Incumbents defeated in state legislative elections, 2015

Last updated on April 10, 2025

2015 State Legislative Competitiveness
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There were 538 state legislative seats up for election in November 2015 in four 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.

In 2015, 28 incumbents lost their re-election bids: 12 in general elections and 16 in primaries. This was more than in 2013 (7) but less than in 2011 (30).

On this page, you will find:

• Incumbents defeated in general elections
• Incumbents defeated in primaries
• State-by-state breakdowns

Incumbents defeated in general elections

In state legislative general elections, 12 lost to challengers, 2.7% of incumbents running for re-election. This was more than in 2013 (5) but less than in 2011 (21).

In 2015 general elections:

Two Democratic incumbents lost, 1.1% of the 182 Democratic incumbents who ran and 2.6% of the 76 contested Democratic incumbents.

10 Republican incumbents lost, 3.9% of the 259 Republican incumbents who ran and 10.2% of the 98 contested Republican incumbents.

The total number of incumbents defeated in general elections—12—was less than in 2011 (21), representing a 43% decrease.

In 2015

Click [show] on the table below to view general election incumbent defeat statistics by state in 2015. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

State legislative incumbents defeated in general elections, 2015
State
	Democratic			Republican			Total
	Filed	Def.	%	Filed	Def.	%	Filed	Def.	%
Nationwide	182	2	1.1%	259	10	3.9%	443	12	2.7%
Louisiana	37	0	0.0%	68	4	5.9%	107	4	3.7%
Mississippi	59	2	3.4%	83	2	2.4%	142	4	2.8%
New Jersey	42	0	0.0%	30	4	13.3%	72	4	5.6%
Virginia	44	0	0.0%	78	0	0.0%	122	0	0.0%

Historical comparison

The chart below shows a partisan breakdown of incumbents defeated in general elections from 2011 to 2015.

Click [show] on the table below to view general election incumbent defeat statistics by state from 2011 to 2015. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

State legislative incumbents defeated in general elections, 2011-2015
State
	2011		2013		2015
	Def.	%	Def.	%	Def.	%
Nationwide	21	4.4%	5	2.5%	12	2.7%
Louisiana	6	5.5%	-	-	4	3.7%
Mississippi	12	8.7%	-	-	4	2.8%
New Jersey	1	1.0%	2	1.8%	4	5.6%
Virginia	2	1.6%	3	3.4%	0	0.0%

Incumbents defeated in primaries

In state legislative primaries, 16 incumbents lost to challengers, 3.5% of incumbents running for re-election. This was the biggest number and percentage of incumbents defeated in state legislative primaries since Ballotpedia began gathering data in 2011.

In 2015 primaries:

Seven Democratic incumbents lost, 3.7% of the 190 Democratic incumbents who ran and 15.2% of the 46 contested Democratic incumbents.

Nine Republican incumbents lost, 3.4% of the 268 Republican incumbents who ran and 15% of the 60 contested Democratic incumbents.

The total number of incumbents defeated in primaries—16—was more than in 2011 (9), representing a 78% increase.

In 2015

Click [show] on the table below to view primary incumbent defeat statistics by state in 2015. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

State legislative incumbents defeated in primaries, 2015
State
	Democratic			Republican			Total
	Filed	Def.	%	Filed	Def.	%	Filed	Def.	%
Nationwide	190	7	3.7%	268	9	3.4%	460	16	3.5%
Louisiana	39	2	5.1%	69	1	1.4%	110	3	2.7%
Mississippi	63	4	6.3%	89	6	6.7%	152	10	6.6%
New Jersey	43	0	0.0%	30	0	0.0%	73	0	0.0%
Virginia	45	1	2.2%	80	2	2.5%	125	3	2.4%

Historical comparison

The chart below shows a partisan breakdown of incumbents defeated in primaries from 2011 to 2015.

