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86 legislative chambers 44 states | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Map of upper house elections: Democrats gained control Democrats retained control Republicans gained control Republicans retained control Coalition gained control Non-partisan legislature No regularly-scheduled elections | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Map of lower house elections: Democrats gained control Democrats retained control Republicans gained control Republicans retained control Non-partisan legislature No regularly-scheduled elections | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
The2012 United States state legislative elections were held on November 6, 2012, for 86 state legislative chambers in 44 states. Across thefifty states, approximately 65 percent of allupper house seats and 85 percent of alllower house seats were up for election. Nine legislative chambers in the five permanently inhabitedU.S. territories and thefederal district ofWashington, D.C. also held elections. The elections took place concurrently with several otherfederal, state, and local elections, including thepresidential election,U.S. Senate elections,U.S. House elections, andgubernatorial elections.
13 chambers shifted party control, as Republicans had gained many chambers in the 2010 mid-term elections, and this was seen as a modest rebalancing.[1]
Democrats won theColorado House of Representatives,Maine Senate,Maine House of Representatives,Minnesota Senate,Minnesota House of Representatives,New Hampshire House of Representatives, andOregon House of Representatives that was previously tied. Meanwhile, Republicans won theWisconsin Senate, which was briefly under Democratic control after multiplerecall elections earlier in the year, and both chambers of the Arkansas legislature for the first time since 1874. TheAlaska Senate went from a Democratic-led coalition to Republican control. TheWashington Senate went from Democratic control to a Republican-led coalition, and theNew York State Senate went from Republican control to a Republican-led coalition.
Democrats won a trifecta in Minnesota for the first time since 1991.
Regularly scheduled elections were held in 86 of the 99 state legislative chambers in the United States. Nationwide, regularly scheduled elections were held for 6,015 of the 7,383 legislative seats. Many legislative chambers held elections for all seats, but some legislative chambers that use staggered elections held elections for only a portion of the total seats in the chamber.[2] The chambers not up for election either hold regularly scheduled elections in odd-numbered years, or have four-year terms and hold all regularly scheduled elections inpresidential midterm election years.
Note that this table only covers regularly scheduled elections; additional special elections took place concurrently with these regularly scheduled elections.
| State | Upper House[2] | Lower House[2] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seats up | Total | % up | Term | Seats up | Total | % up | Term | |
| Alaska | 19 | 20 | 95 | 4 | 40 | 40 | 100 | 2 |
| Arizona | 30 | 30 | 100 | 2 | 60 | 60 | 100 | 2 |
| Arkansas | 35 | 35 | 100 | 2/4[f] | 100 | 100 | 100 | 2 |
| California | 20 | 40 | 50 | 4 | 80 | 80 | 100 | 2 |
| Colorado | 18 | 35 | 51 | 4 | 65 | 65 | 100 | 2 |
| Connecticut | 36 | 36 | 100 | 2 | 151 | 151 | 100 | 2 |
| Delaware | 21 | 21 | 100 | 2/4[f] | 41 | 41 | 100 | 2 |
| Florida | 40 | 40 | 100 | 2/4[f] | 120 | 120 | 100 | 2 |
| Georgia | 56 | 56 | 100 | 2 | 180 | 180 | 100 | 2 |
| Hawaii | 25 | 25 | 100 | 2/4[f] | 51 | 51 | 100 | 2 |
| Idaho | 35 | 35 | 100 | 2 | 70 | 70 | 100 | 2 |
| Illinois | 59 | 59 | 100 | 2/4[f] | 118 | 118 | 100 | 2 |
| Indiana | 25 | 50 | 50 | 4 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 2 |
| Iowa | 25 | 50 | 50 | 4 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 2 |
| Kansas | 40 | 40 | 100 | 4 | 125 | 125 | 100 | 2 |
| Kentucky | 19 | 38 | 50 | 4 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 2 |
| Louisiana | 0 | 39 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 105 | 0 | 4 |
| Maine | 35 | 35 | 100 | 2 | 151 | 151 | 100 | 2 |
| Maryland | 0 | 47 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 141 | 0 | 4 |
| Massachusetts | 40 | 40 | 100 | 2 | 160 | 160 | 100 | 2 |
| Michigan | 0 | 38 | 0 | 4 | 110 | 110 | 100 | 2 |
| Minnesota | 67 | 67 | 100 | 2/4[f] | 134 | 134 | 100 | 2 |
| Mississippi | 0 | 52 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 122 | 0 | 4 |
| Missouri | 17 | 34 | 50 | 4 | 163 | 163 | 100 | 2 |
| Montana | 25 | 50 | 50 | 4 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 2 |
