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2013 State Legislative Elections
States
New Jersey •Virginia
Other 2013 Election coverage
Primary elections •Statewide elections, 2013 •State legislative special elections, 2013 •State executive official elections, 2013 •2013 ballot measures

In the 50 states, there are99 state legislative chambers altogether, and three of the 99 chambers held state legislative elections onNovember 5, 2013.

The three chambers with elections in 2013 were in two states. They were:

• New Jersey
• Virginia

Louisiana andMississippi also typically hold elections in odd years. However, legislators are elected to 4-year terms in those states and those are not up for election again until 2015.

A total of 40 of the country's 1,972 state senate seats were up for re-election in November 2013, and 180 of the country's 5,411 state house seats were up for re-election. Altogether, 220 of the country's 7,383 state legislative seats were up for re-election on November 5, 2013.

Partisan Balance of All 99 Chambers Before and After 2013 Elections
	Pre-election				Post-election
Legislative chamber
State senates	20	28	1	1	20	28	1	1
State houses	21	28	0	0	21	28	0	0
Totals:	41	56	1	1	41	56	1	1

Analysis of competitiveness

See also:2013 state legislative elections analyzed using a Competitiveness Index

Anoverview of the degree of competitiveness of the 2013 state legislative elections was conducted that examinedthree competitiveness factors:

• Incumbents with a primary challenger in the 2013 state legislative elections

15 incumbents faced a primary challenger in 2013.

191 incumbents (92.7%) who ran for re-election in 2013 had no primary challenger.

Since 205 incumbents ran for re-election in 2013, that means thatonly 7.3% of incumbents faced a primary challenger.

• Major party candidates with major party competition in the November 2013 state legislative elections

58 major party candidates (26.4%) had no major party challenger on November 5.

• Open seats in the 2013 state legislative elections

In 205 (93.2%) of the 220 seats up for election on November 5, the incumbent ran for re-election.

In 15 (6.8%) of the 220 seats up for election on November 5, the incumbent did not run for re-election.

New Jersey

• New Jersey State Senate elections, 2013
• New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2013

Elections were held in all 40 ofNew Jersey'ssenate districts on November 5, 2013.

New Jersey's state senators are elected to four-year terms. New Jersey legislators assume office at noon on the second Tuesday in January following the election.^[1]

As of May 13, 2013, Democratic candidates for the state Legislature had raised $15.5 million and spent $11.4 million, while Republicans had raised $7 million and spent $6.2 million. In the 2011 election cycle, Democrats raised $11.4 million and Republicans raised $6.2 million in the same amount of time.^[2]

The state legislative races inNew Jersey also attracted attention from outside groups, including the Washington, D.C., super PAC the Fund for Jobs, Growth and Security. This super PAC withDemocratic affiliations and was founded to preventGovernorChris Christie (R) from governing withRepublican majorities and allowing him to advance a conservative agenda in the state.^[3]

Virginia

Virginia did not hold anystate senate elections in 2013.

• Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2013

Virginia's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Virginia legislators assume office the second Wednesday in January after the election.^[4][5]

Special elections

Across the nation, special elections are frequently conducted to fill vacancies in state legislatures. 27 states use special elections to fill legislative vacancies. In two states,Illinois andIndiana, special elections are used inlimited circumstances. In 2013,84 state legislative seats were filled through special elections in23 states.

See also:State legislative special elections, 2013

Recalls

As of February 2013, six recall efforts to oust state legislators have been attempted. Two recall campaigns, both fromColorado, obtained enough signatures prior to their deadlines to initiate an election. Recall elections for SenatorsAngela Giron andJohn Morse were held on September 10, 2013. Both legislators were targeted for recall after passing gun control legislation through means that circumvented any possible voter referendum.^[6][7][8]

See also:Political recall efforts

Angela Giron Recall

See also:Angela Giron recall, Colorado State Senate (2013)

Angela Giron was recalled from her position asSenator for District 3 on September 10.George Rivera (R) was selected to succeed her.^[9]

Shall Angelo Giron be recalled from the office of State Senate, District 3?
Result		Votes	Percentage
Recall		19,355	56.01%
Retain		15,201	43.99%

Candidates nominated to succeed Angela Giron should se be recalled:
Result		Votes	Percentage
George Rivera (R)		19,301	88.16%
Write-in		2,592	11.84%

John Morse Recall

See also:John Morse recall, Colorado State Senate (2013)

John Morse was recalled from his position asPresident of theColorado State Senate and Senator for District 11 on September 10.Bernie Herpin (R) was selected to succeed him.^[10]

Shall John Morse be recalled from the office of State Senate, District 11?
Result		Votes	Percentage
Recall		9,094	50.96%
Retain		8,751	49.04%

Candidates nominated to succeed John Morse should he be recalled:
Result		Votes	Percentage
Bernie Herpin (R)		8,895	83.2%
Write-in		1,796	16.8%

See also

• State legislative special elections, 2013
• Political recall efforts

Footnotes