Attorney General elections, 2016

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Ten states held attorney general elections in 2016.

HIGHLIGHTS

Of the ten seats up for election in 2016, six were held by Democrats, while four were held by Republicans.

Four incumbent officeholders—one Republican in Indiana and three Democrats in Missouri, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania—did not seek re-election, which put those four seats at greater risk of changing party hands.

For several years prior to 2016, state attorneys general filed multi-state lawsuits that significantly altered national policies and regulations in industries such as tobacco, pharmaceuticals, clean energy, and healthcare.

One seat changed party hands—Republican Josh Hawley won the open seat in Missouri, which was previously under Democratic control.

Click on a state flag to jump to election details:

• Indiana
• Missouri
• Montana
• North Carolina
• Oregon

• Pennsylvania
• Utah
• Vermont
• Washington
• West Virginia

Partisan analysis

Partisan Breakdown: Attorneys General
Party		As of November 2016	After the 2016 Election
	Democratic Party	22	21
	Republican Party	25	26
	Nonpartisan	2	2
	Independent	1	1
Total		50	50

The partisan breakdown of state attorneys general remained largely unchanged after the 2014 elections, with Democrats gaining two seats previously held by Republicans.

Of the ten seats up for election in 2016, six were held by Democrats, while four were held by Republicans. This means Democrats held 60 percent of the seats up for election despite only holding 46 percent of seats across the country. This created a partisan risk in that a disproportionate number of seats held by Democrats were being challenged compared to the actual partisan balance. Democrats therefore entered the 2016 elections in a position of slightly greater partisan risk than Republicans.

Four incumbent officeholders announced that they were not seeking re-election: Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. This included three Democratic incumbents (Missouri, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania) and one Republican incumbent (Indiana). Open elections left those four seats vulnerable to changing party hands.

One seat changed party hands in 2016—Republican Josh Hawley won the open seat in Missouri, which was previously under Democratic control.

Influence of voter turnout

Attorney general elections across the country coincided with what was a highly competitive presidential election, which drives up voter turnout. This increased turnout during presidential election years can significantly affect the partisan balance of state governments. In particular, offices elected during mid-presidential term elections disadvantage the party of the current president, a trend that has remained relatively constant since the Civil War. Presidential election years see aggregate gains for the party of the winning presidential candidate.

Thirty-one states held elections for attorney general in 2014, equal to 72 percent of the 43 states in which it is a publicly elected position. That same year, voter turnout was the lowest recorded since 1942. Indeed, voter turnout has dropped during mid-presidential term elections since the 1840s. This means a significant majority of publicly elected attorneys general are elected during these midterm cycles that see significantly lower turnout.

2016 elections

Races we watched

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania held an election for attorney general on November 8, 2016. The primary was on April 26. Josh Shapiro (D) won the election, keeping the seat in Democratic hands.

HIGHLIGHTS

Attorney General Kathleen Kane (D) resigned from office in August 2016 after she was convicted on felony perjury charges. She was the first Democrat to hold the office since 1979.

Governor Tom Wolf (D) appointed former First Deputy Attorney General Bruce Beemer (D) to serve the rest of Kane's term; he assumed office on August 30.

County commissioner Josh Shapiro (D) competed with state Sen. John Rafferty (R) in the general election.

Shapiro won the election on November 8, 2016.

North Carolina

North Carolina held an open election for attorney general on November 8, 2016. Josh Stein (D) won the election, keeping the attorney general's seat in Democratic hands.

HIGHLIGHTS

Incumbent Roy Cooper (D) ran for governor in 2016, leaving the attorney general election an open race.

The winners of the March 15 primary elections—state Sen. Buck Newton (R) and former state Sen. Josh Stein (D)—competed in the November 8 general election.

A Republican has not won election to the office of attorney general in North Carolina in over 100 years.

Stein won the general election on November 8, 2016.

Other races

Indiana

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Lorenzo Arredondo (D) Lake County Circuit Court Judge, 1976-2010 Curtis Hill (R) Elkhart County Prosecutor since 2002 Click show to view a list of candidates who were defeated at the party nominating conventions or who declined to run in this election.   Defeated Steve Carter (R) Attorney General of Indiana, 2001-2009 Declined Greg Zoeller (R)- incumbent General election General election for Attorney General of Indiana Incumbent Curtis Hill defeated Lorenzo Arredondo in the general election for Attorney General of Indiana on November 8, 2016. Candidate % Votes ✔ Curtis Hill (R)   62.3   1,642,623 Lorenzo Arredondo (D)   37.7   993,209 Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source Total votes: 2,635,832 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Missouri