| Nebraska | 25[g] | 49[g] | 51[g] | 4 | N/A (unicameral) | |||
| Nevada | 10 | 21 | 48 | 4 | 42 | 42 | 100 | 2 |
| New Hampshire | 24 | 24 | 100 | 2 | 400 | 400 | 100 | 2 |
| New Jersey | 0 | 40 | 0 | 2/4[f] | 0 | 80 | 0 | 2 |
| New Mexico | 42 | 42 | 100 | 4 | 70 | 70 | 100 | 2 |
| New York | 63 | 63 | 100 | 2 | 150 | 150 | 100 | 2 |
| North Carolina | 50 | 50 | 100 | 2 | 120 | 120 | 100 | 2 |
| North Dakota | 23 | 47 | 49 | 4 | 47 | 94 | 50 | 4 |
| Ohio | 16 | 33 | 48 | 4 | 99 | 99 | 100 | 2 |
| Oklahoma | 24 | 48 | 50 | 4 | 101 | 101 | 100 | 2 |
| Oregon | 15 | 30 | 50 | 4 | 60 | 60 | 100 | 2 |
| Pennsylvania | 25 | 50 | 50 | 4 | 203 | 203 | 100 | 2 |
| Rhode Island | 38 | 38 | 100 | 2 | 75 | 75 | 100 | 2 |
| South Carolina | 46 | 46 | 100 | 4 | 124 | 124 | 100 | 2 |
| South Dakota | 35 | 35 | 100 | 2 | 70 | 70 | 100 | 2 |
| Tennessee | 16 | 33 | 48 | 4 | 99 | 99 | 100 | 2 |
| Texas | 16 | 31 | 52 | 2/4[f] | 150 | 150 | 100 | 2 |
| Utah | 15 | 29 | 52 | 4 | 75 | 75 | 100 | 2 |
| Vermont | 30 | 30 | 100 | 2 | 150 | 150 | 100 | 2 |
| Virginia | 0 | 40 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 2 |
| Washington | 25 | 49 | 51 | 4 | 98 | 98 | 100 | 2 |
| West Virginia | 17 | 34 | 50 | 4 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 2 |
| Wisconsin | 16 | 33 | 48 | 4 | 99 | 99 | 100 | 2 |
| Wyoming | 15 | 30 | 50 | 4 | 60 | 60 | 100 | 2 |
| Total | 1281 | 1972 | 65 | N/A | 4595 | 5411 | 85 | N/A |
The 2012 elections were the first held afterredistricting following the2010 census. All states holding elections in 2012 did so under new maps drawn in accordance with the new census results with the exception of Montana and Pennsylvania. Montana implements its new maps four years after the census as opposed to two, whereas Pennsylvania's Supreme Court rejected the legislative maps drawn by the state's politician redistricting commission, leaving the elections to be held under the lines passed in 2001.[3][4] In a majority of states, legislative redistricting is controlled by the state legislature, often subject to gubernatorial veto. This allows for widespreadgerrymandering, in which the party in power draws legislative boundaries to favor itself. Many states delegate redistricting power to an independent or bipartisanredistricting commission, often with the goal of minimizing or eliminating partisan gerrymandering.[3]
Analysts considered both the Democratic and Republican parties to be at approximately equal risk of losing state legislative chambers to the other, owing to the expectation that this would be the first election that was not awave election since2004. Although Republicans were expected to win states likeArkansas, which had been trending towards them in recent years, Democrats had the potential to roll back some of the gains Republicans had made in2010 in more competitive states such asColorado. Despite the potential for Democratic gains, they were still expected to remain far behind the Republicans in overall chamber control due to the major losses the party suffered in 2010 and2011.[5]
Ratings are designated as follows:
| State | Chamber | Last election | Ballotpedia Nov. 1, 2012[6] | Governing Oct. 24, 2012[5] | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Senate | Coal. 15–5 | Lean R(flip) | Lean R(flip) | R 13–7 |
| House of Representatives | R 24–16 | Lean R | Safe R | R 26–14 | |
| Arizona | Senate | R 21–9 | Likely R | Likely R | R 17–13 |
| House of Representatives | R 40–20 | Likely R | Likely R | R 36–24 | |
| Arkansas | Senate | D 20–15 | Lean R(flip) | Lean R(flip) | R 21–14 |
| House of Representatives | D 55–45 | Lean R(flip) | Lean R(flip) | R 51–48–1 | |
| California | State Senate | D 25–15 | Safe D | Safe D | D 29–11 |
| State Assembly | D 52–28 | Safe D | Safe D | D 56–24 | |
| Colorado | Senate | D 20–15 | Tossup | Lean D | D 20–15 |
| House of Representatives | R 33–32 | Tossup | Lean D(flip) | D 37–28 | |
| Connecticut | State Senate | D 23–13 | Lean D | Safe D | D 22–14 |
| House of Representatives | D 99–52 | Safe D | Safe D | D 98–53 | |
| Delaware | Senate | D 14–7 | Likely D | Safe D | D 13–8 |
| House of Representatives | D 26–15 | Safe D | Safe D | D 27–14 | |
| Florida | Senate | R 28–12 | Likely R | Likely R | R 26–14 |
| House of Representatives | R 81–39 | Safe R | Likely R | R 76–44 | |
| Georgia | State Senate | R 35–21 | Safe R | Safe R | R 38–18 |
| House of Representatives | R 108–71–1 | Safe R | Safe R | R 119–60–1 | |
| Hawaii | Senate | D 24–1 | Safe D | Safe D | D 24–1 |
| House of Representatives | D 43–8 | Safe D | Safe D | D 44–7 | |
| Idaho | Senate | R 28–7 | Safe R | Safe R | R 29–6 |
| House of Representatives | R 57–13 | Safe R | Safe R | R 57–13 | |
| Illinois | Senate | D 35–24 | Safe D | Safe D | D 40–19 |
