State legislator
Legislators are usually politicians and are often elected by the people. The term applies to state senators and state representatives or assemblymen.[1]
State representatives
| State Government |
|---|
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| State executive officials |
| State legislatures |
| Elections |
| 2012 • 2011 • 2010 |
| Find your state |
As of June 3, 2013, 5,375 state representatives are affiliated with either the Republican or Democratic parties.
| Party | Number of | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic state representatives | 2,581 | 47.6% |
| Republican state representatives | 2,794 | 51.5% |
| Independent state representatives | 15 | 0.27% |
| Third party (and non-voting) representatives | 8 | 0.12% |
| Vacancies | 18 | 0.33% |
Partisan composition of state representatives
- See also: Partisan composition of state houses
The partisan composition of state houses refers to which party holds the majority of seats in the state house or the lower level of each state legislature. Altogether, in the 49 state houses, there are 5,413 state representatives.
As of February 9, 2013, the breakdown of chamber control by party is as follows:
20 chambers
29 chambers
Length of term
The length of terms for state representatives in the 49 American lower chambers is either two years or four years.
Representatives in 5 states have a four-year term. Representatives in 44 states have a two-year term.
See also
State senators
| State Government |
|---|
|
|
| State executive officials |
| State legislatures |
| Elections |
| 2012 • 2011 • 2010 |
| Find your state |
As of June 3, 2013, 1,914 state senators are affiliated with either the Republican or Democratic parties.
| Party | Number of | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic state senators | 890 | 45.1% |
| Republican state senators | 1,024 | 51.9% |
| Non-partisan state senators | 49 | 2.48% |
| Independent state senators | 4 | 0.2% |
| Third Party state senators | 0 | 0% |
| Vacancies | 5 | 0.25% |
Partisan composition of state senates
- See also: Partisan composition of state senates
The partisan composition of state senates refers to which political party holds the majority of seats in the state senate. Altogether, in the 50 state senates, there are 1,971 state senators.
As of February 9, 2013, the breakdown of chamber control by party is as follows:
Length of term
The length of terms for state senators in the 50 American state senates is either two years or four years.
Senators in 31 states have a four-year term. Senators in 12 states have a two-year term. Senators in seven states (Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey and Texas) have terms that are sometimes two years and sometimes four years, depending on the proximity of the election to the legislative re-apportionments that occur every 10 years after a federal census.
- In the 12 states where the length of the term is two years, all state senate seats are up for re-election every two years.
- In the 28 states with a four-year term, or a 2-4-4 term, 28 states have staggered elections so that approximately half of state senate seats are up for re-election during the state's general elections that take place every two years.
- In the 10 other states where the term is four years, all seats come up for re-election during the same year. In those states, there are general election years where no state senate seats are at stake.
| State senate | # of senators | Length of term | Conduct of elections |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama State Senate | 35 | 4 | All seats are up for re-election in 2010, 2014, 2018... |
| Alaska State Senate | 20 | 4 | Staggered |
| Arizona State Senate | 30 | 2 | All seats up for re-election every 2 years |
| Arkansas State Senate | 35 | 2-4-4 | Staggered |
| California State Senate | 40 | 4 | Staggered |
| Colorado State Senate | 35 | 4 | Staggered |
| Connecticut State Senate | 36 | 2 | All seats up for re-election every 2 years |
| Delaware State Senate | 21 | 2-4-4 | Staggered |
| Florida State Senate | 40 | 2-4-4 | Staggered |
| Georgia State Senate | 56 | 2 | All seats up for re-election every 2 years |
| Hawaii State Senate | 25 | 2-4-4 | Staggered |
| Idaho State Senate | 35 | 2 | All seats up for re-election every 2 years |
| Illinois State Senate | 59 | 2-4-4[2] | Staggered |
| Indiana State Senate | 50 | 4 | Staggered |
| Iowa State Senate | 50 | 4 | Staggered |
| Kansas State Senate | 40 | 4 | All seats are up for election in 2008, 2012, 2016... |
| Kentucky State Senate | 39 | 4 | Staggered |
| Louisiana State Senate | 39 | 4 | All seats are up for election in 2011, 2015, 2019... |
| Maine State Senate | 35 | 2 | All seats up for re-election every 2 years |
| Maryland State Senate | 47 | 4 | All seats are up for election in 2010, 2014, 2018... |
| Massachusetts State Senate | 40 | 2 | All seats up for re-election every 2 years |
| Michigan State Senate | 38 | 4 | All seats are up for election in 2010, 2014, 2018... |
| Minnesota State Senate | 67 | 2-4-4 | All seats are up for election in 2010, 2012, 2016... |
| Mississippi State Senate | 52 | 4 | All seats are up for election in 2007, 2011, 2015... |
| Missouri State Senate | 34 | 4 | Staggered |
| Montana State Senate | 50 | 4 | Staggered |
| Nebraska State Senate | 49 | 4 | Staggered |
| Nevada State Senate | 21 | 4 | Staggered |
| New Hampshire State Senate | 24 | 2 | All seats up for re-election every 2 years |
| New Jersey State Senate | 40 | 2-4-4 | All seats are up for election in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2019 |
| New Mexico State Senate | 42 | 4 | All seats are up for election in 2008, 2012, 2016... |
| New York State Senate | 62 | 2 | All seats up for re-election every 2 years |
| North Carolina State Senate | 50 | 2 | All seats up for re-election every 2 years |
| North Dakota State Senate | 47 | 4 | Staggered |
| Ohio State Senate | 33 | 4 | Staggered |
| Oklahoma State Senate | 48 | 4 | Staggered |
| Oregon State Senate | 30 | 4 | Staggered |
| Pennsylvania State Senate | 50 | 4 | Staggered |
| Rhode Island State Senate | 38 | 2 | All seats up for re-election every 2 years |
| South Carolina State Senate | 46 | 4 | All seats are up for election in 2008, 2012, 2016... |
| South Dakota State Senate | 35 | 2 | All seats up for re-election every 2 years |
| Tennessee State Senate | 33 | 4 | Staggered |
| Texas State Senate | 31 | 2-4-4 | Staggered |
| Utah State Senate | 29 | 4 | Staggered |
| Vermont State Senate | 30 | 2 | All seats up for re-election every 2 years |
| Virginia State Senate | 40 | 4 | All seats are up for re-election in 2007, 2011, 2015... |
| Washington State Senate | 49 | 4 | Staggered |
| West Virginia State Senate | 34 | 4 | Staggered |
| Wisconsin State Senate | 33 | 4 | Staggered |
| Wyoming State Senate | 30 | 4 | Staggered |
See also
Recent legislature news
- Maine Legislature approves $6.3 billion budget, anticipates governor’s veto, Jun 19, 2013
- State Legislative Tracker: FBI raids California Senate, Jun 17, 2013
- Kentucky legislative special session looming, Jun 15, 2013
- Governor of Nevada authorizes spending bills, Jun 14, 2013
- Mike Meister announces 2014 candidacy for Nebraska Legislature, Jun 14, 2013
- Montana legislators fail to override vetoes, Jun 14, 2013
- Governor of Delaware signs gun control laws, Jun 14, 2013
- Kansas governor signs tax bill that forced legislature into overtime, Jun 14, 2013
- Wisconsin State Assembly passes bills restricting abortion, Jun 14, 2013
- Minnesota Legislature approves liquor license for the Capitol, Jun 13, 2013
External links
- Partisan breakdown of the current state legislatures at StateNet
- Legislative Review 2012 at Stateline
- State of the States 2012 at Stateline