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Teresa Hensley (D) Cass County prosecutor Josh Hawley (R) Professor, University of Missouri Law School since 2011 Click [show] to view candidates who declined to run in this election or who were defeated in the primary elections.   Declined Chris Koster (D)- Incumbent Scott Sifton (D) - state senator Defeated Jake Zimmerman (D) St. Louis County assessor since 2011 Kurt Schaefer (R) State Sen. since 2009 General election Josh Hawley defeated Teresa Hensley in the Missouri attorney general election. Missouri Attorney General, 2016 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Josh Hawley 61.10% 1,389,196      Democratic Teresa Hensley 38.90% 884,354 Total Votes 2,273,550 Source: Missouri Secretary of State Primary elections Democratic primary election Teresa Hensley defeated Jake Zimmerman in the Missouri Democratic primary for attorney general. Missouri Democratic primary for attorney general, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Teresa Hensley 52.72% 167,626 Jake Zimmerman 47.28% 150,322 Total Votes (3214 of 3214 precincts reporting) 317,948 Source: Missouri Secretary of State Republican primary election Josh Hawley defeated Kurt Schaefer in the Missouri Republican primary for attorney general. Missouri Republican primary for attorney general, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Josh Hawley 64.22% 415,702 Kurt Schaefer 35.78% 231,657 Total Votes (3214 of 3214 precincts reporting) 647,359 Source: Missouri Secretary of State

Montana

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Tim Fox (R) Incumbent attorney general since 2013 Larry Jent (D) State senator, 2007-2015 Results General election Incumbent Tim Fox defeated Larry Jent in the Montana attorney general election. Montana Attorney General, 2016 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Tim Fox Incumbent 67.67% 332,766      Democratic Larry Jent 32.33% 158,970 Total Votes 491,736 Source: Montana Secretary of State Primary elections Republican primary contest Tim Fox ran unopposed in the Montana Republican primary for attorney general. Montana Republican primary for attorney general, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Tim Fox  (unopposed) 100.00% 140,173 Total Votes (686 of 686 precincts reporting) 140,173 Source: Montana Secretary of State Democratic primary contest Larry Jent ran unopposed in the Montana Democratic primary for attorney general. Montana Democratic primary for attorney general, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Larry Jent  (unopposed) 100.00% 102,171 Total Votes (686 of 686 precincts reporting) 102,171 Source: Montana Secretary of State

Oregon

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Ellen Rosenblum (D/IPO/Working Families) Attorney General of Oregon since 2012 Daniel Crowe (R) Director, Veterans' Justice Project Lars D.H. Hedbor (Lib.) Author; chair, Libertarian Party of Oregon General election Incumbent Ellen Rosenblum defeated Daniel Crowe and Lars D.H. Hedbor in the Oregon attorney general election. Oregon Attorney General, 2016 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic/Working Families/Independent Party of Oregon Ellen Rosenblum Incumbent 55.07% 1,011,761      Republican Daniel Crowe 41.74% 766,753      Libertarian Lars D.H. Hedbor 3.19% 58,609 Total Votes 1,837,123 Source: Oregon Secretary of State Primary elections Democratic primary election   Incumbent Ellen Rosenblum ran unopposed in the Democratic primary for attorney general. Democratic primary for attorney general, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Ellen Rosenblum Incumbent (unopposed) 98.96% 350,737 Write-in votes 1.04% 3,699 Total Votes 354,436 Source: http://oregonvotes.gov/results/2016P/71227554.html Republican primary election   Daniel Crowe ran unopposed in the Republican primary for attorney general. Republican primary for attorney general, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Daniel Crowe  (unopposed) 98.70% 195,407 Write-in votes 1.3% 2,574 Total Votes 197,981 Source: http://oregonvotes.gov/results/2016P/71227554.html

Utah

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Sean D. Reyes (R) Incumbent attorney general since 2013 Jon Harper (D) Private practice attorney Andrew McCullough (Lib.) Private practice attorney Michael IsBell (Independent American) Private practice attorney Incumbent Sean D. Reyes defeated Jon Harper, Andrew McCullough, and Michael IsBell in the Utah attorney general election. Utah Attorney General, 2016 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Sean D. Reyes Incumbent 65.41% 719,043      Democratic Jon Harper 25.07% 275,568      Libertarian Andrew McCullough 6.73% 73,973      Independent American Party Michael IsBell 2.79% 30,687 Total Votes 1,099,271 Source: Utah Lieutenant Governor's Office-Elections