| House of Representatives | D 64–54 | Safe D | Safe D | D 71–47 | |
| Indiana | Senate | R 37–13 | Safe R | Safe R | R 37–13 |
| House of Representatives | R 60–40 | Safe R | Safe R | R 69–31 | |
| Iowa | Senate | D 26–24 | Tossup | Tossup | D 26–24 |
| House of Representatives | R 60–40 | Lean R | Likely R | R 53–47 | |
| Kansas | Senate | R 31–9 | Safe R | Safe R | R 32–8 |
| House of Representatives | R 92–33 | Safe R | Safe R | R 92–33 | |
| Kentucky | Senate | R 22–15–1 | Safe R | Safe R | R 23–14–1 |
| House of Representatives | D 58–42 | Lean D | Lean D | D 55–45 | |
| Maine | Senate | R 20–14–1 | Lean D(flip) | Lean R | D 19–15–1 |
| House of Representatives | R 77–73–1 | Tossup | Lean D(flip) | D 89–58–4 | |
| Massachusetts | Senate | D 36–4 | Safe D | Safe D | D 36–4 |
| House of Representatives | D 130–30 | Safe D | Safe D | D 131–29 | |
| Michigan | House of Representatives | R 63–47 | Lean R | Lean R | R 59–51 |
| Minnesota | Senate | R 37–30 | Tossup | Tossup | D 39–28 |
| House of Representatives | R 72–62 | Tossup | Tossup | D 73–61 | |
| Missouri | Senate | R 26–8 | Likely R | Safe R | R 24–10 |
| House of Representatives | R 106–57 | Likely R | Safe R | R 110–53 | |
| Montana | Senate | R 28–22 | Likely R | Safe R | R 27–23 |
| House of Representatives | R 68–32 | Safe R | Safe R | R 61–39 | |
| Nevada | Senate | D 11–10 | Tossup | Tossup | D 11–10 |
| Assembly | D 26–16 | Lean D | Lean D | D 27–15 | |
| New Hampshire | Senate | R 19–5 | Lean R | Lean R | R 13–11 |
| House of Representatives | R 298–102 | Lean R | Lean R | D 221–179 | |
| New Mexico | Senate | D 27–15 | Tossup | Likely D | D 25–17 |
| House of Representatives | D 36–34 | Lean R(flip) | Lean D | D 38–32 | |
| New York | State Senate | R 32–30 | Lean R | Tossup | Coal. 36–27 |
| State Assembly | D 99–50–1 | Safe D | Safe D | D 105–44–1 | |
| North Carolina | Senate | R 31–19 | Safe R | Likely R | R 32–18 |
| House of Representatives | R 67–52–1 | Safe R | Likely R | R 77–43 | |
| North Dakota | Senate | R 35–12 | Safe R | Safe R | R 33–14 |
| House of Representatives | R 69–25 | Safe R | Safe R | R 71–23 | |
| Ohio | Senate | R 23–10 | Safe R | Safe R | R 23–10 |
| House of Representatives | R 59–40 | Likely R | Lean R | R 60–39 | |
| Oklahoma | Senate | R 32–16 | Safe R | Safe R | R 36–12 |
| House of Representatives | R 70–31 | Safe R | Safe R | R 72–29 | |
| Oregon | State Senate | D 16–14 | Lean D | Lean D | D 16–14 |
| House of Representatives | 30–30 | Tossup | Lean D(flip) | D 34–26 | |
| Pennsylvania | State Senate | R 30–20 | Lean R | Likely R | R 27–23 |
| House of Representatives | R 112–91 | Likely R | Likely R | R 111–92 | |
| Rhode Island | Senate | D 29–8–1 | Safe D | Safe D | D 32–5–1 |
| House of Representatives | D 65–10 | Safe D | Safe D | D 69–6 | |
| South Carolina | Senate | R 27–19 | Likely R | Safe R | R 28–18 |
| House of Representatives | R 76–48 | Safe R | Safe R | R 78–46 | |
| South Dakota | Senate | R 30–5 | Safe R | Safe R | R 28–7 |
| House of Representatives | R 50–19–1 | Safe R | Safe R | R 53–17 | |
| Tennessee | Senate | R 20–13 | Safe R | Safe R | R 26–7 |
| House of Representatives | R 64–34–1 | Safe R | Safe R | R 71–27–1 | |
| Texas | Senate | R 19–12 | Safe R | Safe R | R 19–12 |
| House of Representatives | R 99–51 | Safe R | Safe R | R 95–55 | |
| Utah | State Senate | R 22–7 | Safe R | Safe R | R 24–5 |
| House of Representatives | R 58–17 | Safe R | Safe R | R 61–14 | |
| Vermont | Senate | D 21–8–1 | Safe D | Safe D | D 21–7–2 |
| House of Representatives | D 94–48–5–3 | Safe D | Safe D | D 96–45–5–4 | |
| Washington | State Senate | D 27–22 | Lean D | Tossup | Coal. 26–23 |
| House of Representatives | D 56–42 | Likely D | Likely D | D 55–43 | |
| West Virginia | Senate | D 28–6 | Safe D | Likely D | D 25–9 |
| House of Delegates | D 65–35 | Safe D | Likely D | D 54–46 | |
| Wisconsin | Senate | D 17–16[h] | Lean R(flip) | Lean R(flip) | R 18–15 |
| State Assembly | R 60–38–1 | Likely R | Likely R | R 60–39 | |
| Wyoming | Senate | R 26–4 | Safe R | Safe R | R 26–4 |
| House of Representatives | R 50–10 | Safe R | Safe R | R 52–8 |
| Republican 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% | Democratic 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% 90–100% | Tie 50% |
| Republican 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% | Democratic 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% 90–100% |
Most of the seats of theAlaska Senate and all of the seats of theAlaska House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans won control of the Senate from a Democratic-led coalition, while maintaining control of the Alaska House of Representatives.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 5 | 13 |  3 | |
