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2014 State Legislative Special Elections
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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 2014,40 state legislative seats were filled through special elections in15 states.

See also:State legislative elections, 2014

Breakdown of 2014 special elections

The reasons for special elections were as follows:

• 3 due to criminal prosecution/criminal issues
• 6 due to a legislator's death
• 5 due to the acceptance of another job
• 6 due to the appointment to a new position
• 6 due to retirement
• 14 due to election to another position

The partisan breakdown for vacancies is as follows:

• 22Democratic seat
• 18Republican seats

In 2014, Republicans claimed three seats in special elections that were previously held by Democratic incumbents.

Legend

These symbols denote the status of each special election:

☑ : This election has been decided.

 : This election has proceeded to a runoff.

☐ : This election has not yet occurred.

 : This election is too close to call or contested.

Results

The following candidates won a special election in 2014:

Special elections by date

Historical data

State breakdown by year

The table below details how many state legislative special elections were held in a state in a given year. From 2010 to 2025, Georgia held the most state legislative special elections with 87. Pennsylvania held the second-most special elections with 71.

Partisan breakdown by year

The average number of special elections per even year between 2011 and 2025 (2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024) was 59, while the average per odd year was 82. The most special elections in a single year during that same time frame was 99, which happened in 2018.

The table below details how many state legislative seats changed parties as the result of a special election between 2011 and 2025. The numbers on the left side of the table reflect how many vacant seats were originally held by each party, while the numbers on the right side of the table show how many vacant seats each party won in special elections.

State legislative special election vacancies and results, 2011-2025
Year	Total elections held	Vacancies before elections			Seats held after elections			Net change
		Democrats	Republicans	Minor party	Democrats	Republicans	Minor party
2025	95	51	44	0	59	36	0	+7 D, -7 R
2024	52	26	26	0	29	23	0	+3 D, -3 R
2023	53	33	20	0	33	20	0	-
2022	54	36	18	0	36	18	0	-
2021	66	33	33	0	33	33	0	-
2020	59	21	38	0	27	32	0	+6 D, -6 R
2019	77	39	38	0	36	40	1	-3 D, +2 R, +1 I
2018	99	42	57	0	50	49	0	+8 D, -8 R
2017	98	45	53	0	56	42	0	+11 D, -11 R
2016*	65	37	28	0	39	24	2	+2 D, -4 R
2015*	89	42	46	1	38	50	1	-4 D, +4 R
2014	40	22	18	0	19	21	0	-3 D, +3 R
2013	84	51	33	0	48	36	0	-3 D, +3 R
2012	46	23	23	0	25	21	0	+2 D, -2 R
2011*	95	49	45	1	46	48	1	-3 D, +3 R
Averages	72	36	34	N/A	37	33	N/A	N/A
*Please see the year-specific pages for information regarding minor-party candidates.

Seats that changed partisan control by year

See also:State legislative special election changes in party control since 2010

Current as of January 16, 2026 (updated annually)
Since 2010, 128 state legislative seats have switched partisan control, or flipped, in special elections. The chart below shows the number of special elections that resulted in partisan changes in each year:

Days between vacancies and elections by year

The following table tracks the gap between when state legislative vacancies occurred and special elections were held from 2012 through February 13, 2026:

See also

• State legislative elections, 2014
• State legislative special elections, 2013
• State legislative special elections, 2012
• State legislative special elections, 2011
• State legislative special elections, 2010

Footnotes