Number of Democratic and Republican candidates on the ballot for federal and state offices, 2022

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2022 Election Analysis
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In 2022, 2,422 major party candidates appeared on primary ballots for 474 seats in the U.S. Congress, including 989 Democrats and 1,433 Republicans. The congressional seats up for election in 2022 included 34 U.S. Senate seats, all 435 U.S. House seats, and five non-voting delegate seats in the U.S. House.

At the state level, 14,791 major party candidates appeared on the primary ballot for 6,670 state offices across the country, including 6,598 Democrats and 8,193 Republicans. The state offices up for election in 2022 included 4,978 state house seats, 1,300 state senate seats, 304 state executive offices, and 88 state judicial offices.

This article provides an overview of the number of major party candidates who were on the primary ballot for congressional and state office in 2022. It also includes historical comparisons between the 2022 cycle and the preceding two election cycles for context.

In the sections below, you will find information on major party candidates who ran for federal office, including:

• The partisan breakdown of candidates on the primary ballot for all seats in the U.S. Congress in 2022
• The partisan breakdown of candidates on the primary ballot for the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House in 2022
• Historical information on major party candidates on the primary ballot for the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House going back to 2018

You will also find information on major party candidates who ran for state offices, including:

• The partisan breakdown of candidates on the primary ballot for all state legislative districts in 2022
• The partisan breakdown of candidates on the primary ballot for state senate districts and state house districts in 2022
• Historical information on major party candidates on the primary ballot for state senate districts and state house districts going back to 2018
• The partisan breakdown of candidates on the primary ballot for state executive offices and state judicial offices in 2022
• Historical information on major party candidates on the primary ballot for state executive offices and state judicial offices going back to 2018

The numbers below do not include special elections. The statistics for seats in the U.S. Congress include the seats of the non-voting members of the U.S. House who represent U.S. territories and the District of Columbia but do not include the District of Columbia's shadow representative. The statistics for state offices do not include the U.S. territories or the District of Columbia.

Major party candidates that ran for U.S. Congress in 2022

See also: United States Congress elections, 2022

In 2022, 2,422 major party candidates were on the primary ballot for 474 seats in the U.S. Congress, including:

• 989 Democrats, or 40.83% of all major party candidates who ran
• 1,433 Republicans, or 59.17% of all major party candidates who ran

Candidates on the primary ballot for the U.S. Senate

See also: United States Senate elections, 2022

Three hundred and four major party candidates appeared on the ballot in U.S. Senate primaries in 2022, including 119 Democrats, or 39.14% of all candidates who ran, and 185 Republicans, or 60.86% of all candidates who ran.

Historical comparison - U.S. Senate 2018-2022

The 119 Democrats who appeared on the ballot in U.S. Senate primaries in 2022 were 11 more than the 108 who appeared on the ballot in 2020 and 33 more than the 86 who appeared in 2018.

The 185 Republicans who appeared on the ballot were 62 more than the 123 who appeared on the ballot in 2020 and 44 more than the 141 who appeared in 2018.

Candidates per seat

There were 3.5 Democratic candidates on the ballot per U.S. Senate seat in 2022. That's more than the 3.27 Democrats per seat who appeared on the ballot in 2020 and the 2.61 Democrats per seat who appeared in 2018.

There were 5.44 Republican candidates on the ballot per U.S. Senate seat in 2022. That's more than the 3.73 Republicans per seat who appeared on the ballot in 2020 and the 4.27 Republicans per seat who appeared in 2018.

Democratic and Republican candidates per U.S. Senate seat
Year	Number of seats up for election	Total number of Democratic candidates	Number of Democratic candidates per seat	Total number of Republican candidates	Number of Republican candidates per seat	Total number of major-party candidates	Total number of major-party candidates per seat
2022	34	119	3.5	185	5.44	304	8.94
2020	33	108	3.27	123	3.73	231	7
2018	33	86	2.61	141	4.27	227	6.88
Total:	100	313	3.13 (average 2018-2022)	449	4.49 (average 2018-2022)	762	7.62 (average 2018-2022)

Partisan ratio

The 39.14% of major party candidates in 2022 who ran as Democrats was lower than in 2020, when 46.75% of major party candidates did, but higher than in 2018, when 37.89% did.