| 5 | ||||
| Democratic | 10 | 2 |  3 | |
| 5 | ||||
| Total | 20 | 20 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 24 | 26 | 2 | |
| Democratic | 4 | 4 | 2 | |
| 12 | 10 | |||
| Total | 40 | 40 | ||
All of the seats of theArizona Senate and theArizona House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans maintained agovernment trifecta with control of the governorship and both state legislative chambers.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 21 | 17 | 4 | |
| Democratic | 9 | 13 | 4 | |
| Total | 30 | 30 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 40 | 36 | 4 | |
| Democratic | 20 | 24 | 4 | |
| Total | 60 | 60 | ||
All of the seats of theArkansas Senate and all of the seats of theArkansas House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans won control of both chambers for the first time since Reconstruction, thereby ending a government trifecta. TheGreen Party won one seat in the House because a judge had ordered all votes for the candidate's opponent not be counted, due to a felony conviction forelection fraud.[7]
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 15 | 21 | 6 | |
| Democratic | 20 | 14 | 6 | |
| Total | 35 | 35 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 46 | 51 | 5 | |
| Democratic | 54 | 48 | 6 | |
| Green | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Total | 100 | 100 | ||
Half of the seats of theCalifornia State Senate and all of the seats of theCalifornia State Assembly were up for election in 2012. Democrats held control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 25 | 29 | 4 | |
| Republican | 15 | 11 | 4 | |
| Total | 40 | 40 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 52 | 55 | 3 | |
| Republican | 28 | 25 | 3 | |
| Total | 80 | 80 | ||
Half of the seats of theColorado Senate and all of the seats of theColorado House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Democrats held control of the state Senate and won control of the state House, establishing a trifecta.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 20 | 20 |  | |
| Republican | 15 | 15 | | |
| Total | 35 | 35 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 32 | 37 | 5 | |
| Republican | 33 | 28 | 5 | |
| Total | 65 | 65 | ||
All of the seats of theConnecticut State Senate and theConnecticut House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Democrats held control of both houses.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 22 | 22 | | |
| Republican | 14 | 14 | | |
| Total | 36 | 36 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 99 | 98 | 1 | |
| Republican | 52 | 53 | 1 | |
| Total | 151 | 151 | ||
All of the seats of theDelaware Senate and all of the seats of theDelaware House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Democrats held control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 14 | 13 | 1 | |
| Republican | 7 | 8 | 1 | |
| Total | 21 | 21 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 26 | 27 | 1 | |
| Republican | 15 | 14 | 1 | |
| Total | 41 | 41 | ||
All of the seats of theFlorida Senate and all of the seats of theFlorida House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans held control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 28 | 26 | 2 | |
| Democratic | 12 | 14 | 2 | |
| Total | 40 | 40 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 81 | 76 | 5 | |
| Democratic | 39 | 44 | 5 | |
| Total | 120 | 120 | ||
All of the seats of theGeorgia State Senate and theGeorgia House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans held control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 36 | 38 | 2 | |
| Democratic | 20 | 18 | 2 | |
| Total | 56 | 56 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 116 | 119 | 3 | |
| Democratic | 63 | 60 | 3 | |
| Independent | 1 | 1 | | |
| Total | 180 | 180 | ||
All of the seats of theHawaii Senate and all of the seats of theHawaii House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Democrats held control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 24 | 24 | | |
| Republican | 1 | 1 | | |
| Total | 25 | 25 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 43 | 44 | 1 | |
| Republican | 8 | 7 | 1 | |
| Total | 51 | 51 | ||
All of the seats of theIdaho Senate and theIdaho House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans held control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 28 | 29 | 1 | |
| Democratic | 7 | 6 | 1 | |
| Total | 35 | 35 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 57 | 57 | | |
| Democratic | 13 | 13 | | |
| Total | 70 | 70 | ||
All of the seats of theIllinois Senate and all of the seats of theIllinois House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Democrats held control of both chambers to maintain a trifecta.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 35 | 40 | 5 | |
