2016 United States state legislative elections

← 2015 November 8, 2016 2017 →
86 legislative chambers 44 states
Party Republican Democratic Coalition Chambers before 68 30 1[b] Chambers after 66 29 3[b][c][d] Overall change 2 1[a] 2
Map of upper house elections:      Democrats gained control     Democrats retained control      Republicans gained control     Republicans retained control      Coalition gained control     Coalition retained control      Split body formed      Non-partisan legislature      No regularly-scheduled elections
Map of lower house elections:      Democrats gained control     Democrats retained control      Republicans gained control     Republicans retained control      Coalition gained control      Non-partisan legislature      No regularly-scheduled elections

The2016 United States state legislative elections were held on November 8, 2016, 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.

Democrats won both chambers in theNevada Legislature and theNew Mexico House of Representatives, while Republicans won theKentucky House of Representatives for the first time since 1922, theIowa Senate, and theMinnesota Senate. TheAlaska House of Representatives flipped from Republican control to a Democrat-led coalition majority, and theConnecticut State Senate went from Democratic control to tied control.^[2] Meanwhile, theNew York Senate went from Republican to a Republican-led coalition.

Republicans won a trifecta in Kentucky for the first time ever.

Regularly scheduled elections were held in 86 of the 99 state legislative chambers in the United States. Nationwide, regularly scheduled elections were held for 5,876 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.^[3] 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.

News sources predicted Democrats to make mild gains in state legislative control, owing to the historic lows they hit after the2014 elections and higher predicted turnout among Democratic voters during theconcurrent presidential election.^[4][5]

Ratings are designated as follows:

• "Tossup": Competitive, no advantage
• "Lean": Competitive, slight advantage
• "Likely": Not competitive, but opposition could make significant gains
• "Safe": Not competitive at all

• 
  Upper house seats by party holding majority in each state
  

  Republican   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90%   90–100%

  Democratic   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90%   90–100%

  Tie   50%

• 
  Lower house seats by party holding majority in each state
  

  Republican   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90%

  Democratic   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90%

• 
  Net changes to upper house seats after the 2016 elections
       +1 Dem seat     +2 Dem seats     +3 Dem seats
       +1 Rep seat     +2 Rep seats     +3–4 Rep seats     +6 Rep seats
• 
  Net changes to lower house seats after the 2016 elections
       +1 Dem seat     +2 Dem seats     +3–5 Dem seats     +10–13 Dem seats
       +1 Rep seat     +2 Rep seats     +3–5 Rep seats     +6–17 Rep seats
       +1 Ind seat     +1 Prog seat

Half of the seats of theAlaska Senate and all of the seats of theAlaska House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. The Alaska legislature was controlled by Republicans. Republicans maintained control of the Senate, while the Alaska House of Representatives flipped to a Democratic-led coalition of Democrats, Republicans, and independents.^[6]

Alaska Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	14	14
	Democratic	6	6
Total		20	20

Alaska House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Democratic	12	17[h]	1
		4[i]
	Independent	1	2	1
	Republican	23	3	2
			18
Total		40	40

All of the seats of theArizona Senate and theArizona House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Republicans maintained agovernment trifecta with control of the governorship and both state legislative chambers.

Arizona Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	18	17	1
	Democratic	12	13	1
Total		30	30

Arizona House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	36	35	1
	Democratic	24	25	1
Total		60	60

Half of the seats of theArkansas Senate and all of the seats of theArkansas House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Republicans held control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Arkansas Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	24	26	2
	Democratic	11	9	2
Total		35	35

Arkansas House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	64	73	9
	Democratic	35	27	8
	Independent	1	0	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 2016. Democrats held control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

California State Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Democratic	26	27	1
	Republican	14	13	1
Total		40	40

California State Assembly

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 2016. Democrats held control of the state House and Republicans maintained control of the state Senate.

Colorado Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	18	18
	Democratic	17	17
Total		35	35

Colorado House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Democratic	34	37	3
	Republican	31	28	3
Total		65	65

All of the seats of theConnecticut State Senate and theConnecticut House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Democrats held control of the state House, while the state Senate went from Democratic to evenly split.

Connecticut State Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Democratic	21	18	3
	Republican	15	18	3
Total		36	36

Connecticut House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Democratic	87	80	7
	Republican	64	71	7
Total		151	151

Half of the seats of theDelaware Senate and all of the seats of theDelaware House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Democrats held control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Delaware Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Democratic	12	11	1
	Republican	9	10	1
Total		21	21

Delaware House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Democratic	25	25
	Republican	16	16
Total		41	41

Half of the seats of theFlorida Senate and all of the seats of theFlorida House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Republicans held control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Florida Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	26	25	1
	Democratic	14	15	1
Total		40	40

Florida House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	81	79	2
	Democratic	39	41	2
Total		120	120

All of the seats of theGeorgia State Senate and theGeorgia House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Republicans held control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Georgia State Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	39	38	1
	Democratic	17	18	1
Total		56	56

Georgia House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	118	118
	Democratic	61	62	1
	Independent	1	0	1
Total		180	180

Half of the seats of theHawaii Senate and all of the seats of theHawaii House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Democrats held control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Hawaii Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Democratic	24	25	1
	Republican	1	0	1
Total		25	25

Hawaii House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Democratic	44	45	1
	Republican	7	6	1
Total		51	51

All of the seats of theIdaho Senate and theIdaho House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Republicans held control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Idaho Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	28	29	1
	Democratic	7	6	1
Total		35	35

Idaho House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	56	59	3
	Democratic	14	11	3
Total		70	70

One-third of the seats of theIllinois Senate and all of the seats of theIllinois House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Democrats held control of both chambers.

