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State legislative elections, 2025

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2025 State Legislative Elections
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2025 elections
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Two of the country's 99 state legislative chambers held regularly scheduled elections in 2025. Elections in those two chambers represented 180 of the country's 7,386 state legislative seats (2.4%).

Democrats gained seats in both theNew Jersey Assembly andVirginia House onNovember 4, 2025.

Off-year elections in Virginia are often studied as a forecast of the broader political trends to expect from the following year's national elections.^[1] TheNew York Times' Neil Vigdor wrote in December 2024, "In recent elections, Virginia has become a vessel for millions of dollars in spending by outside groups, and its open governor’s seat and divided legislature appears likely to continue that trend."^[2]

Democrats controlled the New Jersey and Virginia Senates, which were not up for election, and both states elected the Democratic candidate forgovernor. That meant New Jersey retained its Democratic trifecta, and Virginia became a Democratic trifecta. In total after the 2025 elections, there were 23 Republican trifectas, 16 Democratic trifectas, and 11 divided governments.

States also heldspecial state legislative elections in 2025 to fill vacant seats.Click here for more.

Explore Ballotpedia's coverage of these elections:

Partisan balance
The partisan balance of state legislatures
Read more
Battlegrounds
Information on battleground elections
Read more
On the ballot
A list of elections on the ballot
Read more
Pre-election analysis
Analysis published before the election
Read more
Important dates and deadlines
A list of important dates and deadlines for the 2025 election cycle
Read more
Satellite spending
Information about satellite spending in the 2025 election cycle
Read more

Partisan balance

See also:Partisan composition of state legislatures

As ofFebruary 15th, 2026, Republicans controlled55.12% of all state legislative seats nationally, while Democrats held43.89%. Republicans held a majority in57 chambers, and Democrats held the majority in39 chambers.Two chambers (Alaska House andAlaska Senate) were organized undermultipartisan, power-sharing coalitions.One chamber (Minnesota House of Representatives) was split evenly between both parties.

Partisan balance of all 7,386 state legislative seats
Legislative chamber			Other	Vacant
State senates	837	1,120	6	10
State houses	2,405	2,951	20	37
Total:	3,242	4,071	26	47

Battlegrounds

Click the tabs below to view detailed information regarding battleground districts in the 2025 state legislative elections. In this section, you will find:

Our list of battleground chambers in the general election
A list of districts targeted by each political party

Battleground chambers

Targeted chambers

Ballotpedia tracked one state legislativebattleground chamber in 2025.

The columns in the chart below list the following:

Seats up in 2025: This was the number of seats that were up for election in 2025.
Margin: This was the difference in seats between the majority and minority parties.
Majority share of seats: This was the percentage of the chamber's seats controlled by the majority party.
Last time party control changed: This was the election where the majority at the time of the 2025 elections took control of the chamber.

State legislative battleground chambers, 2025
Chamber	Offices up in 2025	Margin	Majority share of seats	Last time party control changed
Virginia House of Delegates	All 100	D+2	51%	2023

Expand All

Virginia House of Delegates

Democrats expanded their majority in theVirginia House of Delegates onNovember 4, 2025, gaining 13 seats. The Virginia House was one oftwo state legislative chambers with elections in 2025.

Twelve Republican incumbents lost in Virginia, tying 2017 for the most incumbents defeated since 2011. Two incumbents lost in the 2023 elections, one Republican and one minor party or independent officeholder. Seven lost in 2021—all Democrats. At least one House incumbent lost in every general election since 2011, except in 2015.

Off-year elections inVirginia are often studied as a forecast of the broader political trends to expect from the following year's national elections.^[3]State Navigate's Chaz Nuttycombe wrote, "The Commonwealth has typically been seen as a catalyst for how the party out of power from the White House should go forward in its messaging in the following midterm elections, and a barometer for public opinion on the incumbent President."^[4]

TheDemocratic Legislative Campaign Committee andRepublican State Leadership Committee both announced ad campaigns ahead of the elections. DLCC President Heather Williams said the group was "backing hardworking and authentic candidates in the toughest battlegrounds who are out in their communities every day, talking to voters about how they’ll fight the chaos in Washington and put working families’ opportunities first."^[5]