| Republican | 24 | 19 | 5 | |
| Total | 59 | 59 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 64 | 71 | 7 | |
| Republican | 54 | 47 | 7 | |
| Total | 118 | 118 | ||
Half of the seats of theIndiana Senate and all of the seats of theIndiana House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans held control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 37 | 37 | | |
| Democratic | 13 | 13 | | |
| Total | 50 | 50 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 60 | 69 | 9 | |
| Democratic | 40 | 31 | 9 | |
| Total | 100 | 100 | ||
Half of the seats of theIowa Senate and all of the seats of theIowa House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans held control of the state House, and Democrats held control of the state Senate.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 26 | 26 | | |
| Republican | 24 | 24 | | |
| Total | 50 | 50 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 60 | 53 | 7 | |
| Democratic | 40 | 47 | 7 | |
| Total | 100 | 100 | ||
All of the seats of theKansas Senate and theKansas House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans held control of both chambers and maintained a trifecta.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 32 | 32 | | |
| Democratic | 8 | 8 | | |
| Total | 40 | 40 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 92 | 92 | | |
| Democratic | 33 | 33 | | |
| Total | 125 | 125 | ||
Half of the seats of theKentucky Senate and all of the seats of theKentucky House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans held control of the state Senate, and Democrats held control of the state House.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 22 | 23 | 1 | |
| Democratic | 15 | 14 | 1 | |
| Independent | 1 | 1 | | |
| Total | 38 | 38 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 59 | 55 | 4 | |
| Republican | 41 | 45 | 4 | |
| Total | 100 | 100 | ||
All of the seats of theMaine Senate and theMaine House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Democrats won control of both houses, ending a Republican trifecta.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 11 | 19 | 5 | |
| Republican | 20 | 15 | 5 | |
| Independent | 1 | 1 | | |
| Total | 35 | 35 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 72 | 89 | 17 | |
| Republican | 78 | 58 | 20 | |
| Independent | 1 | 4 | 3 | |
| Total | 151 | 151 | ||
All of the seats of theMassachusetts Senate and theMassachusetts House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Democrats retained control of both chambers to maintain a trifecta.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 36 | 36 | | |
| Republican | 4 | 4 | | |
| Total | 40 | 40 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 127 | 131 | 4 | |
| Republican | 33 | 29 | 4 | |
| Total | 160 | 160 | ||
All of the seats of theMichigan House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. TheMichigan Senate did not hold regularly scheduled elections in 2012. Republicans maintained control of the chamber.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 63 | 59 | 4 | |
| Democratic | 47 | 51 | 4 | |
| Total | 110 | 110 | ||
All of the seats of theMinnesota Senate and theMinnesota House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Democrats won control of both chambers, thereby establishing a trifecta.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 30 | 39 | 9 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | 37 | 28 | 9 | |
| Total | 67 | 67 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | 62 | 73 | 11 | |
| Republican | 72 | 61 | 11 | |
| Total | 134 | 134 | ||
Half of the seats of theMissouri Senate and all of the seats of theMissouri House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans held control of both chambers.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 26 | 24 | 2 | |
| Democratic | 8 | 10 | 2 | |
| Total | 34 | 34 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 106 | 110 | 4 | |
| Democratic | 56 | 53 | 3 | |
| Independent | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Total | 163 | 163 | ||
Half of the seats of theMontana Senate and all of the seats of theMontana House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans held control of both chambers.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 27 | 27 | | |
| Democratic | 23 | 23 | | |
| Total | 50 | 50 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 68 | 61 | 7 | |
| Democratic | 32 | 39 | 7 | |
| Total | 100 | 100 | ||
