This week's question was, What percentage of state legislative seats are open this year?

You answered: 17%
The correct answer is 14.6%.

In 2024, 14.6% of state legislative seats are open—the lowest since we began collecting data in 2010. Including 2024, an average of 18.8% of state legislative seats have been open since 2010, meaning an incumbent has not run for re-election in those races.

The highest percentage of open state legislative seats was in 2022 (23.8%) after redistricting.

Here's a bit about where state legislative incumbents who are—or are not—retiring:

• Seven states so far have more retiring incumbents this year than in 2022: Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, and West Virginia.
• Eight states so far have fewer retiring incumbents this year than in 2022: Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
• Nine states so far have the same number of retiring incumbents in 2024 as they did in 2022: Alabama, Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, and New Mexico.
• No incumbents are retiring in 12 states so far in 2024: Alaska, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania.

Click here to learn more about primary competitiveness at the state and congressional levels.

Thanks for your response!