2025 State Legislative Competitiveness
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Ballotpedia's15th Annual State Legislative Competitiveness Report analyzed all180 state legislative seats that were up for election on Nov. 4, 2025, in two states.

Competitiveness in 2025 was down from the record high in 2021, but still the second-highest since 2011.

In 2025, the nationwide State Legislative Competitiveness Index was38.1, down from 40.0 in 2021 but above the average of 31.6 since 2011.

While the percentage of open seats was lower than in any odd year since 2011 (4.4%), the share of incumbents in contested primaries was above the average of 21.0% (22.2%), and the percentage of seats contested by both major parties was the second-highest since 2011 (87.8%).

Key findings of this report include:

This report is organized into five sections. They are:

• Competitiveness overview
• State-specific competitiveness information
• Open seats
• Incumbents in contested primaries
• Major party competition

Competitiveness overview

Competitiveness refers to the presence of choice throughout the election cycle. A greater level of competitiveness means voters have the ability to make more decisions. A lower level of competitiveness equals fewer choices.

Ballotpedia uses three factors to determine state legislative competitiveness:

• Open seats, those where no incumbents filed to run;
• Incumbents in contested primaries, those who could potentially lose to challengers; and,
• Major party competition — where Democrats and Republicans meet head-to-head in the general election.

These percentages are averaged to produce a State Legislative Competitiveness Index, which can range from zero (least competitive) to 100 (most competitive).

The graphic below combines these figures for every election cycle from 2011 to 2025, showing the change in competitiveness, and how each criterion affects the overall competitiveness indices, over time.

State overviews

Click [show] on the table below to view each state's State Legislative Competitiveness Index in 2025, along with their respective values for the three criteria and ranks.

Click [show] on the table below to view each state's State Legislative Competitiveness Index from 2011 to 2025.

Competitiveness by state

Overview

New Jersey

New Jersey had a Competitiveness Index of48.3, ranking it first of the two states that held elections.

• Four of the 80 seats up for election wereopen (5%).
• 35 of the 76 incumbents who ran for re-election facedcontested primaries (46%).
• 75 of the 80 seats up for election were contested by bothmajor parties (94%).

In 2025

Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents. Click on headings for more state-specific information.

2011-2025

Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

See also:

• New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2025

Virginia

Virginia had a Competitiveness Index of30.0, ranking it second of the two states that held elections.

• Four of the 100 seats up for election wereopen (4%).
• Three of the 95 incumbents who ran for re-election facedcontested primaries (3%).
• 83 of the 100 seats up for election were contested by bothmajor parties (83%).

In 2025

Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents. Click on headings for more state-specific information.

2011-2025

Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

See also:

• Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2025

Open seats

See also:Open seats in state legislative elections, 2025

There were180 state legislative seats up for election on November 4, 2025, in two states. Of that total, there wereeight open seats, guaranteeing at least4% of all seats would be won by newcomers. That was the lowest by percentage of any odd-year cycle since 2011.

Ballotpedia uses the number and percentage of open seats to help determine the overall competitiveness of an election cycle. A greater number of open seats guarantees more newcomers entering legislatures and typically results in more candidates running for office. A smaller number of open seats guarantees fewer newcomers and typically results in fewer candidates running for office.

In 2025:

Historical comparison

Factors like the number of chambers holding elections, the number of seats up for election, term limits, and redistricting can affect the number of open state legislative seats in a given year. In 2025, for example, there were two chambers holding elections for 180 total seats. In 2023, eight chambers held elections for 578 total seats, meaning greater potential for end-of-term retirements and incumbent ineligibility due to term limits. Elections following redistricting may also feature more open seats if incumbents are drawn into each other's districts. Incumbents may retire or challenge the other incumbent(s) for the overlapping district, leaving other districts open.

The chart below shows a breakdown of open seats from 2011 to 2025. The "Other" value includes seats left open by minor party and independent officeholders.

Incumbents in contested primaries

See also:State legislative incumbents in contested primaries, 2025

There were180 state legislative seats up for election on November 4, 2025, in two states. Overall, 171 incumbents filed for re-election and were running at the time of their respective primaries. Of that total,38 incumbents faced contested primaries, representing22% of all incumbents who filed for re-election. That was lower than the average of 78 between 2011 and 2023.

Ballotpedia uses the number and percentage of incumbents in contested primaries to help determine the overall competitiveness of an election cycle. A larger number of contested primaries indicates more opportunities for voters to elect a non-incumbent to office. A smaller number indicates fewer of those opportunities.

In 2025:

Historical comparison

The chart below shows a breakdown of incumbents in contested primaries from 2011 to 2025.

All contested primaries

See also:Contested state legislative primaries, 2025

This section shows figures onall contested state legislative primaries, regardless of whether an incumbent was present. There were140 state legislative districts up for election nationwide, creating280 possible primaries. Of that total, there were46 contested primaries, meaning16.4% of all primaries were contested. That was below the average of 18% between 2011 and 2023.

In 2025:

The chart below shows a breakdown of contested primaries from 2011 to 2025.