Nebraska is the only U.S. state with aunicameral legislature; half of the seats of theNebraska Legislature were up for election in 2012. Nebraska is also unique in that its legislature is officially non-partisan and holds non-partisan elections, although the Democratic and Republican parties each endorse legislative candidates.
Half of the seats of theNevada Senate and all of the seats of theNevada Assembly were up for election in 2012. Democrats maintained control of both chambers.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 11 | 11 | | |
| Republican | 10 | 10 | | |
| Total | 21 | 21 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 26 | 27 | 1 | |
| Republican | 16 | 15 | 1 | |
| Total | 42 | 42 | ||
All of the seats of theNew Hampshire Senate and theNew Hampshire House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans maintained control of the state Senate, and Democrats won control of the state House.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 19 | 13 | 6 | |
| Democratic | 5 | 11 | 6 | |
| Total | 24 | 24 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 105 | 221 | 116 | |
| Republican | 295 | 179 | 116 | |
| Total | 400 | 400 | ||
All of the seats of theNew Mexico Senate and theNew Mexico House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Democrats held control of both chambers.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 28 | 25 | 3 | |
| Republican | 14 | 17 | 3 | |
| Total | 42 | 42 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 36 | 38 | 2 | |
| Republican | 33 | 32 | 1 | |
| Independent | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Total | 70 | 70 | ||
All of the seats of theNew York State Senate and theNew York State Assembly were up for election in 2012. Democrats held control of the state House, and Republicans lost control of the state Senate and thus entered into a coalition government with theIndependent Democratic Conference.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 33 | 30 | 3 | |
| Democratic | 4[i] | 6[j] | 2 | |
| 25 | 27 | 2 | ||
| Total | 62 | 63 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 100 | 105 | 5 | |
| Republican | 49 | 44 | 5 | |
| Independence | 1 | 1 | | |
| Total | 150 | 150 | ||
All of the seats of theNorth Carolina Senate and theNorth Carolina House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans retained control of both chambers.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 31 | 32 | 1 | |
| Democratic | 19 | 18 | 1 | |
| Total | 50 | 50 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 68 | 77 | 9 | |
| Democratic | 52 | 43 | 9 | |
| Total | 120 | 120 | ||
Half of the seats of theNorth Dakota Senate and theNorth Dakota House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 35 | 33 | 2 | |
| Democratic-NPL | 12 | 14 | 2 | |
| Total | 47 | 47 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 69 | 71 | 2 | |
| Democratic-NPL | 25 | 23 | 2 | |
| Total | 94 | 94 | ||
Half of the seats of theOhio Senate and all of the seats of theOhio House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 23 | 23 | | |
| Democratic | 10 | 10 | | |
| Total | 33 | 33 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 59 | 60 | 1 | |
| Democratic | 40 | 39 | 1 | |
| Total | 99 | 99 | ||
Half of the seats of theOklahoma Senate and all of the seats of theOklahoma House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 32 | 36 | 4 | |
| Democratic | 16 | 12 | 4 | |
| Total | 48 | 48 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 70 | 72 | 2 | |
| Democratic | 31 | 29 | 2 | |
| Total | 101 | 101 | ||
Half of the seats of theOregon State Senate and all of the seats of theOregon House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Democrats retained control of the state Senate, and ended the tie in the state House, thus establishing a government trifecta.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 16 | 16 | | |
| Republican | 14 | 14 | | |
| Total | 30 | 30 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 30 | 34 | 4 | |
| Republican | 30 | 26 | 4 | |
| Total | 60 | 60 | ||
Half of the seats of thePennsylvania State Senate and all of the seats of thePennsylvania House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans retained control of both chambers and their government trifecta.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 30 | 27 | 3 | |
| Democratic | 20 | 23 | 3 | |
| Total | 50 | 50 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 111 | 111 | | |
| Democratic | 92 | 92 | | |
| Total | 203 | 203 | ||
All of the seats of theRhode Island Senate and theRhode Island House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Democrats retained control of both chambers.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 29 | 32 | 3 | |
| Republican | 8 | 5 | 3 | |
| Independent | 1 | 1 | | |