The RSLC PAC President Edith Jorge-Tuñón said, "Virginia House Democrats have said they want to cut taxes, make their communities safer, and make the Commonwealth more prosperous, yet this legislative session under their leadership has been one broken promise after the next."^[6]

Democrats retaining chamber control meantlegislatively referred constitutional amendments passed by theGeneral Assembly in 2025 are likely to appear on the ballot in 2026.Constitutional amendments inVirginia must pass theVirginia General Assembly in two successive legislative sessions. The General Assembly's 2025 proposals to amend thestate constitution to include aright to reproductive freedom,remove the constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, and provide thatfelons be entitled to vote following their release from incarceration must be approved by the body again in 2026 to appear before voters. Legislative approval of the amendments in 2026 depended in part on Democrats maintaining the House in the 2025 elections.

The week before the 2025 elections, Virginia Democrats also approved a constitutional amendment that would allow the General Assembly to redraw the state's congressional maps before the next census. The state'sredistricting commission would draw a new map in 2030 whether or notmid-decade redistricting occurred.^[7] TheNew York Times' Campbell Robertson wrote, "With a statewide election set for Nov. 4, the current legislature could vote for the amendment this week and then vote again after Jan. 14 when newly elected delegates are seated."^[8]

On the Ballot takes a look at Virginia's 2025 elections.

Heading into the 2025 elections, Democrats had a 51-49 majority in the House. The House had changed partisan control in every election since2019, when it changed from Republican to Democratic control. Republicans regained the majority in2021, and Democrats regained the majority in2023.Click here to read more about the House of Delegates' political history.

Virginia voters also voted forgovernor,lieutenant governor, andattorney general in 2025. Heading into the elections, Virginia had adivided government, meaning neither party controlled both legislative chambers and the governor's office. Democrats controlled both legislative chambers, and Gov.Glenn Youngkin (R) was a Republican.

Democratsgained a trifecta in the state by maintaining control of the state house and winning the governor's office. Republicans could not have gained a trifecta, because thestate senate was not up for election.

Ballotpedia identified 23 districts as general electionbattlegrounds. According toState Navigate's race ratings, Democrats were favored to win eight battleground districts that Republicans represented heading into the election. Republicans were not favored to win any Democratic battleground districts.^[9]

DLCC targets

TheDemocratic Legislative Campaign Committee announced it would target theVirginia House in the2025 elections:^[10]

“

In 2023, the DLCC helped win full legislative control in Virginia by defending the Democratic majority in the state Senate and flipping the House of Delegates blue. This year, the stakes are high as we gear up for the first major electoral test of the Trump 2.0 era. Every seat in the state House is up for reelection and Virginia voters have an opportunity to elect a Democratic trifecta.^[11]^[12]

”

RSLC targets

In September 2025, theRepublican State Leadership Committee announced the Project Doorstrike initiative for 2025-2026, which included theNew Jersey andVirginia state houses:

“

This marks the most ambitious, data-driven get-out-the-vote (GOTV) strategy in the committee’s history. By emphasizing personal engagement in key battleground communities, our goal is to create a sustainable path for victory starting in 2025 and expanding into 2026.^[13]^[12]

”

On the ballot

Click the tabs below to view information about the elections this year. In this section, you will find:

A list of states holding elections
Information about special elections
Ballotpedia's Sample Ballot Lookup Tool

Elections by state

Special elections

What's on your ballot?

The table below highlights each state that held legislative elections in 2025. To learn more about elections in a particular chamber, click the link in the chamber column.

State legislative elections, 2025
State	Chamber
		Pre-election					Post-election
		D	R	Other	Vacancies	Total	D	R	Other	Vacancies	Total
New Jersey	House	52	28	0	0	80	57	23	0	0	80
Virginia	House	51	48	0	1	100	64	36	0	0	100
Total		103	76	0	1	180	121	59	0	0	180

Incumbents defeated

General elections

In state legislative general elections,17 incumbents lost to challengers,10.1% of incumbents running for re-election and11.4% of the contested incumbents. That was higher by percentage than any odd election year since 2011. The average percentage of incumbents defeated in general elections between 2011 and 2023 was 4.3%.