Illinois Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Democratic	39	37	2
	Republican	20	22	2
Total		59	59

Illinois House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Democratic	71	67	4
	Republican	47	51	4
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 2016. Republicans held control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Indiana Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	40	41	1
	Democratic	10	9	1
Total		50	50

Indiana House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	71	70	1
	Democratic	29	30	1
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 2016. Republicans held control of the state House, and won the state Senate thereby establishing a government trifecta.

Iowa Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	23	29	6
	Democratic	26	20	6
	Independent	1	1
Total		50	50

Iowa House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	57	59	2
	Democratic	43	41	2
Total		100	100

All of the seats of theKansas Senate and theKansas House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Republicans held control of both chambers.

Kansas Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	32	31	1
	Democratic	8	9	1
Total		40	40

Kansas House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	97	85	12
	Democratic	28	40	12
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 2016. Republicans held control of the state Senate, and won control of the state House for the first time since 1922, thus establishing a Republican trifecta.

Kentucky Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	27	27
	Democratic	11	11
Total		38	38

Kentucky House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	47	64	17
	Democratic	53	36	17
Total		100	100

All of the seats of theMaine Senate and theMaine House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Democrats held control of the state House, and Republicans maintained control of the state Senate.

Maine Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	20	18	2
	Democratic	15	17	2
Total		35	35

Maine House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Democratic	78	77	1
	Republican	69	72	3
	Independent	4	2	2
Total		151	151

All of the seats of theMassachusetts Senate and theMassachusetts House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Democrats retained control of both chambers.

Massachusetts Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Democratic	34	34
	Republican	6	6
Total		40	40

Massachusetts House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Democratic	126	125	1
	Republican	34	35	1
Total		160	160

All of the seats of theMichigan House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. TheMichigan Senate did not hold regularly scheduled elections in 2016. Republicans maintained control of the chamber.

Michigan House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	63	63
	Democratic	47	47
Total		110	110

All of the seats of theMinnesota Senate and theMinnesota House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Republicans won control of the State Senate, while maintaining control of the state House.

Minnesota Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	28	34	6
	Democratic (DFL)	39	33	6
Total		67	67

Minnesota House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	73	77	4
	Democratic (DFL)	61	57	4
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 2016. Republicans held control of both chambers.

Missouri Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	25	25
	Democratic	9	9
Total		34	34

Missouri House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	117	117
	Democratic	45	46	1
	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 2016. Republicans held control of both chambers.

Montana Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	29	32	3
	Democratic	21	18	3
Total		50	50

Montana House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	59	59
	Democratic	41	41
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 2016. 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.

Nebraska Legislature

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	35	32	3
	Democratic	12	15	3
	Independent	1	1
	Libertarian	1	1
Total		49	49

Half of the seats of theNevada Senate and all of the seats of theNevada Assembly were up for election in 2016. Democrats won control of both chambers, ending a government trifecta.

Nevada Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Democratic	10	11	1
	Republican	11	10	1
Total		21	21

Nevada Assembly

Party		Before	After	Change
	Democratic	17	27	10
	Republican	24	15	9
	Libertarian	1	0	1
Total		42	42

All of the seats of theNew Hampshire Senate and theNew Hampshire House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Republicans maintained control of both chambers.

New Hampshire Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	14	14
	Democratic	10	10
Total		24	24

New Hampshire House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	239	227	12
	Democratic	160	173	13
	Independent	1	0	1
Total		400	400

All of the seats of theNew Mexico Senate and theNew Mexico House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Democrats held control of the state Senate, and won the state House.

New Mexico Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Democratic	24	26	2
	Republican	18	16	2
Total		42	42

New Mexico House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Democratic	33	38	5
	Republican	37	32	5
Total		70	70

All of the seats of theNew York State Senate and theNew York State Assembly were up for election in 2016. Democrats held control of the state House, and Republicans lost outright control of the state Senate, requiring theIndependent Democratic Conference to continue to caucus with them.

New York State Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	32	31	1
	Democratic	6[j]	8[k]	2
		25	24	1
Total		63	63

New York State Assembly

Party		Before	After	Change
	Democratic	106	106
	Republican	42	43	1
	Independence	1	1
	Conservative	1	0	1
Total		150	150

All of the seats of theNorth Carolina Senate and theNorth Carolina House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Republicans retained control of both chambers.