Major party competition

See also:Major party competition in state legislative elections, 2025

There were180 state legislative seats up for election on Nov. 4, 2025, in two states. Of that total,22 (12%) were uncontested and had no major party competition. The remaining 158 (88%) were contested by both major parties. That was down from 93% of seats being contested by both major parties in 2021.

Ballotpedia uses the level of major party competition to help determine the overall competitiveness of an election cycle. A larger number of seats without major party competition indicates fewer options on the ballot. A smaller number indicates more options.

In 2025:

Historical comparison

The chart below shows a breakdown of major party competition in state legislative elections from 2011 to 2025.

Terms and definitions

Use the links below to view terms, definitions, and methodologies specific to the three competitiveness criteria:

• Open seats
• Incumbents in contested primaries
• Major party competition

See also

• Election results, 2025: State legislatures
• State legislative elections, 2025
  • Impact of term limits on state legislative elections in 2025
  • Open seats in state legislative elections, 2025
  • Contested state legislative primaries, 2025
  • State legislative incumbents in contested primaries, 2025
  • Major party competition in state legislative elections, 2025
  • Incumbents defeated in state legislative elections, 2025
• Primary election competitiveness in state government, 2025

Footnotes

v • e Competitiveness in State Legislative Elections Background A "Competitiveness Index" for capturing competitiveness in state legislative elections •Creating an absolute measure for the "Competitiveness Index" in state legislative elections •Year-by-year comparison of results •Factors Affecting Competitiveness in State Legislative Elections 2025 Competitiveness Analysis Main Page •Impact of term limits •Open seats •Contested primaries •Incumbents in contested primaries •Major party competition •Incumbents defeated •Uncontested incumbents •Primary statistics 2024 Competitiveness Analysis Main Page •Impact of term limits •Open seats •Contested primaries •Incumbents in contested primaries •Major party competition •Incumbents defeated •Uncontested incumbents •Primary statistics 2023 Competitiveness Analysis Main Page •Impact of term limits •Open seats •Contested primaries •Incumbents in contested primaries •Major party competition •Incumbents defeated •Primary statistics 2022 Competitiveness Analysis Main Page •Impact of term limits •Open seats •Contested primaries •Incumbents in contested primaries •Major party competition •Incumbents defeated •Primary statistics 2021 Competitiveness Analysis Main Page •Major party competition •Open seats •Impact of term limits •Incumbents in contested primaries •Primary competitiveness •Incumbents defeated 2020 Competitiveness Analysis Main Page •Major party candidates with major party opposition •Open seats •Impact of term limits •Incumbents in contested primaries •Primary competitiveness •Incumbents defeated 2019 Competitiveness Analysis Main Page •Major party candidates with major party opposition •Open seats •Impact of term limits •Primary competitiveness •Incumbents defeated 2018 Competitiveness Analysis Main Page •Major party candidates with major party opposition •Open seats •Aftermath of the 2016 presidential election 2017 Primary competitiveness •Open seats •Incumbents with no primary challenger •Major party candidates with major party opposition •Incumbents defeated 2016 Competitiveness Analysis Main Page •Open Seats •Incumbents with no primary challenger •Major party candidates with major party opposition •Incumbents defeated 2015 Competitiveness Analysis Main Page •Open Seats •Incumbents with no primary challenger •Major party candidates with major party opposition •States Compared by Competitiveness •Incumbents defeated •Victorious challengers •List of candidates with no primary or general election opposition 2014 Competitiveness Analysis Main Page •Open Seats •Incumbents with no primary challenger •Major party candidates with major party opposition •States Compared by Competitiveness •Incumbents defeated •Victorious challengers •List of candidates with no primary or general election opposition 2013 Competitiveness Analysis Main Page •Open Seats •Incumbents with no primary challenger •Major party candidates with major party opposition •States Compared by Competitiveness •Incumbents with no primary or general election opposition •Incumbents defeated •Victorious challengers •List of candidates with no major party opposition 2012 Competitiveness Analysis Main Page •Open Seats •Incumbents with no primary challenger •Major party candidates with major party opposition •States Compared by Competitiveness •Incumbents with no primary or general election opposition •Incumbents defeated •Victorious challengers •List of candidates with no major party opposition •Impact of term limits 2011 Competitiveness Analysis Main Page •Open Seats •Incumbents with no primary challenger •Major party candidates with major party opposition •States Compared by Competitiveness •Incumbents with no primary or general election opposition •Incumbents defeated •Victorious challengers •List of candidates with no major party opposition •Impact of term limits 2010 Competitiveness Analysis Main Page •Open Seats •Incumbents with no primary challenger •Major party candidates with major party opposition •States Compared by Competitiveness •Incumbents with no primary or general election opposition •Incumbents defeated •Victorious challengers •List of candidates with no major party opposition •Impact of term limits 2009 Competitiveness Analysis Main Page •Open Seats •Incumbents with no primary challenger •Major party candidates with major party opposition 2007 Competitiveness Analysis Main Page •Open Seats •Incumbents with no primary challenger •Major party candidates with major party opposition