In 2025 general elections:

No Democratic incumbents lost, 0% of the 96 Democratic incumbents who ran and 0% of the 77 Democratic incumbents who were contested.

Seventeen Republican incumbents lost, 23.6% of the 72 Republican incumbents who ran. All 72 Republican incumbents were contested.

The total number of incumbents defeated in general elections—17—was the most of any year since 21 incumbents lost in 2011, and represented a 31% increase from 2023.

In 2025

Click [show] on the table below to view general election incumbent defeat statistics by state in 2025. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

State legislative incumbents defeated in general elections, 2025
State
	Democratic			Republican			Total
	Filed	Def.	%	Filed	Def.	%	Filed	Def.	%
Nationwide	96	0	0.0%	72	17	23.6%	168	17	10.1%
New Jersey	45	0	0.0%	28	5	17.9%	73	5	6.8%
Virginia	51	0	0.0%	44	12	27.3%	95	12	12.6%

Historical comparison

The chart below shows a partisan breakdown of incumbents defeated in general elections from 2011 to 2025.

Click [show] on the table below to view general election incumbent defeat statistics by state from 2011 to 2025. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

State legislative incumbents defeated in general elections, 2011-2025
State
	2011		2013		2015		2017		2019		2021		2023		2025
	Def.	%	Def.	%	Def.	%	Def.	%	Def.	%	Def.	%	Def.	%	Def.	%
Nationwide	21	4.4%	5	2.5%	12	2.7%	14	7.0%	14	3.4%	14	7.2%	13	3.1%	17	10.1%
New Jersey	1	1.0%	2	1.8%	4	5.6%	2	1.9%	2	2.7%	7	6.7%	6	6.7%	5	6.8%
Virginia	2	1.6%	3	3.4%	0	0.0%	12	12.9%	5	4.1%	7	7.8%	4	4.3%	12	12.6%

List of defeated incumbents

Click [show] on the header below to see a full list of incumbents defeated in general elections by state. Winners marked with (i) were incumbents from the same chamber.

List of incumbents defeated in state legislative general elections, 2025
Incumbent	Party	Chamber	Year incumbent took office	Winning candidate
New Jersey
Claire Swift	Republican	New Jersey General Assembly	2022	Don Guardian (i) Maureen Rowan
Michael Torrissi Jr.	Republican	New Jersey General Assembly	2022	Andrea Katz (i) Anthony Angelozzi
Michele Matsikoudis	Republican	New Jersey General Assembly	2022	Vincent Kearney Andrew Macurdy
Nancy Muñoz	Republican	New Jersey General Assembly	2009	Vincent Kearney Andrew Macurdy
Christian Barranco	Republican	New Jersey General Assembly	2024	Aura Kenny Dunn (i) Marisa Sweeney
Virginia
Ian Lovejoy	Republican	Virginia House of Delegates	2024	Elizabeth Guzman
Geary Higgins	Republican	Virginia House of Delegates	2024	John Chilton McAuliff
Chris Obenshain	Republican	Virginia House of Delegates	2024	Lily Franklin
David Owen	Republican	Virginia House of Delegates	2024	May Nivar
Paul Milde III	Republican	Virginia House of Delegates	2024	Stacey Carroll
Bobby Orrock	Republican	Virginia House of Delegates	1990	Nicole Cole
Chad Green	Republican	Virginia House of Delegates	2024	Mark Downey
Amanda Batten	Republican	Virginia House of Delegates	2020	Jessica Anderson
Mark Earley Jr.	Republican	Virginia House of Delegates	2024	Leslie Mehta
Carrie Coyner	Republican	Virginia House of Delegates	2020	Lindsey Dougherty
Kim Taylor	Republican	Virginia House of Delegates	2022	Kimberly Adams
Aijalon Cordoza	Republican	Virginia House of Delegates	2024	Virgil Thornton Sr.

Primary elections

In state legislative primaries,three incumbents lost to challengers,1.7% of incumbents running for re-election and7.9% of incumbents in contested primaries. This was fewer than eight in2021 and more than the low of zero in2017 since 2011.

In 2025 primaries:

Three Democratic incumbent lost, 3.0% of the 99 Democratic incumbents who ran, and 9.1% of the 33 contested incumbents.