North Carolina Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	34	35	1
	Democratic	16	15	1
Total		50	50

North Carolina House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	74	74
	Independent	1	0	1
	Democratic	45	46	1
Total		120	120

Half of the seats of theNorth Dakota Senate and theNorth Dakota House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Republicans retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

North Dakota Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	32	38	6
	Democratic-NPL	15	9	6
Total		47	47

North Dakota House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	71	81	10
	Democratic-NPL	23	13	10
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 2016. Republicans retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Ohio Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	23	24	1
	Democratic	10	9	1
Total		33	33

Ohio House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	65	66	1
	Democratic	34	33	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 2016. Republicans retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Oklahoma Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	39	42	3
	Democratic	9	6	3
Total		48	48

Oklahoma House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	71	75	4
	Democratic	30	26	4
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 2016. Democrats retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Oregon State Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Democratic	18	17	1
	Republican	12	13	1
Total		30	30

Oregon House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Democratic	35	35
	Republican	25	25
Total		50	50

Half of the seats of thePennsylvania State Senate and all of the seats of thePennsylvania House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Republicans retained control of both chambers.

Pennsylvania State Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	31	34	3
	Democratic	19	16	3
Total		50	50

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	119	121	2
	Democratic	84	82	2
Total		203	203

All of the seats of theRhode Island Senate and theRhode Island House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Democrats retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Rhode Island Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Democratic	32	33	1
	Republican	5	5
	Independent	1	0	1
Total		38	38

Rhode Island House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Democratic	62	64	2
	Republican	12	10	2
	Independent	1	1
Total		75	75

All of the seats of theSouth Carolina Senate and theSouth Carolina House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Republicans retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

South Carolina Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	28	28
	Democratic	18	18
Total		46	46

South Carolina House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	78	80	2
	Democratic	46	44	2
Total		124	124

All of the seats of theSouth Dakota Senate and theSouth Dakota House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Republicans retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

South Dakota Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	27	29	2
	Democratic	8	6	2
Total		35	35

South Dakota House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	58	60	2
	Democratic	12	10	2
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 2016. Republicans retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Tennessee Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	28	28
	Democratic	5	5
Total		33	33

Tennessee House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	73	74	1
	Democratic	26	25	1
Total		99	99

Half of the seats of theTexas Senate and all of the seats of theTexas House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Republicans retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Texas Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	20	20
	Democratic	11	11
Total		31	31

Texas House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	99	95	4
	Democratic	50	55	5
	Independent	1	0	1
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 2016. Republicans retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Utah State Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	23	24	1
	Democratic	6	5	1
Total		29	29

Utah House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	63	62	1
	Democratic	12	13	1
Total		75	75

All of the seats of theVermont Senate and theVermont House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Democrats retained control of both chambers.

Vermont Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Democratic	19	21	2
	Republican	9	7	2
	Progressive	2	2
Total		30	30

Vermont House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Democratic	85	83	2
	Republican	53	53
	Progressive	6	7	1
	Independent	6	7	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 2016. Democrats retained control of the state House, while Republicans maintainedcoalition control of the state Senate.

Washington State Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	25	24	1
	Democratic	1[l]	1[l]	1
		23	24
Total		49	49

Washington House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Democratic	50	50
	Republican	48	48
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 2016. Republicans retained control of both chambers.

West Virginia Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	18	22	4
	Democratic	16	12	4
Total		34	34

West Virginia House of Delegates

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	64	63	1
	Democratic	36	37	1
Total		100	100

Half of the seats of theWisconsin Senate and all of the seats of theWisconsin State Assembly were up for election in 2016. Republicans retained control of both chambers.

Wisconsin Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	19	20	1
	Democratic	14	13	1
Total		33	33

Wisconsin State Assembly

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	63	64	1
	Democratic	36	35	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 2016. Republicans retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Wyoming Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	26	27	1
	Democratic	4	3	1
Total		30	30

Wyoming House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	51	51
	Democratic	9	9
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.

Guam 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 won control of the lower house from Independents.

Northern Mariana Islands Senate^[7]

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	6	7	1
	Independent	3	2	1
	Democratic	0	0
Total		9	9

Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives^[8]

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	7	15	8
	Democratic	0	0
	Independent	13	5	8
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 won control of both chambers, from thePopular Democratic Party.

Puerto Rico Senate

Party		Before	After	Change
	Popular Democratic	18	7	11
	New Progressive	8	21	13
	Puerto Rican Independence	1	1
	Independent	0	1	1
Total		27	27

Puerto Rico House of Representatives

Party		Before	After	Change
	Popular Democratic	28	16	12
	New Progressive	23	34	11
	Puerto Rican Independence	0	1	1
Total		51	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.

Virgin Islands Legislature

Party		Before	After	Change
	Democratic	11	11
	Independent	4	4
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.

District of Columbia Council

Party		Before	After	Change
	Democratic	11	11
	Independent	2	2
Total		13	13

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