| Total | 38 | 38 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 65 | 69 | 4 | |
| Republican | 9 | 6 | 3 | |
| Libertarian | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Total | 75 | 75 | ||
All of the seats of theSouth Carolina Senate and theSouth Carolina House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 27 | 28 | 1 | |
| Democratic | 19 | 18 | 1 | |
| Total | 46 | 46 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 76 | 78 | 2 | |
| Democratic | 48 | 46 | 2 | |
| Total | 124 | 124 | ||
All of the seats of theSouth Dakota Senate and theSouth Dakota House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 30 | 28 | 2 | |
| Democratic | 5 | 7 | 2 | |
| Total | 35 | 35 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 50 | 53 | 3 | |
| Democratic | 19 | 17 | 2 | |
| Independent | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Total | 70 | 70 | ||
Half of the seats of theTennessee Senate and all of the seats of theTennessee House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 20 | 26 | 6 | |
| Democratic | 13 | 7 | 6 | |
| Total | 33 | 33 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 64 | 71 | 7 | |
| Democratic | 34 | 27 | 7 | |
| Independent Republican | 1 | 1 | | |
| Total | 99 | 99 | ||
All of the seats in theTexas Legislature were up for election in 2012. Republicans retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta, but they lost their supermajority in the House.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 19 | 19 | | |
| Democratic | 12 | 12 | | |
| Total | 31 | 31 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 102 | 95 | 7 | |
| Democratic | 48 | 55 | 7 | |
| Total | 150 | 150 | ||
Half of the seats of theUtah State Senate and all of the seats of theUtah House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 22 | 24 | 2 | |
| Democratic | 7 | 5 | 2 | |
| Total | 29 | 29 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 58 | 61 | 3 | |
| Democratic | 17 | 14 | 3 | |
| Total | 75 | 75 | ||
All of the seats of theVermont Senate and theVermont House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Democrats retained control of both chambers.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 21 | 21 | | |
| Republican | 8 | 7 | 1 | |
| Progressive | 1 | 2 | 1 | |
| Total | 30 | 30 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 94 | 96 | 2 | |
| Republican | 48 | 45 | 3 | |
| Progressive | 5 | 5 | | |
| Independent | 3 | 4 | 1 | |
| Total | 150 | 150 | ||
Half of the seats of theWashington State Senate and all of the seats of theWashington House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Democrats retained control of the state House, while Republicans won control of the state Senate with the help of two Democrats who formed acoalition with them.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 22 | 23[k] | 1 | |
| Democratic | 27 | 2 | 1 | |
| 24 | ||||
| Total | 49 | 49 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 56 | 55 | 1 | |
| Republican | 42 | 43 | 1 | |
| Total | 98 | 98 | ||
Half of the seats of theWest Virginia Senate and all of the seats of theWest Virginia House of Delegates were up for election in 2012. Democrats retained control of both chambers.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 28 | 25 | 3 | |
| Republican | 6 | 9 | 3 | |
| Total | 34 | 34 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 65 | 54 | 11 | |
| Republican | 35 | 46 | 11 | |
| Total | 100 | 100 | ||
Half of the seats of theWisconsin Senate and all of the seats of theWisconsin State Assembly were up for election in 2012. Republicans retained control of the state Assembly, and won control of the state Senate after having lost control through a series ofrecall elections earlier in the year, thereby recreating a Republican trifecta.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 16 | 18 | 2 | |
| Democratic | 17 | 15 | 2 | |
| Total | 33 | 33 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 59 | 60 | 1 | |
| Democratic | 39 | 39 | | |
| Independent | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Total | 99 | 99 | ||
Half of the seats of theWyoming Senate and all of the seats of theWyoming House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 26 | 26 | | |
| Democratic | 4 | 4 | | |
| Total | 30 | 30 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 50 | 52 | 2 | |
| Democratic | 10 | 8 | 2 | |
| Total | 60 | 60 | ||
All of the seats of theAmerican Samoa Senate and theAmerican Samoa House of Representatives were up for election. Members of the Senate serve four-year terms, while members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms. Gubernatorial and legislative elections are conducted on a nonpartisan basis in American Samoa.