No Republican incumbents lost of the 73 Republican incumbents who ran and five who were contested.

The total number of incumbents defeated in primaries—three—was the third fewest since2011, behind zero in2017 and two in2013.

In 2025

Click [show] on the table below to view primary incumbent defeat statistics by state in 2025. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

State legislative incumbents defeated in primaries, 2025
State
	Democratic			Republican			Total
	Filed	Def.	%	Filed	Def.	%	Filed	Def.	%
Nationwide	99	3	3.0%	73	0	0.0%	172	3	1.7%
New Jersey	48	3	6.3%	28	0	0.0%	76	3	3.9%
Virginia	51	0	0.0%	45	0	0.0%	96	0	0.0%

Historical comparison

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

Click [show] on the table below to view primary incumbent defeat statistics by state from 2011 to 2025. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

State legislative incumbents defeated in primaries, 2011-2025
State
	2011		2013		2015		2017		2019		2021		2023		2025
	Def.	%	Def.	%	Def.	%	Def.	%	Def.	%	Def.	%	Def.	%	Def.	%
Nationwide	0	0.0%	2	1.0%	3	1.5%	0	0.0%	4	2.0%	8	3.9%	7	3.7%	3	1.7%
New Jersey	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	1	1.3%	3	2.8%	1	1.1%	3	3.9%
Virginia	0	0.0%	2	2.2%	3	2.4%	0	0.0%	3	2.4%	5	5.3%	6	6.1%	0	0.0%

List of defeated incumbents

Click [show] on the header below to see a full list of incumbents defeated in primaries by state. Winners marked with (i) were incumbents from the same chamber.

List of incumbents defeated in state legislative primaries, 2025
Incumbent	Party	Chamber	Year incumbent took office	Winning candidate
New Jersey
Garnet Hall	Democratic	New Jersey General Assembly	2024	Cleopatra Tucker (i) Chigozie Onyema
Barbara McCann Stamato	Democratic	New Jersey General Assembly	2024	William Sampson (i) Jerry Walker
Jessica Ramirez	Democratic	New Jersey General Assembly	2024	Ravinder Bhalla Katie Brennan

Electoral competitiveness

See also:Annual State Legislative Competitiveness Report: Vol. 15, 2025

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:

Eight seats wereopen (4.4%), the smallest percentage since 2011.

38 incumbents facedcontested primaries (22.2%), above the average of 21.0% since 2011.

158 seats were contested byboth major parties (87.8%), the second-highest percentage after 92.7% in 2021.

Nationwide State Legislative Competitiveness Index, 2025
Chamber	Open seats	Incs. in contested primaries	Major party competition	Competitiveness Index
House	4.4%	22.2%	87.8%	38.1
Senate	-	-	-	0.0
Total	4.4%	22.2%	87.8%	38.1

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.

Open seats

Contested primaries

Incumbents in contested primaries

Major party competition

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:

There werefour open Democratic seats, those most recently held by Democrats at the time of filing.

There werefour open Republican seats, those most recently held by Republicans at the time of filing.

The total number of open seats — eight — was nine fewer and a 53% decrease from 2021.

Open state legislative seats, 2025
Chamber	Seats
		Democratic	Republican	Other	Total
		Democratic	Republican	Other	#	%
House	180	4	4	0	8	4.4%
Senate	0	0	0	0	0	-
Total	180	4	4	0	8	4.4%

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.

See also:Contested state legislative primaries, 2025

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:

There were32 contested Democratic primaries, representing 23% of all possible Democratic primaries and a 19% increase from 2021.

There were14 contested Republican primaries, representing 10% of all possible Republican primaries and an 18% decrease from 2021.

The total number of contested primaries — 46 — was two more and a 5% increase from 2021.

Contested state legislative primaries, 2025
Chamber	Districts
		Democratic		Republican		Top-two/four		Total
		#	%	#	%	#	%	#	%
House	140	32	22.9%	14	10.0%	0	-	46	16.4%
Senate	0	0	-	0	-	0	-	0	-
Total	140	32	22.9%	14	10.0%	0	N/A	46	16.4%

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

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:

There were33 Democratic incumbents in contested primaries, representing 33% of all Democratic incumbents who filed for re-election, a 43% increase from 2021.