Click [show] on the table below to view primary incumbent defeat statistics by state from 2011 to 2015. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

State legislative incumbents defeated in primaries, 2011-2015
State
	2011		2013		2015
	Def.	%	Def.	%	Def.	%
Nationwide	9	1.9%	2	1.0%	16	3.5%
Louisiana	1	0.9%	-	-	3	2.7%
Mississippi	8	5.4%	-	-	10	6.6%
New Jersey	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%
Virginia	0	0.0%	2	2.2%	3	2.4%

Louisiana

General election defeats

There were 144 seats up for election in Louisiana. Overall, 107 incumbents advanced to the general election, including 37 Democrats, 68 Republicans, and two independents. Of that total, four Republican incumbents lost, representing 3.7% of incumbents who advanced to the general election.

Statistics from 2015 are shown below. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

Incumbents defeated in general elections in Louisiana, 2015
Chamber
	Democratic incumbents			Republican incumbents			Total incumbents
	Running	Def.	%	Running	Def.	%	Running	Def.	%
House	29	0	0.0%	48	4	8.3%	79	4	5.1%
Senate	8	0	0.0%	20	0	0.0%	28	0	0.0%
Total	37	0	0.0%	68	4	5.9%	107	4	3.7%

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

Incumbents defeated in general elections in Louisiana, 2011-2015
Year
	Democratic incumbents			Republican incumbents			Total incumbents
	Running	Def.	%	Running	Def.	%	Running	Def.	%
2011	45	2	4.4%	63	4	6.3%	109	6	5.5%
2013	Did not hold elections.
2015	37	0	0.0%	68	4	5.9%	107	4	3.7%

Primary defeats

There were 144 seats up for election in Louisiana. Overall, 110 incumbents filed for re-election, including 39 Democrats and 69 Republicans. Of that total, three incumbents lost in primaries—two Democrats and one Republican—representing 2.7% of incumbents who filed for re-election.

Statistics from 2015 are shown below. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

Incumbents defeated in primaries in Louisiana, 2015
Chamber
	Democratic incumbents				Republican incumbents				Total incumbents
	Filed	Cont.	Def.	%	Filed	Cont.	Def.	%	Filed	Cont.	Def.	%
House	31	11	2	6.5%	49	18	1	2.0%	82	30	3	3.7%
Senate	8	1	0	0.0%	20	7	0	0.0%	28	8	0	0.0%
Total	39	12	2	5.1%	69	25	1	1.4%	110	38	3	2.7%

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

Incumbents defeated in primaries in Louisiana, 2011-2015
Year
	Democratic incumbents				Republican incumbents				Total incumbents
	Filed	Cont.	Def.	%	Filed	Cont.	Def.	%	Filed	Cont.	Def.	%
2011	46	27	1	2.2%	63	22	0	0.0%	110	50	1	0.9%
2013	Did not hold elections.
2015	39	12	2	5.1%	69	25	1	1.4%	110	38	3	2.7%

Mississippi

General election defeats

There were 174 seats up for election in Mississippi. Overall, 142 incumbents advanced to the general election, including 59 Democrats and 83 Republicans. Of that total, four incumbents lost—two Democrats and two Republicans—representing 2.8% of incumbents who advanced to the general election.

Statistics from 2015 are shown below. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

Incumbents defeated in general elections in Mississippi, 2015
Chamber
	Democratic incumbents			Republican incumbents			Total incumbents
	Running	Def.	%	Running	Def.	%	Running	Def.	%
House	43	2	4.7%	56	1	1.8%	99	3	3.0%
Senate	16	0	0.0%	27	1	3.7%	43	1	2.3%
Total	59	2	3.4%	83	2	2.4%	142	4	2.8%

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

Incumbents defeated in general elections in Mississippi, 2011-2015
Year
	Democratic incumbents			Republican incumbents			Total incumbents
	Running	Def.	%	Running	Def.	%	Running	Def.	%
2011	76	8	10.5%	62	4	6.5%	138	12	8.7%
2013	Did not hold elections.
2015	59	2	3.4%	83	2	2.4%	142	4	2.8%

Primary defeats

There were 174 seats up for election in Mississippi. Overall, 152 incumbents filed for re-election, including 63 Democrats and 89 Republicans. Of that total, 10 incumbents lost in primaries—four Democrats and six Republicans—representing 6.6% of incumbents who filed for re-election.

