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Incumbents defeated in state legislative elections, 2015

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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.[1]

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

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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    By state

    Overview

    General elections

    Primaries

    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

    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.