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2014 elections review: Recapping state legislative primaries in six states

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May 20, 2014

By Ballotpedia's State legislative team

On May 20, 2014, primary elections took place in Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Oregon and Pennsylvania. There were 246 (14.0%) of the 1762 possible contested primaries. One hundred and forty-eight (60.1%) of those contested primaries featured an incumbent. Twenty-two (14.9%) incumbents, 7 Democrats and 15 Republicans, lost their primary election.

Arkansas

May 20 elections in Arkansas saw a total of 26 state legislative primaries. Contests were held for four Republican primaries in the Arkansas State Senate. The Arkansas House of Representatives held 4 Democratic primaries and 18 Republican primaries. In those elections, eight incumbents faced primary competition; three in the Senate and five in the House. Challengers defeated one incumbent in the Senate and two incumbents in the House in the primary elections.

Contested Primaries in Arkansas -- May 20, 2014
State Senate
(18 seats) 		State House
(100 seats)
Total Democratic Contested Primaries 0 (0.0%) 4 (4.0%)
Total Republican Contested Primaries 4 (22.2%) 18 (18.0%)

Senate

Four primary contests were held in the Arkansas State Senate. One incumbent, Bruce Holland (R), lost his primary, while the other incumbents facing a primary, Bill Sample (R) and Missy Irvin (R), won.

Arkansas State Senate
Party As of November 3, 2014 After November 4, 2014
     Democratic Party 13 11
     Republican Party 21 24
     Vacancy 1 0
Total 35 35

House

Twenty-two primary contests were held in the Arkansas House of Representatives. Five incumbents, one Democrat and four Republicans, faced primary competition. Three incumbents, Fred Smith (D), John "Hutch" Hutchison (R) and Randy Alexander (R), were defeated in their primaries.

Arkansas House of Representatives
Party As of November 3, 2014 After November 4, 2014
     Democratic Party 48 36
     Republican Party 51 64
     Green Party 1 0
Total 100 100

Georgia

May 20 elections in Georgia saw a total of 62 state legislative primaries. Contests were held for ten Democratic and nine Republican primaries in the Georgia State Senate. The Georgia House of Representatives held 12 Democratic primaries and 31 Republican primaries. In those elections, 48 incumbents faced primary competition; 12 in the Senate and 36 in the House. Challengers defeated two incumbents in the Senate and three incumbents in the House in the primary elections.

Contested Primaries in Georgia -- May 20, 2014
State Senate
(56 seats) 		State House
(180 seats)
Total Democratic Contested Primaries 10 (17.9%) 12 (6.7%)
Total Republican Contested Primaries 9 (16.1%) 31 (17.2%)

Senate

Nineteen primary contests were held in the Georgia State Senate. Nine incumbents, seven Democrats and five Republicans, faced primary competition. Two incumbents, Don Balfour (R) and Stephen P. "Steve" Thompson (D), were defeated in their primaries.

  • District 9: Michael A. "Mike" Beaudreau defeated incumbent Don Balfour (R) in the Republican primary. Timothy Swiney (D) will face the Republican nominee in the general election. Balfour first took office in 1993, but was suspended for two months in 2013 after he was indicted on felony charges. He was eventually acquitted of all charges and reinstated.
  • District 33: Michael A. Rhett defeated incumbent Stephen P. "Steve" Thompson (D) in the Democratic primary. No Republican candidate filed to run. Thompson first took office in 1991.
Georgia State Senate
Party As of November 3, 2014 After November 4, 2014
     Democratic Party 18 18
     Republican Party 38 38
Total 56 56

House

Forty-three primary contests were held in the Georgia House of Representatives. Thirty-six incumbents, 10 Democrats and 26 Republicans, faced primary competition. Three incumbents, Sam Moore (R), Charles A. Gregory (R) and Willie Lee Talton (R), were defeated in their primaries.

Georgia House of Representatives
Party As of November 3, 2014 After November 4, 2014
     Democratic Party 60 59
     Republican Party 118 120
     Independent 1 1
     Vacancy 1 0
Total 180 180

Idaho

May 20 elections in Idaho saw a total of 42 state legislative primaries. Contests were held for 11 Republican primaries in the Idaho State Senate. The Idaho House of Representatives held 6 Democratic primaries and 25 Republican primaries. In those elections, 31 incumbents faced primary competition; 9 in the Senate and 22 in the House. Challengers defeated two incumbents in the Senate and four incumbents in the House in the primary elections.

Contested Primaries in Idaho -- May 20, 2014
State Senate
(35 seats) 		State House
(70 seats)
Total Democratic Contested Primaries 0 (0.0%) 6 (8.6%)
Total Republican Contested Primaries 11 (31.4%) 25 (35.7%)

Senate

Eleven primary contests were held in the Idaho State Senate. Nine incumbents, all Republicans, faced primary competition. Two incumbents, John W. Goedde (R) and Monty J. Pearce (R), were defeated in their primaries. 

(R) defeated Scott O. Smith in the Republican primary. No Democratic candidate filed to run.
Idaho State Senate
Party As of November 3, 2014 After November 4, 2014
     Democratic Party 7 7
     Republican Party 28 28
Total 35 35

House

Thirty-one primary contests were held in the Idaho House of Representatives. Twenty-two incumbents, 1 Democrat and 21 Republicans, faced primary competition. Four incumbents, George E. Eskridge (R), Ed Morse (R), Lenore Hardy Barrett (R) and Douglas A. Hancey (R), were defeated in their primaries.

