This week's question was, How many state legislative seats are up for election in 2022?

You answered: 6,166.
You are correct!

There are 7,383 state legislative seats nationwide: 1,972 in state Senates and 5,411 in state Houses. Most of these seats—6,805—are in states that hold state legislative elections in even-numbered years. The remaining 578 seats are in Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia, all of which hold state legislative elections in odd-numbered years.

In 2022, 6,166 state legislative seats are up for election, the largest number we have covered at Ballotpedia since at least 2010. There are a few reasons for this increase but they all stem from the different term lengths for legislators in different states.

In almost every state, representatives are elected to two-year terms, meaning those seats are up for election every election cycle. There are four states—Alabama, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Dakota—where representatives serve four-year terms. Things are a bit more complicated for senators where it is more common to see four-year terms. Twenty-seven states have staggered elections, meaning approximately half of their senate seats are up for re-election every two years.

One reason for the increase is timing. In states like Alabama and Maryland, all legislative seats are up for election every four years rather than every two. Both states are holding elections this year and previously held elections in 2018, 2014, 2010, and so on. There are certain election cycles where staggered terms line up more so than others, leading to an increase in seats up for election.

Redistricting also plays a role in the increase. This is the first election cycle following the 2020 redistricting cycle, meaning many legislative district lines have been redrawn. Some states with staggered terms might choose—or might be required by law—to hold elections for the entire chamber after redistricting rather than just half the chamber like we see in other cycles. In Alaska, for example, there are 20 Senate seats. Typically, 10 of those seats are up for election every two years. But since the district lines were redrawn, officials opted to hold elections for 19 of the chamber's 20 seats this year.

Thanks for your response!