Partisan composition of state houses

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Partisan composition of state legislatures

Legislatures
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

See also
Historical partisan composition of state legislaturesPartisan composition of state senatesHistorical partisan composition of state senatesPartisan composition of state housesHistorical partisan composition of state houses

The partisan composition of state houses refers to which party holds the majority of seats in the state house or the lower level of each state legislature. Altogether, in the 49 state houses, there are 5,411 state representatives.

The breakdown of chamber control after the November 2020 election is as follows:

  • Democratic Party 19 chambers
  • Republican Party 29 chambers
  • Grey.png One chamber with power sharing between the parties

The breakdown of chamber control prior to the November 2020 election was as follows:

  • Democratic Party 20 chambers
  • Republican Party 28 chambers
  • Grey.png One chamber with power sharing between the parties

Ties

A total of 61 state legislative chambers around the country have an even number of members, raising the possibility of a tie between the two major parties. In some instances, a bipartisan coalition of legislators is formed to act as leadership. This tactic has not been the universal approach, however; some legislative bodies have used a coin toss, gubernatorial choice, shared time, or dividing chairperson positions between the parties.[1]

See also: Partisan composition of state senates

Cumulative numbers

As of January 29, 2021, 5,366 state representatives were affiliated with either the Democratic or Republican parties. This total is updated monthly.

Partisan balance of all 7,383 state legislative seats
Legislative chamber Democratic Party Republican Party Other[2]
State senates 864 1,089 19
State houses 2,448 2,918 45
Total: 3,312 4,007 64

Vacancies

As of January 29, 2021, there were 14 state house vacancies in 12 different states. This total is updated monthly.

State Vacancies
Alabama 1
Georgia 1
Louisiana 2
Maryland 1
Massachusetts 1
Missouri 1
Nevada 1
New Hampshire 2
Pennsylvania 1
Texas 1
West Virginia 1
Wisconsin 1

Third Party

As of January 29, 2021, there were 31 state representatives in 11 states identifying as independents or parties other than Democratic and Republican. This total is updated monthly.

State Independents/Third Party
Alaska 3 (Independent), 1 (Nonpartisan)
California 1 (Independent)
Kansas 1 (Independent)
Louisiana 2 (Independent)
Maine 4 (Independent), 1 (Libertarian)
Massachusetts 1 (Independent)
Mississippi 1 (Independent)
New Mexico 1 (Independent)
New York 1 (Independence)
Vermont 7 (Vermont Progressive Party), 5 (Independent)
Wyoming 1 (Independent), 1 (Libertarian)

Election breakdown

See also: Historical partisan composition of state houses

Click here for a breakdown of partisan affiliation of state houses over time.

States

See also: Historical partisan composition of state houses

Click here' for a state-by-state breakdown of the partisan affiliation of state houses.

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. Governing, "How Tied Chambers Affect States," June 9, 2011
  2. This tally includes third party incumbents and vacancies.