Vermont

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T.J. Donovan (D) Chittenden County state's attorney since 2006 Deborah Bucknam (R) Private practice attorney specializing in civil litigation Rosemarie Jackowski (Liberty Union Party) Educator, writer, activist Click [show] to view candidates who were defeated in the primary elections.   Other candidates H. Brooke Paige (D) Owner, Remmington News Service Click [show] to view candidates who declined to run in this election   Bill Sorrell (D) - Incumbent General election T.J. Donovan defeated Deborah Bucknam and Rosemarie Jackowski in the Vermont attorney general election. Vermont Attorney General, 2016 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic T.J. Donovan 66.61% 200,020      Republican Deborah Bucknam 29.45% 88,431      Liberty Union Party Rosemarie Jackowski 3.94% 11,844 Total Votes 300,295 Source: Vermont Secretary of State Primary elections Democratic primary election T.J. Donovan defeated H. Brooke Paige in the Democratic primary for attorney general. Democratic primary for attorney general, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes T.J. Donovan 67.00% 49,017 H. Brooke Paige 16.29% 11,917 Write-in votes 16.71% 12,228 Total Votes (275 of 275 Precincts Reporting) 73,162 Source: Vermont Secretary of State Republican primary election Deborah Bucknam ran unopposed in the Republican primary for attorney general. Republican primary for attorney general, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Deborah Bucknam  (unopposed) 67.19% 31,173 Write-in votes 32.81% 15,221 Total Votes (275 of 275 Precincts Reporting) 46,394 Source: Vermont Secretary of State

Washington

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Bob Ferguson (D) Most recent position: Attorney general since 2013 Past experience: King City councilman, 2003-2013 Joshua Trumbull (Lib.) Most recent position: Private practice attorney Past experience: Realtor Note: Washington utilizes a mail-in ballot system. Results were not finalized until 14 days after the primary election. General election Incumbent Bob Ferguson defeated Joshua Trumbull in the Washington attorney general election. Washington Attorney General, 2016 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Bob Ferguson Incumbent 67.14% 2,000,804      Libertarian Joshua Trumbull 32.86% 979,105 Total Votes 2,979,909 Source: Washington Secretary of State Primary election Incumbent Bob Ferguson and Joshua Trumbull were unopposed in the Washington primary for attorney general. Washington primary for attorney general, 2016 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Bob Ferguson Incumbent 72.61% 906,493      Libertarian Joshua Trumbull 27.39% 341,932 Total Votes 1,248,425 Source: Washington Secretary of State

West Virginia

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Patrick Morrisey (R) Incumbent attorney general since 2013 Doug Reynolds (D) State representative since 2006 Karl Kolenich (Lib.) Private practice attorney Michael Sharley (Mountain Party) Private practice attorney General election Incumbent Patrick Morrisey defeated Doug Reynolds, Karl Kolenich, and Michael Sharley in the West Virginia attorney general election. West Virginia Attorney General, 2016 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Patrick Morrisey Incumbent 51.63% 358,424      Democratic Doug Reynolds 41.95% 291,232      Libertarian Karl Kolenich 3.46% 24,023      Mountain Party Michael Sharley 2.95% 20,475 Total Votes 694,154 Source: West Virginia Secretary of State Primary elections Democratic primary election   Doug Reynolds ran unopposed in the Democratic primary for attorney general. Democratic primary for Attorney General, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Doug Reynolds  (unopposed) 100.00% 187,786 Total Votes (1,745 of 1,745 precincts reporting) 187,786 Source: MetroNews Republican primary election   Incumbent Patrick Morrisey ran unopposed in the Republican primary for attorney general. Republican primary for Attorney General, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Patrick Morrisey Incumbent (unopposed) 100.00% 157,369 Total Votes (1,745 of 1,745 precincts reporting) 157,369 Source: MetroNews

About the office

The attorney general is an executive office in all 50 states that serves as the chief legal advisor and chief law enforcement officer for the state government and is empowered to prosecute violations of state law, represent the state in legal disputes and issue legal advice to state agencies and the legislature.

In most states, the attorney general has a substantial influence on a state's approach to law enforcement. Attorneys general often set particular law enforcement priorities (e.g. drug law, civil rights violations or sexual crime) and focus extra resources on these issues. This puts them, in the words of the National Association of Attorneys General, at the "intersection of law and public policy."

Attorneys general also play a pivotal role in shaping state and national policies. In particular, recent years have seen state attorneys general filing multi-state lawsuits that have significantly altered national policies and regulations in industries such as tobacco, pharmaceuticals, clean energy, and healthcare. For example, since President Barack Obama's election in 2008, Republican attorneys general have used multi-state cases and coordinated litigation to attempt to block the Affordable Care Act and environmental mandates. Such cases also sometimes bring settlement money into state coffers.

