Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.

Incumbents defeated in state legislative elections, 2017

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Competitiveness Report Banner.png
Last updated on April 11, 2025
2017 State Legislative Competitiveness
Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge.png
2019 »
« 2015
Analyses
Annual Report
Open seats • Contested primaries • Incumbents in contested primaries • Major party competition • Uncontested incumbents • Incumbents defeated
Primary statistics
2017 elections
State legislative • State executive officials
Reports by year


There were 220 state legislative seats up for election on November 7, 2017, in two states. This page analyzes incumbents defeated in those elections. An incumbent may be defeated at two points in an election cycle: during a primary and during a general election.[1]

In 2017, 14 incumbents lost their re-election bids, all of them in general elections and none in primaries. This was the first year where no incumbents were defeated in primaries since Ballotpedia began gathering data in 2011.

On this page, you will find:

Incumbents defeated in general elections

In state legislative general elections, 14 incumbents lost to challengers, 7.0% of incumbents running for re-election. This was the highest percentage in an odd election year since Ballotpedia began gathering data in 2011.

In 2017 general elections:

  • One Democratic incumbent lost, 1.0% of the 105 Democratic incumbents who ran and 1.3% of the 80 contested Democratic incumbents.
  • 13 Republican incumbents lost, 13.5% of the 96 Republican incumbents who ran and 15.1% of the 86 contested Republican incumbents.
  • The total number of incumbents defeated in general elections—14—was the highest in an odd election year since 2013 and represented a 180% increase from 2011, the last time New Jersey and Virginia held elections.

    • In 2017


    Click [show] on the table below to view general election incumbent defeat statistics by state in 2017. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

    Historical comparison

    The chart below shows a partisan breakdown of incumbents defeated in general elections from 2011 to 2017.


    Click [show] on the table below to view general election incumbent defeat statistics by state from 2011 to 2017. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

    Incumbents defeated in primaries

    In state legislative primaries, no incumbents lost to challengers. This was the first cycle where no incumbents were defeated in primaries since Ballotpedia began gathering data 2011 .

    Historical comparison

    The chart below shows a partisan breakdown of incumbents defeated in primaries from 2011 to 2017.


    Click [show] on the table below to view primary incumbent defeat statistics by state from 2011 to 2017. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

    By state

    Overview

    General elections

    New Jersey

    General election defeats

    There were 120 seats up for election in New Jersey. Overall, 108 incumbents advanced to the general election, including 72 Democrats and 36 Republicans. Of that total, two incumbents lost—one Democrat and one Republican—representing 1.9% of incumbents who advanced to the general election.

    Statistics from 2017 are shown below. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

    Incumbents defeated in general elections in New Jersey, 2017
    Chamber
    Democratic incumbents Republican incumbents Total incumbents
    Running Def. % Running Def. % Running Def. %
    House 49 0 0.0% 22 0 0.0% 71 0 0.0%
    Senate 23 1 4.3% 14 1 7.1% 37 2 5.4%
    Total 72 1 1.4% 36 1 2.8% 108 2 1.9%

    Historical general election defeat statistics are shown below. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

    Incumbents defeated in general elections in New Jersey, 2011-2017
    Year
    Democratic incumbents Republican incumbents Total incumbents
    Running Def. % Running Def. % Running Def. %
    2011 64 0 0.0% 41 1 2.4% 105 1 1.0%
    2013 67 1 1.5% 46 1 2.2% 113 2 1.8%
    2015 42 0 0.0% 30 4 13.3% 72 4 5.6%
    2017 72 1 1.4% 36 1 2.8% 108 2 1.9%

    Primary defeats

    There were 120 seats up for election in New Jersey. Overall, 107 incumbents filed for re-election, including 71 Democrats and 36 Republicans. No incumbents who filed for re-election lost in primaries.

    Statistics from 2017 are shown below. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

    Incumbents defeated in primaries in New Jersey, 2017
    Chamber
    Democratic incumbents Republican incumbents Total incumbents
    Filed Cont. Def. % Filed Cont. Def. % Filed Cont. Def. %
    House 49 16 0 0.0% 23 6 0 0.0% 72 22 0 0.0%
    Senate 22 2 0 0.0% 13 2 0 0.0% 35 4 0 0.0%
    Total 71 18 0 0.0% 36 8 0 0.0% 107 26 0 0.0%

    Historical primary defeat statistics are shown below. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

    Incumbents defeated in primaries in New Jersey, 2011-2017
    Year
    Democratic incumbents Republican incumbents Total incumbents
    Filed Cont. Def. % Filed Cont. Def. % Filed Cont. Def. %
    2011 63 12 0 0.0% 43 6 0 0.0% 106 18 0 0.0%
    2013 68 12 0 0.0% 46 5 0 0.0% 114 17 0 0.0%
    2015 43 4 0 0.0% 30 3 0 0.0% 73 7 0 0.0%
    2017 71 18 0 0.0% 36 8 0 0.0% 107 26 0 0.0%

    Virginia

    General election defeats

    There were 100 seats up for election in Virginia. Overall, 93 incumbents advanced to the general election, including 33 Democrats and 60 Republicans. Of that total, 12 Republican incumbents lost, representing 12.9% of incumbents who advanced to the general election.