Conversely, the 60.86% of major party candidates who ran as Republicans in 2022 was higher than in 2020, when 53.25% did, but lower than in 2018, when 62.11% did.

Partisan ratio of U.S. Senate candidates on the primary ballot, 2018-2022
Year	Percentage of candidates who ran as Democrats	Percentage of candidates who ran as Republicans
2022	39.14%	60.86%
2020	46.75%	53.25%
2018	37.89%	62.11%
Average 2018-2022:	41.08%	58.92%

Candidates on the primary ballot for the U.S. House

See also: United States House of Representatives elections, 2022

2,118 major party candidates appeared on the ballot in U.S. House primaries in 2022, including 870 Democrats, or 41.08% of all candidates who ran, and 1,248 Republicans, or 58.92% of all candidates who ran.

Historical comparison - U.S. House 2018-2022

The 870 Democrats who appeared on the ballot in U.S. House primaries in 2022 were 75 fewer than the 945 who appeared on the ballot in 2020 and 211 fewer than the 1,081 who appeared in 2018.

The 1,248 Republicans who appeared on the ballot were 195 more than the 1,053 who appeared on the ballot in 2020 and 382 more than the 866 who appeared in 2018.

Candidates per seat

There were 1.98 Democratic candidates on the ballot per U.S. House seat in 2022. That's fewer than the 2.14 Democrats per seat who appeared on the ballot in 2020 and the 2.46 Democrats per seat who appeared in 2018.

There were 2.84 Republican candidates on the ballot per U.S. House seat in 2022. That's more than the 2.39 Republicans per seat who appeared on the ballot in 2020 and the 1.97 Republicans per seat who appeared in 2018.

Democratic and Republican candidates per U.S. House seat
Year	Number of seats up for election	Total number of Democratic candidates	Number of Democratic candidates per seat	Total number of Republican candidates	Number of Republican candidates per seat	Total number of major-party candidates	Total number of major-party candidates per seat
2022	440	870	1.98	1,248	2.84	2,118	4.81
2020	441	945	2.14	1,053	2.39	1,998	4.53
2018	440	1,081	2.46	866	1.97	1,947	4.43
Total:	1,321	2,896	2.19 (average 2018-2022)	3,167	2.4 (average 2018-2022)	6,063	4.59 (average 2018-2022)

Partisan ratio

The 41.08% of major party candidates in 2022 who ran as Democrats was lower than in 2020, when 47.3% of major party candidates did, and in 2018, when 55.52% did.

Conversely, the 58.92% of major party candidates who ran as Republicans in 2022 was higher than in 2020, when 52.7% did, and in 2018, when 44.48% did.

Partisan ratio of U.S. House candidates on the primary ballot, 2018-2022
Year	Percentage of candidates who ran as Democrats	Percentage of candidates who ran as Republicans
2022	41.08%	58.92%
2020	47.3%	52.7%
2018	55.52%	44.48%
Average 2018-2022:	47.77%	52.23%

Major party candidates running for state legislative office in 2022

See also: State legislative elections, 2022

In 2022, there were 6,278 state legislative seats up for election around the country. 13,491 major party candidates were on the primary ballot in those races, including:

• 6,063 Democrats, or 44.94% of all major party candidates who ran
• 7,428 Republicans, or 55.06% of all major party candidates who ran

Candidates on the primary ballot for state senate

2,824 major party candidates appeared on the ballot in state senate primaries in 2022, including 1,254 Democrats, or 44.41% of all candidates who ran, and 1,570 Republicans, or 55.59% of all candidates who ran.

Historical comparison - state senate districts 2018-2022

Candidates per seat

There were 0.96 Democratic candidates on the ballot per state senate seat in 2022. That's fewer than the 1.09 Democrats per seat who appeared on the ballot in 2020 and the 1.2 Democrats per seat who appeared in 2018.