Elected vs. appointed

43 states directly elect Attorneys General. Others are appointed by either the governor, state legislature or state supreme court.

Attorneys general are chosen in four different ways; they are either popularly elected or appointed by the governor, the state legislature, or the state supreme court. The office is elective in 43 states and chosen by a state government organ in seven.

The attorney general is appointed by the governor in five states: Alaska, Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Wyoming.

In Maine, the attorney general is chosen by the state legislature, while in Tennessee the choice falls to the state supreme court.

Quick facts about Attorneys General
Attorneys general are directly elected in 43 states. The remaining seven are appointed by the governor, the state legislature or the state supreme court. Thirty states held regularly scheduled attorney general elections in the 2014 electoral cycle In 2013 the annual salaries for state attorneys general ranged from $72,408 (Arkansas) to $176,988 (Tennessee).

Past elections

2015

See also: State executive official elections, 2015

Three states held elections for treasurer in 2015: Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi.

To view the full electoral history for attorneys general, click [show] to expand the full section.

2014 Thirty states held regularly scheduled attorney general elections in the 2014 electoral cycle: Alabama Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Idaho Illinois Iowa Kansas Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Nebraska Nevada New Mexico New York North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Texas Vermont Wisconsin Utah also held a special election to fill the remaining two years of John Swallow's term. 2013 Main article: State executive official elections, 2013 One state, Virginia, held a regularly scheduled attorney general election in 2013. State Senators Mark Herring (D) and Mark Obenshain (R) faced off in the general election on November 5, 2013, and the race was considered too close to call until the State Board of Elections certified the results of the race on November 25, 2013, naming Herring the victor by a margin of 165 votes. Since the margin was equal to or less than 0.5 percent of the total vote, Obenshain, as the losing candidate, was entitled to request a publicly financed recount, which he did on November 27. The recount began on December 26, and Obenshain conceded to Herring two days later, giving a Democrat control of the office for the first time in almost two decades. 2012 Ten states held attorney general elections in the 2012 electoral cycle: Indiana, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia. Heading into the November election, the Democrats held six of the seats and the Republicans held four seats. Five incumbents sought, and won, re-election, and the status breakdown of the remaining seats was as follows: Two - Montana AG Steve Bullock (D) and Washington AG Rob McKenna (R) - ran for the governorship in their respective states in 2012. One - Utah AG Mark Shurtleff (R) - retired from office. One - 2011 appointee Pennsylvania AG Linda Kelly (R) - did not run for election due to the terms of her Senate confirmation. One - Oregon AG John Kroger (D) - resigned six months ahead of schedule to take a new job as President of Reed College in Portland. Gov. John Kitzhaber appointed Ellen Rosenblum, who was running for 2012 election to the attorney general post at the time, to serve as interim attorney general for the remainder of his unexpired term. Rosenblum was elected to a full term in the general election on November 6, 2012. Democrats won six of the 2012 races while Republicans took four, thus the partisan balance remained unchanged. 2011 Main article: Attorney General elections, 2011 Three states, Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi, had regularly scheduled attorney general elections in the 2011 electoral cycle. Incumbents were re-elected in all three states. Democratic incumbents Jack Conway (KY) and Jim Hood (MS) successfully defended their posts against Republican challengers Todd P’Pool and Steve Simpson, respectively. The Attorney General of Louisiana election was decided even before the October 22, 2011 primary election. Incumbent Republican Buddy Caldwell was unopposed in the race after his sole challenger, former U.S. Representative Joseph Cao, withdrew from the race in late September 2011, and the office of attorney general did not appear on the ballot. 2010 Main article: Attorney General elections, 2010 Thirty attorney general elections were held on November 2, 2010. Of the 30 seats that were up for election, 20 were held by a Democrat and 10 by a Republican. Of those 30 races, 16 were won by Republicans and 14 by Democrats- a net gain of six by Republicans over their pre-election total. Partisan breakdown of State Attorneys General Party Before November 2010 election After November 2010 election With 2010 elections Unelected AGs Total AGs Post 2010 elections Unelected AGs Total AGs Gain/loss legislators Democratic 20 12 32 14 12 26 -6 Republican 10 8 18 16 8 24 +6

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'state attorney general election' OR 'attorney general election' 2016. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Attorney General elections, 2016 - Google News

External links

Suggest a link

• Website of the National Association of Attorneys General

Footnotes

Attorneys General

Elected (by voters)

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Appointed (by gov.)

Alaska • Hawaii • New Jersey • Wyoming

Appointed (by courts)

Tennessee

Elected (state leg.)

Maine • New Hampshire

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