," accessed February 12, 2021
  42. ↑ Ohio Constitution, "Article 2, Section 02," accessed November 1, 2021
  43. ↑ Ohio.gov, "A Guidebook for Ohio Legislators," accessed November 1, 2021
  44. ↑ Oklahoma State Courts Network, "Oklahoma Statutes Citationized 14 O.S. § 80.35.14," accessed November 2, 2021
  45. ↑ Oklahoma State Courts Network, "Oklahoma Statutes Citationized 14 O.S. § 141 ," accessed November 2, 2021
  46. ↑ Oregon Constitution, "Article IV, Section 4," accessed February 17, 2021
  47. ↑ Pennsylvania Constitution, "Article II, Section 2," accessed November 1, 2021
  48. ↑ Rhode Island Constitution, "Article VI, Section 3," accessed February 17, 2021
  49. ↑ South Carolina Constitution, "Article III, Section 10," accessed November 1, 2021
  50. ↑ South Dakota Constitution, "Article 3, Section 7," accessed November 20, 2012
  51. ↑ Tennessee Constitution, "Article II, Section 3," accessed November 1, 2021
  52. ↑ Texas Government Code, "Title 3., Subtitle A., Sec. 301.001," accessed February 17, 2021
  53. ↑ Texas Constitution, "Article 3. Legislative Department, Section 4," accessed November 4, 2021
  54. ↑ Utah Constitution, "Article VI, Section 3," accessed February 17, 2021
  55. ↑ Utah Constitution, "Article VI, Section 4," accessed February 17, 2021
  56. ↑ Vermont Constitution, "Chapter II, Section 46," accessed February 4, 2021
  57. ↑ Washington State Legislature, "RCW 44.04.021 Commencement of terms of office," accessed February 17, 2021
  58. ↑ West Virginia Constitution, "Article IV, Section 7," accessed February 9, 2021
  59. ↑ Wisconsin Statutes, "Chapter 13: Legislative Branch: 13.02 Regular sessions," accessed October 5, 2021
  60. ↑ Justia, "2020 Wyoming Statutes Title 22 - Elections Chapter 2 - General Provisions Section 22-2-107 - When Elected State and County Officers Assume Offices.," accessed November 4, 2021
  61. ↑ The Washington Post, "Virginia Republicans snatched control of the state Senate, ended budget-Medicaid impasse," June 9, 2014
  62. ↑ 2015 and 2013 are not included because no chambers changed those years.
  63. ↑ The chamber first changed from Democratic to Republican control in a February 2011 special election. Republicans increased their majority to 24-15 in the 2011 elections.
  64. ↑ Fox News, "GOP Candidate Wins Lousiana [sic] Senate Special Election, Shifting Majority," February 20, 2011
  65. ↑ Chamber went from being controlled by a Democratic-led bipartisan coalition to being led by a coalition with power split between the parties.
  66. ↑ Chamber went from a Republican majority to a bipartisan governing coalition.
  67. ↑ The chamber changed partisan control prior to the 2011 elections due to Democrats switching to the Republican Party and special election wins by Republicans. Republicans increased their majority in the 2011 elections to 31-21.
  68. ↑ The Washington Post, "Southern Democrats in dire straits; 2011 looms large," January 11, 2011
  69. ↑ In the 2011 elections, the chamber changed from a 22-18 Democratic advantage to a 20-20 tie. Republicans effectively controlled the chamber because Lieutenant Gov. Bill Bolling (R) could cast tie-breaking votes.
  70. ↑ Democrats won a majority of seats, but did not have a majority when the legislative session began due to vacancies created during the interim.
  71. ↑ This chamber did not hold elections in 2010. It switched partisan control in December 2010 when Democrat Noble Ellington changed his party affiliation to Republican. In the regularly-scheduled 2011 elections, Republicans increased their majority to 58-45.
  72. ↑ Nola.com, "Louisiana Republicans take first House majority since Reconstruction with latest party switch," December 17, 2010
  73. ↑ In this election, the Oregon House changed from a 30-30 tie to a 34-26 Democratic advantage.
  74. ↑ This chamber went from a 50-50 tie to a 68-32 Republican advantage in the 2010 elections.
  75. ↑ This chamber went from a 36-24 Democratic advantage to a 30-30 tie in the 2010 elections.
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