There were 1.21 Republican candidates on the ballot per state senate seat in 2022. That's more than the 1.08 Republicans per seat who appeared on the ballot in 2020 and the 1.06 Republicans per seat who appeared in 2018.

Democratic and Republican candidates per state senate seat
Year	Number of seats up for election	Total number of Democratic candidates	Number of Democratic candidates per seat	Total number of Republican candidates	Number of Republican candidates per seat	Total number of major-party candidates	Total number of major-party candidates per seat
2022	1,300	1,254	0.96	1,570	1.21	2,824	2.17
2020	1,165	1,266	1.09	1,258	1.08	2,524	2.17
2018	1,115	1,333	1.2	1,177	1.06	2,510	2.25
Total:	3,580	3,853	1.08 (average 2018-2022)	4,005	1.12 (average 2018-2022)	7,858	2.19 (average 2018-2022)

Partisan ratio

The 44.41% of major party candidates in 2022 who ran as Democrats was lower than in 2020, when 50.16% of major party candidates did, and 2018, when 53.11% did.

Conversely, the 55.59% of major party candidates who ran as Republicans in 2022 was higher than in 2020, when 49.84% did, and in 2018, when 46.89% did.

Partisan ratio of state senate candidates on the primary ballot, 2018-2022
Year	Percentage of candidates who ran as Democrats	Percentage of candidates who ran as Republicans
2022	44.41%	55.59%
2020	50.16%	49.84%
2018	53.11%	46.89%
Average 2018-2022:	49.03%	50.97%

Candidates who ran in primaries for state house

10,667 major party candidates appeared on the ballot in state house primaries in 2022, including 4,809 Democrats, or 45.08% of all candidates who ran, and 5,858 Republicans, or 54.92% of all candidates who ran.

Historical comparison - state house districts 2018-2022

Candidates per seat

There were 0.97 Democratic candidates on the ballot per state house seat in 2022. That's fewer than the 1.06 Democrats per seat who appeared on the ballot in 2020 and the 1.16 Democrats per seat who appeared in 2018.

There were 1.18 Republican candidates on the ballot per state house seat in 2022. That's more than the 1.04 Republicans per seat who appeared on the ballot in 2020 and 2018.

Democratic and Republican candidates per state house seat
Year	Number of seats up for election	Total number of Democratic candidates	Number of Democratic candidates per seat	Total number of Republican candidates	Number of Republican candidates per seat	Total number of major-party candidates	Total number of major-party candidates per seat
2022	4,978	4,809	0.97	5,858	1.18	10,667	2.14
2020	4,710	4,978	1.06	4,897	1.04	9,875	2.1
2018	4,958	5,760	1.16	5,171	1.04	10,931	2.2
Total:	14,646	15,547	1.06 (average 2018-2022)	15,926	1.09 (average 2018-2022)	31,473	2.15 (average 2018-2022)

Partisan ratio

The 45.08% of major party candidates in 2022 who ran as Democrats was lower than in 2020, when 50.41% of major party candidates did, and in 2018, when 52.69% did.

Conversely, the 54.92% of major party candidates who ran as Republicans in 2022 was higher than in 2020, when 49.59% did, and in 2018, when 47.31% did.

Partisan ratio of state house candidates on the primary ballot, 2018-2022
Year	Percentage of candidates who ran as Democrats	Percentage of candidates who ran as Republicans
2022	45.08%	54.92%
2020	50.41%	49.59%
2018	52.69%	47.31%
Average 2018-2022:	49.4%	50.60%

Major party candidates running for state executive office in 2022

See also: State executive official elections, 2022

In 2022, there were 304 state executive seats up for election. 1,140 major party candidates were on the primary ballot in those races, including:

• 463 Democrats, or 40.61% of all major party candidates who ran
  
• 677 Republicans, or 59.39% of all major party candidates who ran

Historical comparison - state executive offices 2018-2022

Candidates per seat

There were 1.52 Democratic candidates on the ballot per state executive seat up for election in 2022. That's more than the 1.35 Democrats per office who appeared on the ballot in 2020 and fewer than the 1.7 Democrats per office who appeared in 2018.