Idaho House of Representatives
Party As of November 3, 2014 After November 4, 2014
     Democratic Party 13 14
     Republican Party 57 56
Total 70 70

Kentucky

May 20 elections in Kentucky saw a total of 119 state legislative primaries. Contests were held for one Democratic primary and five Republican primaries in the Kentucky State Senate. The Kentucky House of Representatives held 10 Democratic primaries and 13 Republican primaries. In those elections, fourteen incumbents faced primary competition; three in the Senate and 11 in the House. Challengers defeated one incumbent in the Senate and one incumbent in the House in the primary elections.

Contested Primaries in Kentucky -- May 20, 2014
State Senate
(19 seats) 		State House
(100 seats)
Total Democratic Contested Primaries 1 (5.3%) 10 (10.0%)
Total Republican Contested Primaries 5 (26.3%) 13 (13.0%)

Senate

See also: Kentucky State Senate elections, 2014

Three primary contests were held in the Kentucky State Senate. Three incumbents, all Republicans, faced primary competition. One incumbent, Sara Beth Gregory, (R) was defeated in her primary.

Kentucky State Senate
Party As of November 3, 2014 After November 4, 2014
     Democratic Party 14 12
     Republican Party 23 26
     Independent 1 0
Total 38 38

House

See also: Kentucky House of Representatives elections, 2014

Twenty-three primary contests were held in the Kentucky House of Representatives. Eleven incumbents, six Democrats and five Republicans, faced primary competition. One incumbent, W. Keith Hall (D), was defeated in his primary.

Kentucky House of Representatives
Party As of November 3, 2014 After November 4, 2014
     Democratic Party 54 54
     Republican Party 46 46
Total 100 100

Oregon

May 20 elections in Oregon saw a total of 20 state legislative primaries. Contests were held for one Republican primary in the Oregon State Senate. The Oregon House of Representatives held 7 Democratic primaries and 12 Republican primaries. In those elections, five incumbents faced primary competition; all in the House. Challengers defeated only one incumbent in the House in the primary elections.

Contested Primaries in Oregon -- May 20, 2014
State Senate
(15 seats) 		State House
(60 seats)
Total Democratic Contested Primaries 0 (0.0%) 7 (11.6%)
Total Republican Contested Primaries 1 (6.6%) 12 (20.0%)

Senate

See also: Oregon State Senate elections, 2014

No incumbent state senators faced primary competition on May 20. There is one incumbent not seeking re-election in 2014 and another 14 incumbents advanced past the primary without opposition.

Oregon State Senate
Party As of November 3, 2014 After November 4, 2014
     Democratic Party 16 18
     Republican Party 14 12
Total 30 30

House

See also: Oregon House of Representatives elections, 2014

Nineteen primary contests were held in the Oregon House of Representatives. Five incumbents, two Democrats and three Republicans, faced primary competition. One incumbent, Jim Thompson (R), was defeated in his primary. In one district, District 9, the race is still too close to call.

Oregon House of Representatives
Party As of November 3, 2014 After November 4, 2014
     Democratic Party 34 35
     Republican Party 26 25
Total 60 60

Pennsylvania

May 20 elections in Pennsylvania saw a total of 67 state legislative primaries. Contests were held for four Democratic and three Republican primaries in the Pennsylvania State Senate. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives held 35 Democratic primaries and 25 Republican primaries. In those elections, forty-one incumbents faced primary competition; 3 in the Senate and 38 in the House. Challengers defeated one incumbent in the Senate and three incumbents in the primary elections.

Contested Primaries in Pennsylvania -- May 20, 2014
State Senate
(25 seats) 		State House
(203 seats)
Total Democratic Contested Primaries 4 (16.0%) 35 (17.2%)
Total Republican Contested Primaries 3 (12.0%) 25 (12.3%)

Senate

See also: Pennsylvania State Senate elections, 2014

Seven primary contests were held in the Pennsylvania State Senate. Three incumbents, two Democrats and one Republican, faced primary competition. One incumbent, LeAnna Washington (D), lost her primary, while the other incumbents facing a primary, Christine Tartaglione (D) and Scott Wagner (R), won.

Pennsylvania State Senate
Party As of November 3, 2014 After November 4, 2014
     Democratic Party 22 20
     Republican Party 27 30
     Vacancy 1 0
Total 50 50

House

See also: Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2014

Sixty primary contests were held in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Thirty-eight incumbents, 28 Democrats and 10 Republicans, faced primary competition. Three incumbents, Erin Molchany (D), Kevin Haggerty (D) and Jose Miranda (D), were defeated in their primaries. In two districts, District 176 and District 179, the races are still too close to call. In District 179, Incumbent James Clay (D), is currently trailing Jason Dawkins by 80 votes with one precinct remaining.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Party As of November 3, 2014 After November 4, 2014
     Democratic Party 91 84
     Republican Party 111 119
     Vacancy 1 0
Total 203 203

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Associated Press, "2014 Pennsylvania House of Representatives Primary Results," accessed May 20, 2014
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