Statistics from 2015 are shown below. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

Incumbents defeated in primaries in Mississippi, 2015
Chamber
	Democratic incumbents				Republican incumbents				Total incumbents
	Filed	Cont.	Def.	%	Filed	Cont.	Def.	%	Filed	Cont.	Def.	%
House	45	17	2	4.4%	60	16	4	6.7%	105	33	6	5.7%
Senate	18	9	2	11.1%	29	10	2	6.9%	47	19	4	8.5%
Total	63	26	4	6.3%	89	26	6	6.7%	152	52	10	6.6%

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

Incumbents defeated in primaries in Mississippi, 2011-2015
Year
	Democratic incumbents				Republican incumbents				Total incumbents
	Filed	Cont.	Def.	%	Filed	Cont.	Def.	%	Filed	Cont.	Def.	%
2011	78	18	2	2.6%	68	16	6	8.8%	147	34	8	5.4%
2013	Did not hold elections.
2015	63	26	4	6.3%	89	26	6	6.7%	152	52	10	6.6%

New Jersey

General election defeats

There were 80 seats up for election in New Jersey. Overall, 72 incumbents advanced to the general election, including 42 Democrats and 30 Republicans. Of that total, four Republican incumbents lost, representing 5.6% of incumbents who advanced to the general election.

Statistics from 2015 are shown below. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

Incumbents defeated in general elections in New Jersey, 2015
Chamber
	Democratic incumbents			Republican incumbents			Total incumbents
	Running	Def.	%	Running	Def.	%	Running	Def.	%
House	42	0	0.0%	30	4	13.3%	72	4	5.6%
Senate	Did not hold elections.
Total	42	0	0.0%	30	4	13.3%	72	4	5.6%

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, 2011-2015
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%

Primary defeats

There were 80 seats up for election in New Jersey. Overall, 73 incumbents filed for re-election, including 43 Democrats and 30 Republicans. No incumbents who filed for re-election lost in primaries.

Statistics from 2015 are shown below. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

Incumbents defeated in primaries in New Jersey, 2015
Chamber
	Democratic incumbents				Republican incumbents				Total incumbents
	Filed	Cont.	Def.	%	Filed	Cont.	Def.	%	Filed	Cont.	Def.	%
House	43	4	0	0.0%	30	3	0	0.0%	73	7	0	0.0%
Senate	Did not hold elections.
Total	43	4	0	0.0%	30	3	0	0.0%	73	7	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, 2011-2015
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%

Virginia

General election defeats

There were 140 seats up for election in Virginia. Overall, 122 incumbents advanced to the general election, including 44 Democrats and 78 Republicans. No incumbents who advanced to the general election lost.

Statistics from 2015 are shown below. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

Incumbents defeated in general elections in Virginia, 2015
Chamber
	Democratic incumbents			Republican incumbents			Total incumbents
	Running	Def.	%	Running	Def.	%	Running	Def.	%
House	27	0	0.0%	62	0	0.0%	89	0	0.0%
Senate	17	0	0.0%	16	0	0.0%	33	0	0.0%
Total	44	0	0.0%	78	0	0.0%	122	0	0.0%

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, 2011-2015
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%

Primary defeats

There were 140 seats up for election in Virginia. Overall, 125 incumbents filed for re-election, including 45 Democrats and 80 Republicans. Of that total, three incumbents lost in primaries—one Democrat and two Republicans—representing 2.4% of incumbents who filed for re-election.

Statistics from 2015 are shown below. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

Incumbents defeated in primaries in Virginia, 2015
Chamber
	Democratic incumbents				Republican incumbents				Total incumbents
	Filed	Cont.	Def.	%	Filed	Cont.	Def.	%	Filed	Cont.	Def.	%
House	28	3	1	3.6%	63	3	1	1.6%	91	6	2	2.2%
Senate	17	1	0	0.0%	17	3	1	5.9%	34	4	1	2.9%
Total	45	4	1	2.2%	80	6	2	2.5%	125	10	3	2.4%

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

Incumbents defeated in primaries in Virginia, 2011-2015
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%

See also

• State legislative elections, 2015
  • Impact of term limits on state legislative elections in 2015
  • Open seats in state legislative elections, 2015
  • Contested state legislative primaries, 2015
  • State legislative incumbents in contested primaries, 2015
  • Major party competition in state legislative elections, 2015
  • State legislative incumbents without general election challengers, 2015

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