    Statistics from 2017 are shown below. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

    Incumbents defeated in general elections in Virginia, 2017
    Chamber
    Democratic incumbents Republican incumbents Total incumbents
    Running Def. % Running Def. % Running Def. %
    House 33 0 0.0% 60 12 20.0% 93 12 12.9%
    Senate Did not hold elections.
    Total 33 0 0.0% 60 12 20.0% 93 12 12.9%

    Historical general election defeat statistics are shown below. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

    Incumbents defeated in general elections in Virginia, 2011-2017
    Year
    Democratic incumbents Republican incumbents Total incumbents
    Running Def. % Running Def. % Running Def. %
    2011 54 2 3.7% 68 0 0.0% 123 2 1.6%
    2013 30 0 0.0% 58 3 5.2% 88 3 3.4%
    2015 44 0 0.0% 78 0 0.0% 122 0 0.0%
    2017 33 0 0.0% 60 12 20.0% 93 12 12.9%

    Primary defeats

    There were 100 seats up for election in Virginia. Overall, 93 incumbents filed for re-election, including 33 Democrats and 60 Republicans. No incumbents who filed for re-election lost in primaries.

    Statistics from 2017 are shown below. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

    Incumbents defeated in primaries in Virginia, 2017
    Chamber
    Democratic incumbents Republican incumbents Total incumbents
    Filed Cont. Def. % Filed Cont. Def. % Filed Cont. Def. %
    House 33 3 0 0.0% 60 3 0 0.0% 93 6 0 0.0%
    Senate Did not hold elections.
    Total 33 3 0 0.0% 60 3 0 0.0% 93 6 0 0.0%

    Historical primary defeat statistics are shown below. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

    Incumbents defeated in primaries in Virginia, 2011-2017
    Year
    Democratic incumbents Republican incumbents Total incumbents
    Filed Cont. Def. % Filed Cont. Def. % Filed Cont. Def. %
    2011 53 1 0 0.0% 68 1 0 0.0% 122 2 0 0.0%
    2013 30 2 0 0.0% 61 5 2 3.3% 91 7 2 2.2%
    2015 45 4 1 2.2% 80 6 2 2.5% 125 10 3 2.4%
    2017 33 3 0 0.0% 60 3 0 0.0% 93 6 0 0.0%

    See also

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Incumbents may also be defeated in other nominating contests such as conventions. Ballotpedia counts an incumbent defeat in a convention as a defeat in a primary.
    v • e
    Competitiveness in State Legislative Elections
    Background
    Competitive Analysis Main Logo.JPG
    2024
    2023
    2022
    2021
    2020
    2019
    2018
    2017
    2016
    2015
    2014
    2013
    2012
    2011
    2010
    2009
    2007
    v • e
    State legislatures
    Legislatures
    Alabama (H, S) · Alaska (H, S) · Arizona (H, S) · Arkansas (H, S) · California (A, S) · Colorado (H, S) · Connecticut (H, S) · Delaware (H, S) · Florida (H, S) · Georgia (H, S) · Hawaii (H, S) · Idaho (H, S) · Illinois (H, S) · Indiana (H, S) · Iowa (H, S) · Kansas (H, S) · Kentucky (H, S) · Louisiana (H, S) · Maine (H, S) · Maryland (H, S) · Massachusetts (H, S) · Michigan (H, S) · Minnesota (H, S) · Mississippi (H, S) · Missouri (H, S) · Montana (H, S) · Nebraska · Nevada (A, S) · New Hampshire (H, S) · New Jersey (GA, S) · New Mexico (H, S) · New York (A, S) · North Carolina (H, S) · North Dakota (H, S) · Ohio (H, S) · Oklahoma (H, S) · Oregon (H, S) · Pennsylvania (H, S) · Rhode Island (H, S) · South Carolina (H, S) · South Dakota (H, S) · Tennessee (H, S) · Texas (H, S) · Utah (H, S) · Vermont (H, S) · Virginia (H, S) · Washington (H, S) · West Virginia (H, S) · Wisconsin (A, S) · Wyoming (H, S)
    SLP badge.png
    2025
    2024
    2023
    Historical elections
    2022 •  2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 • 2010 • 2009 • 2008 • 2007 • 2006 • 2005 • 2004 • 2003 • 2002 • 2001 • 2000
    Features of
    state legislatures
    State senates
    State houses
    Leadership positions
    Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Incumbents_defeated_in_state_legislative_elections,_2017&oldid=10343587"