All of the seats of the unicameralLegislature of Guam were up for election. All members of the legislature serve a two-year term. Democrats retained control of the legislature.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 9 | 9 | | |
| Republican | 6 | 6 | | |
| Total | 15 | 15 | ||
A portion of the seats of theNorthern Mariana Islands Senate, and all of the seats of theNorthern Mariana Islands House of Representatives, were up for election. Members of the senate serve either four-year terms, while members of the house serve two-year terms. Republicans maintained control of the upper house, and Independents won control of the lower house.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 5 | 5 | | |
| Independent | 4 | 4 | | |
| Democratic | 0 | 0 | | |
| Total | 9 | 9 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 9 | 4 | 5 | |
| Democratic | 0 | 0 | | |
| Independent | 4 | 12 | 8 | |
| Covenant | 7 | 4 | 3 | |
| Total | 20 | 20 | ||
All of the seats of theSenate of Puerto Rico and theHouse of Representatives of Puerto Rico are up for election. Members of theSenate and theHouse of Representatives both serve four-year terms. TheNew Progressive Party lost control of both chambers, to thePopular Democratic Party.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Popular Democratic | 9 | 18 | 9 | |
| New Progressive | 22 | 8 | 14 | |
| Puerto Rican Independence | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Total | 31 | 27 | ||
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Popular Democratic | 17 | 28 | 11 | |
| New Progressive | 37 | 23 | 14 | |
| Total | 54 | 51 | ||
All of the seats of the unicameralLegislature of the Virgin Islands were up for election. All members of the legislature serve a two-year term. Democrats retained control of the legislature.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 10 | 10 | | |
| Independent | 5 | 5 | | |
| Total | 15 | 15 | ||
TheCouncil of the District of Columbia serves as the legislative branch of thefederal district ofWashington, D.C. Half of the council seats are up for election. Council members serve four-year terms. Democrats retained supermajority control of the council.
| Party | Before | After | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 11 | 11 | | |
| Independent | 2 | 2 | | |
| Total | 13 | 13 | ||
| District | Incumbent | This race | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber | No. | Representative | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates |
| House | Hillsborough 10 | Michael Brunelle | Democratic | 2010 | Incumbent resigned to join the Pennsylvania Service Employees International Union. New member electedFebruary 21, 2012. Democratic Hold. |
|
Voters put four state senators up for recall, allRepublicans, because of thebudget repair bill proposed byGovernor Scott Walker and the circumstances surrounding it. Democrats targeted Republicans for voting to significantly limit public employeecollective bargaining. The recall elections occurred on June 5, with May 8 being the date of the primary election.[9] These recall elections followed thelargest group of recall elections in U.S. history during the previous year, in which Republicans kept control of theWisconsin Senate. In the June 5, 2012, recall elections, Democrats flipped one seat from Republicans and won a majority in the chamber.
| Dist. | Incumbent | This race | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member | Party | First elected | Status | Candidates | ||
| 13 | Scott L. Fitzgerald | Republican | 1994 | Incumbent retained |
| |
| 21 | Van H. Wanggaard | Republican | 2010 | Incumbent recalled. New member elected. Democratic gain. |
| |
| 23 | Terry Moulton | Republican | 2010 | Incumbent retained |
| |
| 29 | --Vacant[l]-- | Previous incumbent resigned Mar. 16, 2012. New member elected. Republican hold. |
| |||