There werefive Republican incumbents in contested primaries, representing 7% of all Republican incumbents who filed for re-election, a 71% decrease from 2021.

The total number of incumbents in contested primaries — 38 — was two fewer and a 5% decrease from 2021.

State legislative incumbents in contested primaries, 2025
Chamber	Seats
		Democratic			Republican			Total^[14]
		Filed	Cont.	%	Filed	Cont.	%	Filed	Cont.	%
House	180	99	33	33.3%	72	5	6.9%	171	38	22.2%
Senate	0	0	0	-	0	0	-	0	0	-
Total	180	99	33	33.3%	72	5	6.9%	171	38	22.2%

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

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:

Democrats were guaranteed to win 22 seats (12%) that lacked Republican competition, a 144% increase from 2021.

Republicans were not guaranteed any seats, as no seats lacked Democratic competition.

Overall, Democrats ran for 180 seats (100%) and Republicans ran for 158 (88%).

The total number of seats without major party competition — 22 — was six more and a 38% increase from 2021.

Neither major party had guaranteed simple majorities in any state legislative chambers.

Major party competition in state legislative elections, 2025
Chamber	Seats
		Uncontested						Contested
		Only Democrats		Only Republicans		Total		Contested
		#	%	#	%	#	%	#	%
House	180	22	12.2%	00	0.0%	22	12.2%	158	87.8%
Senate	0	00	-	00	-	00	-	0	-
Total	180	22	12.2%	00	0.0%	22	12.2%	158	87.8%

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

Pre-election analysis

Click the tabs below to view detailed analysis from before the election. In this section, you will find:

Historical data related to competitiveness
The effect of term limits on these elections
Information about state government trifectas
Chambers that changed partisan control from 2010 to 2024
Trifecta status from 2010 to 2024

Historical competitiveness data

Term limits

Trifectas

Changes in chamber partisan control, 2010 to 2024

Trifectas from 2010 to 2024

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

Ballotpedia began examining thecompetitiveness 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 2024. Odd-year elections are shown grouped together first, followed by even-year elections.

Competitiveness in state legislative elections (2010-2024)
Year	Total seats	Open seats		No major party competition		Incs. running	Incs. in contested primaries
Year	Total seats	#	%	#	%	Incs. running	#	%
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%
Even-year elections
2024	5,807	962	16.6%	2,224	38.3%	4,853	1,039	21.4%
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%

See also:Partisan composition of state legislatures

From 2010 to 2024, 41 chambers switched control: 21 switched control once, 14 switched control twice, four switched control four times, and two — theMinnesota House of Representatives andNew 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 2024 elections, Democrats controlled 39 chambers and Republicans controlled 57. Multipartisan majorities controlled the Alaska Senate and House, and the Minnesota House was tied.

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 abipartisan coalition (i.e., Alaska House in 2016). This section 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.^[15]

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

Partisan control of state legislative chambers: 2010-2024
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
2024	39	57	3

The chart below shows the number of state legislative chambers that changed party control in each election from 1992 to 2024.

The chart below shows the number of state legislative chambers where at least one legislative seat changed party control in each election from 1992 to 2024.

For the tables below, 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.^[16]

Expand All

2024

Party changes in 2024
Chamber	Control after election
Michigan House	Republican
Minnesota House^[17]	Split

2023

Party changes in 2023
Chamber	Control after election
Virginia House	Democratic

2022

Party changes in 2022
Chamber	Control after election
Alaska Senate^[18]	Split
Michigan House	Democratic
Michigan Senate	Democratic
Minnesota Senate	Democratic
Pennsylvania House^[19]	Democratic

2021

Party changes in 2021
Chamber	Control after election
Virginia House	Republican

2020

Party changes in 2020
Chamber	Control after election
New Hampshire Senate	Republican
New Hampshire House	Republican

2019

Party changes in 2019
Chamber	Control after election
Virginia Senate	Democratic
Virginia House	Democratic

