Elections to state legislatures were held in 46 U.S. states in 2014 with a total of 6,049 seats up for election (82 percent of the total number of state legislative seats in the United States). Six territorial chambers were up in four territories and the District of Columbia .
Republicans initially gained control of nine legislative chambers: both chambers of the Nevada Legislature (which they held simultaneously for the first time since 1931), the Minnesota House of Representatives , the New Hampshire House of Representatives , the New Mexico House of Representatives for the first time since 1955, the West Virginia House of Delegates , the Colorado Senate , the Maine Senate , and the New York Senate , which was previously under a Republican-led coalition. This increased the total number of Republican-controlled state houses from 58 to 67. The day after the election, Republicans, who achieved a 17–17 tie in the West Virginia Senate , gained control of that chamber as well thanks to the defection of State Senator Daniel Hall , thus increasing their total gains to ten, for a final total of 68 state houses won.[1] This allowed Republicans win control of either chamber of the West Virginia legislature for the first time since 1933.
The election left the Republicans in control of the highest amount of state legislatures in the party's history since 1928, and it also left the Democratic Party in control of the smallest number of state legislatures since 1860.[2] [3] [4]
Summary table Regularly-scheduled elections were held in 87 of the 99 state legislative chambers in the United States; nationwide, regularly-scheduled elections were held for 6,064 of the 7,383 legislative seats. Most 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.[5] The chambers that were not up for election either hold regularly-scheduled elections in odd-numbered years, or have four-year terms and hold all regularly-scheduled elections in presidential election years.
Note that this table only covers regularly-scheduled elections; additional special elections took place concurrently with these regularly-scheduled elections.
State Summaries Alabama All of the seats of the Alabama Legislature were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
Alabama House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Republican
66
72
Democratic
37
33
Total
105
105
Alaska All of the seats of the Alaska House of Representatives and half of the Alaska Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
Arizona All of the seats of the Arizona Legislature were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
Arizona House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Republican
36
38
Democratic
24
22
Total
60
60
Arkansas All of the seats of the Arkansas House of Representatives and half of the Arkansas Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
Arkansas House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Republican
51
64
Democratic
48
36
Total
100
100
California All of the seats of the California House of Representatives and half of the California Senate were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
California State Assembly
Party
Before
After
Change
Democratic
55
52
Republican
25
28
Total
80
80
Colorado All of the seats of the Colorado House of Representatives and half of the Colorado Senate were up for election. Republicans won control of the Senate and Democrats maintained control of the House of Representatives.
Colorado House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Democratic
37
34
Republican
28
31
Total
65
65
Connecticut All of the seats of the Connecticut Legislature were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
Connecticut State Senate
Party
Before
After
Change
Democratic
22
21
Republican
14
15
Total
36
36
Connecticut House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Democratic
97
87
Republican
54
64
Total
151
151
Delaware All of the seats of the Delaware House of Representatives and half of the Delaware Senate were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
Delaware House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Democratic
27
25
Republican
14
16
Total
41
41
Florida All of the seats of the Florida House of Representatives and half of the Florida Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
Florida House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Republican
74
74
Democratic
45
45
Total
120
120
Georgia All of the seats of the Georgia Legislature were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
Georgia House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Republican
118
120
Democratic
60
59
Total
180
180
Hawaii All of the seats of the Hawaii House of Representatives and half of the Hawaii Senate were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
Hawaii House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Democratic
44
43
Republican
7
8
Total
51
51
Idaho All of the seats of the Idaho Legislature were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
Idaho House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Republican
57
56
Democratic
13
14
Total
70
70
Illinois All of the seats of the Illinois House of Representatives and 2/3rds of the Illinois Senate were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
Illinois House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Democratic
70
71
Republican
47
47
Total
118
118
Indiana All of the seats of the Indiana House of Representatives and half of the Indiana Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
Indiana House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Republican
69
71
Democratic
31
29
Total
100
100
Iowa All of the seats of the Iowa House of Representatives and half of the Iowa Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of the House of Representatives and Democrats maintained control of the Senate.
Iowa House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Republican
53
57
Democratic
47
43
Total
100
100
Kansas All of the seats of the Kansas House of Representatives . Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
Kansas House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Republican
93
97
Democratic
32
28
Total
125
125
Kentucky All of the seats of the Kentucky House of Representatives and half of the Kentucky Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of the Senate and Democrats maintained control of the House of Representatives.
Kentucky House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Republican
36
36
Democratic
54
54
Total
100
100
Maine All of the seats of the Maine Legislature were up for election. Republicans won control of the Senate and Democrats maintained control of the House of Representatives.
Maryland All of the seats of the Maryland Legislature were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
Maryland House of Delegates
Party
Before
After
Change
Democratic
91
99
Republican
49
42
Total
141
141
Massachusetts All of the seats of the Massachusetts Legislature were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
Massachusetts House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Democratic
125
125
Republican
35
35
Total
160
160
Michigan All of the seats of the Michigan Legislature were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
Michigan House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Republican
59
63
Democratic
50
47
Total
110
110
Minnesota All of the seats of the Minnesota House of Representatives were up for election. Republicans won control of the House of Representatives.
Missouri All of the seats of the Missouri House of Representatives and half of the Missouri Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
Missouri House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Republican
109
117
Democratic
52
45
Total
163
163
Montana All of the seats of the Montana House of Representatives and half of the Montana Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
Montana House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Republican
61
59
Democratic
39
41
Total
100
100
Nebraska Nebraska is the only U.S. state with a unicameral legislature ; half of the seats of the Nebraska Legislature were up for election in 2014. 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. Republicans maintained control.
