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Election results, 2021: State legislative veto-proof majorities
No state legislatures saw changes in their veto-proof majority status—typically when one party controls either three-fifths or two-thirds of both chambers—as a result of the 2021 elections.
Two states held regularly-scheduled state legislative elections on November 2. Neither New Jersey nor Virginia had a veto-proof majority in the state legislature and no party gained a veto-proof majority in either state.
Heading into the election, there were 24 state legislatures where one party had a veto-proof majority in both chambers; 16 held by Republicans and eight held by Democrats. None of those states held legislative elections in 2021.
The veto override power can play a role in conflicts between state legislatures and governors. Conflict can occur when legislatures vote to override gubernatorial vetoes or in court cases related to vetoes and the override power.
Heading into the election, there were four states where the governor was a member of a different political party than the veto-proof majority: Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Maryland. None of those states held legislative elections in 2021.
Although it has the potential to create conflict, the veto override power is rarely used. According to political scientists Peverill Squire and Gary Moncrief in 2010, only about five percent of vetoes are overridden.[1]
Veto-proof majorities and opposing-party governors
Veto-proof majorities are most important when the other party controls the governorship. This creates more opportunities for legislatures to override gubernatorial vetoes. Heading into 2021, the 24 state legislatures where one party had a veto-proof majority in both chambers included four states where the governor was a member of a different political party than the veto-proof majority: Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Maryland. None of these states held legislative elections in 2021. No governorships in these states were up for election in 2021.
Election analysis
Hundreds of elections took place in 2021 across the United States, including primary and general elections at the state and local levels and special elections at the federal, state, and local levels. You will find Ballotpedia's research and curation on 2021 elections in the United States below.
- Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection report
- Incumbent win rates by state
- Incumbents defeated in state legislative elections
- Third-party candidates who won more than the margin of victory
- Number of state legislators by party
- Partisan balance of governors
- Results of elected officials seeking other offices
- State government trifectas
- State government triplexes
- State legislative races decided by fewer than 100 votes
- State legislative seats that changed party control
- State legislative veto-proof majorities
- Partisan balance of mayors of the 100 largest cities by population
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Moncrief, G. & Squire, P. (2010). "State Legislatures Today: Politics Under the Domes". United States. Pearson Education. (184)
