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Incumbents defeated in state legislative elections, 2021

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There were 220 state legislative seats up for election on November 2, 2021, 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 2021, 22 incumbents lost their re-election bids: 14 in general elections and eight in primaries. This was more than 2017 (14) and 2013 (7).

On this page, you will find:

Incumbents defeated in general elections

In state legislative general elections, 14 incumbents lost to challengers, 7.2% of incumbents running for re-election. This was the highest number of Democrats who lost in odd-year general elections since Ballotpedia began gathering data in 2011, and it was the first year where no Republicans lost in odd-year general elections.

In 2021 general elections:

  • 14 Democratic incumbents lost, 11.7% of the 120 Democratic incumbents who ran and 12.1% of the 116 contested Democratic incumbents.
  • The total number of incumbents defeated in general elections—14—did not change from 2017 (14).

    • In 2021


    Click [show] on the table below to view general election incumbent defeat statistics by state in 2021. 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 2021.


    Click [show] on the table below to view general election incumbent defeat statistics by state from 2011 to 2021. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

    Incumbents defeated in primaries

    In state legislative primaries, eight incumbents lost to challengers, 3.9% of incumbents running for re-election. This was more than 2017 (0) and 2013 (2).

    In 2021 primaries:

  • Five Democratic incumbents lost, 4.0% of the 125 Democratic incumbents who ran and 21.7% of the 23 contested Democratic incumbents.
  • Three Republican incumbents lost, 3.8% of the 78 Republican incumbents who ran and 17.7% of the 17 contested Republican incumbents.
  • The total number of incumbents defeated in primaries—eight—was an increase from 2017, when no incumbents lost in primaries.

    • In 2021


    Click [show] on the table below to view primary incumbent defeat statistics by state in 2021. 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 2021.


    Click [show] on the table below to view primary incumbent defeat statistics by state from 2011 to 2021. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

    By state

    Overview

    General elections

    Primaries

    New Jersey

    General election defeats

    There were 120 seats up for election in New Jersey. Overall, 105 incumbents advanced to the general election, including 70 Democrats and 35 Republicans. Of that total, seven Democratic incumbents lost, representing 6.7% of incumbents who advanced to the general election.

    Statistics from 2021 are shown below. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

    Incumbents defeated in general elections in New Jersey, 2021
    Chamber
    Democratic incumbents Republican incumbents Total incumbents
    Running Def. % Running Def. % Running Def. %
    House 46 5 10.9% 23 0 0.0% 69 5 7.2%
    Senate 24 2 8.3% 12 0 0.0% 36 2 5.6%
    Total 70 7 10.0% 35 0 0.0% 105 7 6.7%

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

    Incumbents defeated in general elections in New Jersey, 2011-2021
    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%
    2019 53 2 3.8% 22 0 0.0% 75 2 2.7%
    2021 70 7 10.0% 35 0 0.0% 105 7 6.7%

    Primary defeats

    There were 120 seats up for election in New Jersey. Overall, 108 incumbents filed for re-election, including 71 Democrats and 37 Republicans. Of that total, three incumbents lost in primaries—one Democrat and two Republicans—representing 2.8% of incumbents who filed for re-election.

    Statistics from 2021 are shown below. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

    Incumbents defeated in primaries in New Jersey, 2021
    Chamber
    Democratic incumbents Republican incumbents Total incumbents
    Filed Cont. Def. % Filed Cont. Def. % Filed Cont. Def. %
    House 47 6 1 2.1% 25 13 2 8.0% 72 19 3 4.2%
    Senate 24 3 0 0.0% 12 1 0 0.0% 36 4 0 0.0%
    Total 71 9 1 1.4% 37 14 2 5.4% 108 23 3 2.8%

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

    Incumbents defeated in primaries in New Jersey, 2011-2021
    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%
    2019 53 22 0 0.0% 23 3 1 4.3% 76 25 1 1.3%
    2021 71 9 1 1.4% 37 14 2 5.4% 108 23 3 2.8%

    Virginia

    General election defeats

    There were 100 seats up for election in Virginia. Overall, 90 incumbents advanced to the general election, including 50 Democrats and 40 Republicans. Of that total, seven Democratic incumbents lost, representing 7.8% of incumbents who advanced to the general election.

    Statistics from 2021 are shown below. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

    Incumbents defeated in general elections in Virginia, 2021
    Chamber
    Democratic incumbents Republican incumbents Total incumbents
    Running Def. % Running Def. % Running Def. %
    House 50 7 14.0% 40 0 0.0% 90 7 7.8%
    Senate Did not hold elections.
    Total 50 7 14.0% 40 0 0.0% 90 7 7.8%

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

    Incumbents defeated in general elections in Virginia, 2011-2021
    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%
    2019 62 0 0.0% 60 5 8.3% 122 5 4.1%
    2021 50 7 14.0% 40 0 0.0% 90 7 7.8%

    Primary defeats

    There were 100 seats up for election in Virginia. Overall, 95 incumbents filed for re-election, including 54 Democrats and 41 Republicans. Of that total, five incumbents lost in primaries—four Democrats and one Republican—representing 5.3% of incumbents who filed for re-election.

    Statistics from 2021 are shown below. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

    Incumbents defeated in primaries in Virginia, 2021
    Chamber
    Democratic incumbents Republican incumbents Total incumbents
    Filed Cont. Def. % Filed Cont. Def. % Filed Cont. Def. %
    House 54 14 4 7.4% 41 3 1 2.4% 95 17 5 5.3%
    Senate Did not hold elections.
    Total 54 14 4 7.4% 41 3 1 2.4% 95 17 5 5.3%

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

    Incumbents defeated in primaries in Virginia, 2011-2021
    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%
    2019 63 9 1 1.6% 61 5 2 3.3% 124 14 3 2.4%
    2021 54 14 4 7.4% 41 3 1 2.4% 95 17 5 5.3%

    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.
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