There were 2.23 Republican candidates on the ballot per state executive seat in 2022. That's more than the 1.56 Republicans per office who appeared on the ballot in 2020 and the 1.76 Republicans per office who appeared in 2018.

Democratic and Republican candidates per state executive office
Year	Number of seats up for election	Total number of Democratic candidates	Number of Democratic candidates per office	Total number of Republican candidates	Number of Republican candidates per office	Total number of major-party candidates	Total number of major-party candidates per office
2022	304	463	1.52	677	2.23	1,140	3.75
2020	165	222	1.35	258	1.56	480	2.91
2018	296	502	1.7	522	1.76	1,024	3.46
Total:	765	1,187	1.55 (average 2018-2022)	1,457	1.90 (average 2018-2022)	2,644	3.45 (average 2018-2022)

Partisan ratio

The 40.61% of major party candidates in 2022 who ran as Democrats was lower than in 2020, when 46.25% of major party candidates did, and in 2018, when 49.02% did.

Conversely, the 59.39% of major party candidates who ran as Republicans in 2022 was higher than in 2020, when 53.75% did, and in 2018, when 50.98% did.

Partisan ratio of candidates for state executive office on the primary ballot, 2018-2022
Year	Percentage of candidates who ran as Democrats	Percentage of candidates who ran as Republicans
2022	40.61%	59.39%
2020	46.25%	53.75%
2018	49.02%	50.98%
Average 2018-2022:	44.89%	55.11%

Major party candidates running for state judicial positions in 2022

See also: Partisan election of judges, State judicial elections, 2022

In 2022, there were 88 state judicial positions up for partisan election in states that select judges using partisan elections. 160 major party candidates were on the primary ballot in those races, including:

• 72 Democrats, or 45% of all major party candidates who ran
  
• 88 Republicans, or 55% of all major party candidates who ran

Historical comparison - state judicial positions 2018-2022

Candidates per seat

There were 0.82 Democratic candidates on the ballot per state judicial seat up for election in 2022. That's fewer than the 1.11 Democrats per seat who appeared on the ballot in 2020 and more than the 0.71 Democrats per seat who appeared in 2018.

There was one Republican candidate on the ballot per state judicial seat in 2022. That's fewer than the 1.05 Republicans per seat who appeared on the ballot in 2020 and the 1.15 Republicans per seat who appeared in 2018.

Democratic and Republican candidates per state judicial seat
Year	Number of seats up for election	Total number of Democratic candidates	Number of Democratic candidates per seat	Total number of Republican candidates	Number of Republican candidates per seat	Total number of major-party candidates	Total number of major-party candidates per seat
2022	88	72	0.82	88	1	160	1.82
2020	91	101	1.11	96	1.05	197	2.16
2018	109	77	0.71	125	1.15	202	1.85
Total:	288	250	0.87 (average 2018-2022)	309	1.07 (average 2018-2022)	559	1.94 (average 2018-2022)

Partisan ratio

The 45% of major party candidates in 2022 who ran as Democrats was lower than in 2020, when 51.27% of major party candidates did, but higher than in 2018, when 38.12% did.

Conversely, the 55% of major party candidates who ran as Republicans in 2022 was higher than in 2020, when 48.73% did, but lower than in 2018, when 61.88% did.

Partisan ratio of candidates for state judicial seats on the primary ballot, 2018-2022
Year	Percentage of candidates who ran as Democrats	Percentage of candidates who ran as Republicans
2022	45%	55%
2020	51.27%	48.73%
2018	38.12%	61.88%
Average 2018-2022:	44.72%	55.28%

See also

• Elections
• United States Senate elections, 2022
• United States House of Representatives elections, 2022
• State executive official elections, 2022
• State legislative elections, 2022
• State judicial elections, 2022
• Partisan election of judges
• Ballotpedia's Candidate Filing Analysis Hub, 2022

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