Nevada All of the seats of the Nevada House of Representatives and half of the Nevada Senate were up for election. Republicans won control of both state legislative chambers.
New Hampshire All of the seats of the New Hampshire House of Representatives and half of the New Hampshire Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of the Senate and won control of the House of Representatives.
New Hampshire House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Republican
174
239
Democratic
213
160
Total
400
400
New Mexico All of the seats of the New Mexico House of Representatives . Republicans won control of the chamber.
New Mexico House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Democratic
37
33
Republican
33
37
Total
70
70
New York All of the seats of the New York Legislature were up for election. Republicans replaced a Republican-led coalition in the Senate, and Democrats maintained control of the Assembly.
New York State Senate
Party
Before
After
Change
Democratic
28
26
Republican
35 [f]
37 [g]
Total
63
63
New York State Assembly
Party
Before
After
Change
Democratic
105
106
Republican
44
43
Total
150
150
North Carolina All of the seats of the North Carolina House of Representatives and half of the North Carolina Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
North Carolina House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Republican
77
74
Democratic
43
46
Total
120
120
North Dakota All of the seats of the North Dakota House of Representatives and half of the North Dakota Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
Ohio All of the seats of the Ohio House of Representatives and half of the Ohio Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
Ohio House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Republican
60
58
Democratic
38
41
Total
99
99
Oklahoma All of the seats of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and half of the Oklahoma Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
Oklahoma House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Republican
72
72
Democratic
29
29
Total
101
101
Oregon All of the seats of the Oregon House of Representatives and half of the Oregon Senate were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
Oregon House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Democratic
34
34
Republican
26
26
Total
50
50
Pennsylvania All of the seats of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and half of the Pennsylvania Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
Pennsylvania State Senate
Party
Before
After
Change
Republican
27
30
Democratic
23
20
Total
50
50
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Republican
112
119
Democratic
91
84
Total
203
203
Rhode Island All of the seats of the Rhode Island Legislature were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
Rhode Island House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Democratic
69
63
Republican
6
12
Total
75
75
South Carolina All of the seats of the South Carolina House of Representatives were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
South Carolina House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Republican
78
78
Democratic
46
46
Total
123
123
South Dakota All of the seats of the South Dakota Legislature were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
South Dakota House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Republican
53
58
Democratic
17
12
Total
70
70
Tennessee All of the seats of the Tennessee House of Representatives and half of the Tennessee Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
Tennessee House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Republican
72
73
Democratic
27
26
Total
99
99
Texas All of the seats of the Texas House of Representatives and half of the Texas Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
Texas House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Republican
94
98
Democratic
55
52
Total
150
150
Utah All of the seats of the Utah House of Representatives and half of the Utah Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
Utah House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Republican
53
59
Democratic
22
16
Total
75
75
Vermont All of the seats of the Vermont Legislature were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
Washington All of the seats of the Washington House of Representatives and half of the Washington Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained coalition control of the Senate and Democrats maintained control of the House of Representatives.
Washington State Senate
Party
Before
After
Change
Democratic
24
24
Republican
25 [h]
25 [i]
Total
49
49
Washington House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Democratic
55
50
Republican
43
48
Total
98
98
West Virginia All of the seats of the West Virginia House of Delegates and half of the West Virginia Senate were up for election. Republicans won control of both state legislative chambers.
West Virginia House of Delegates
Party
Before
After
Change
Republican
47
64
Democratic
53
36
Total
100
100
Wisconsin All of the seats of the Wisconsin Assembly and half of the Wisconsin Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
Wisconsin State Assembly
Party
Before
After
Change
Republican
60
63
Democratic
39
36
Total
99
99
Wyoming All of the seats of the Wyoming House of Representatives and half of the Wyoming Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.
Wyoming House of Representatives
Party
Before
After
Change
Republican
52
51
Democratic
8
9
Total
60
60
Territorial and federal district summaries American Samoa All of the seats of the American Samoa Senate and the American 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.
Guam Northern Mariana Islands U.S. Virgin Islands Washington, D.C.
Notes
^ The New York Senate was controlled by a coalition of Republicans and members of the Independent Democratic Conference
^ In the Washington State Senate , two Democrats caucused with Republicans to form the Majority Coalition Caucus . Three additional Democrats also caucus with the majority.
^ In the Washington State Senate , one Democrat caucused with Republicans to form the Majority Coalition Caucus
^ a b c d e f g h The upper houses of Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Texas use a 2-4-4 term length system.
^ a b c These figures represent the seats of Nebraska's unicameral legislature.
^ Consists of 30 Republicans, 5 members of the Independent Democratic Caucus
^ Consists of 32 Republicans, 5 members of the Independent Democratic Caucus
^ One Democrat caucused with the Republicans to give them a majority.
^ One Democrat caucused with the Republicans to give them a majority.
References
^ Wilson, Reid (November 5, 2014). "Party switch gives Republicans control of West Virginia Senate". The Washington Post . Retrieved November 11, 2014 . ^ "Nearly half of Americans will now live in states under total GOP control". The Washington Post . Retrieved November 20, 2014 . ^ "The Other GOP Wave: State Legislatures |". RealClearPolitics . Retrieved November 20, 2014 . ^ Pierog, Karen (November 5, 2014). "Republicans gain big in state legislative elections". Reuters . Retrieved November 6, 2014 . ^ a b c "2018 Legislative Races by State and Legislative Chamber". National Conference of State Legislatures .
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