2018

Party changes in 2018
Chamber	Control after election
Alaska House^[20]	Split
Colorado Senate	Democratic
Maine Senate	Democratic
Minnesota House	Democratic
New Hampshire House	Democratic
New Hampshire Senate	Democratic
New York Senate	Democratic

2017

Party changes in 2017
Chamber	Control after election
Washington Senate	Democratic

2016

Party changes in 2016
Chamber	Control after election
Alaska House	Democratic
Iowa Senate	Republican
Kentucky House	Republican
Minnesota Senate	Republican
Nevada Senate	Democratic
Nevada House	Democratic
New Mexico House	Democratic

2014

Party changes in 2014
Chamber	Control after election
Colorado Senate	Republican
Maine Senate	Republican
Minnesota House	Republican
Nevada Senate	Republican
Nevada House	Republican
New Hampshire House	Republican
New Mexico House	Republican
West Virginia Senate	Republican
West Virginia House	Republican

2012

Party changes in 2012
Chamber	Control after election
Alaska Senate	Republican
Arkansas Senate	Republican
Arkansas House	Republican
Colorado House	Democratic
Maine Senate	Democratic
Maine House	Democratic
Minnesota Senate	Democratic
Minnesota House	Democratic
New Hampshire House	Democratic
Oregon House^[21]	Democratic
Washington Senate	Republican

2011

Party changes in 2011
Chamber	Control after election
Louisiana Senate^[22]	Republican
Mississippi Senate^[23]	Republican
Mississippi House	Republican
Virginia Senate^[24]	Democratic

2010

Party changes in 2010
Chamber	Control after election
Alabama Senate	Republican
Alabama House	Republican
Colorado House	Republican
Indiana House	Republican
Louisiana House^[25]	Republican
Maine Senate	Republican
Michigan House	Republican
Minnesota Senate	Republican
Minnesota House	Republican
Montana House^[26]	Republican
New Hampshire Senate	Republican
New Hampshire House	Republican
New York Senate	Republican
North Carolina Senate	Republican
North Carolina House	Republican
Ohio House	Republican
Oregon House^[27]	Split
Pennsylvania House	Republican
Wisconsin Senate	Republican
Wisconsin House	Republican

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 thestate House andgovernorship. After the 2023 elections, the divided government in Louisiana became a Republican trifecta whenJeff Landry (R) won election as governor. After the 2024 elections, Republicans maintained their trifectas, and two Democratic trifectas became divided governments.

This chart shows the number of trifectas each party held heading into elections from 2010 to 2024, and the number of trifectas following the 2024 elections.

Trifectas by year: 2010-2024
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
Pre-2024 elections	17	23	10
Post-2024 elections	15	23	12

Important dates and deadlines

The following table details 2025 state legislative filing deadlines and primary dates in each state. The signature filing deadline was the date by which candidates had to file nominating signatures with election officials in order to have their names placed on the ballot.

2025 election dates and deadlines
State	Filing deadline	Primary election
New Jersey	March 24	June 10
Virginia	April 3	June 17

Satellite spending

See also:Satellite spending

Satellite spending describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees,super PACs, trade associations, and501(c)(4)nonprofit groups.^[28]^[29]^[30]

If available, this section includes links to online resources tracking satellite spending in this election. To notify us of a resource to add,email us.

On Feb. 18, 2025, theRepublican State Leadership Committee announced a six-figure Virginia ad campaign, stating:

“

The RSLC PAC, in coordination with the Virginia House Republican Campaign Committee (HRCC), today launched a new digital ad exposing how Virginia House Democrats are breaking their promises to voters by pursuing an out-of-touch agenda in Richmond this legislative session. The ad will be backed by a six-figure buy on digital platforms throughout the state and highlights how Virginia House Democrats are blocking tax cuts and efforts to lower electric costs, as well as refusing to crack down on dangerous illegal immigrants.^[31]^[12]

”

On April 7, 2025, theDemocratic Legislative Campaign Committee announced a seven-figure Virginia ad campaign. DLCC Director Heather Williams said:

“

Opportunities to move policy and build power aren’t happening in Washington – they’re happening in the statehouses. State legislative races are the most immediate opportunity for Democrats to defend and build sustainable power, and Virginia will be the highest profile, most data-rich election of 2025.^[32]^[12]

”