Partisan composition of state legislatures

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Partisan composition of state legislatures
Legislatures
Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming
See also
Historical partisan composition of state legislatures • Partisan composition of state senates • Historical partisan composition of state senates • Partisan composition of state houses • Historical partisan composition of state houses

Election results, 2020: State legislative chambers that changed party control

See also: Election results, 2020: State legislative chambers that changed party control

Updated November 24, 2020

Eighty-six of 99 state legislative chambers across 44 states held general elections on November 3, 2020. As of November 24, partisan control flipped in two chambers—Republicans gained majorities in the New Hampshire House of Representatives and the New Hampshire State Senate.

Though Republicans won a plurality of seats in both chambers, control of the Alaska House of Representatives and Alaska State Senate is still undetermined. If Republicans are unable to construct a unified governing faction in the Senate, some may join with the seven Democratic senators to form a coalition akin to the one created in the Alaska House of Representatives in 2018.

Heading into the 2020 elections, Republicans had majorities in 59 chambers and Democrats had majorities in 39 chambers. In the Alaska House, there was a power-sharing agreement between the parties as part of a coalition.

The National Conference of State Legislatures' Tim Storey and Wendy Underhill wrote, "With just two chamber flips so far, it looks like 2020 will see the least party control changes on Election Day since at least 1944 when only four chambers changed hands. In the 1926 and 1928 elections, only one chamber changed hands."[1]

As a result of the 2020 elections, Republicans have so far gained trifectas—single-party control of the governorship and both state legislative chambers—in two states: New Hampshire and Montana. In New Hampshire, Gov. Chris Sununu (R) won re-election. In Montana, Republicans maintained majorities in both legislative chambers and Greg Gianforte (R) won the gubernatorial race.

In 2018, when 87 chambers held elections, six chambers changed partisan control. Democrats captured the Colorado State Senate, Maine State Senate, Minnesota House of Representatives, New Hampshire House of Representatives, New Hampshire State Senate, and New York State Senate.

State legislative chamber control before and after 2020 elections
Pre-election majority Post-election majority Change?
State State Senate State House State Senate State House Y/N
Alabama Republican Republican Republican Republican N/A[2]
Alaska Republican Split Republican TBD TBD
Arizona Republican Republican Republican Republican No
Arkansas Republican Republican Republican Republican No
California Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic No
Colorado Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic No
Connecticut Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic No
Delaware Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic No
Florida Republican Republican Republican Republican No
Georgia Republican Republican Republican Republican No
Hawaii Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic No
Idaho Republican Republican Republican Republican No
Illinois Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic No
Indiana Republican Republican Republican Republican No
Iowa Republican Republican Republican Republican No
Kansas Republican Republican Republican Republican No
Kentucky Republican Republican Republican Republican No
Louisiana Republican Republican Republican Republican N/A[2]
Maine Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic No
Maryland Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic N/A[2]
Massachusetts Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic No
Michigan Republican Republican Republican Republican No
Minnesota Republican Democratic Republican Democratic No
Mississippi Republican Republican Republican Republican N/A[2]
Missouri Republican Republican Republican Republican No
Montana Republican Republican Republican Republican No
Nebraska Republican Republican No
Nevada Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic No
New Hampshire Democratic Democratic Republican Republican Yes
New Jersey Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic N/A[2]
New Mexico Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic No
New York Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic No
North Carolina Republican Republican Republican Republican No
North Dakota Republican Republican Republican Republican No
Ohio Republican Republican Republican Republican No
Oklahoma Republican Republican Republican Republican No
Oregon Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic No
Pennsylvania Republican Republican Republican Republican No
Rhode Island Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic No
South Carolina Republican Republican Republican Republican No
South Dakota Republican Republican Republican Republican No
Tennessee Republican Republican Republican Republican No
Texas Republican Republican Republican Republican No
Utah Republican Republican Republican Republican No
Vermont Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic No
Virginia Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic N/A[2]
Washington Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic No
West Virginia Republican Republican Republican Republican No
Wisconsin Republican Republican Republican Republican No
Wyoming Republican Republican Republican Republican No

Pre-election analysis

The partisan composition of state legislatures refers to which political party holds the majority of seats in the State Senate and State House. Altogether, there are 1,972 state senators and 5,411 state representatives.
The breakdown of chamber control after the November 2018 election is as follows:

  • Democratic Party 37 chambers
  • Republican Party 61 chambers[3]
  • Democratic Party Republican Party 1 chamber with power sharing between the parties

The breakdown of chamber control prior to the November 2018 election was as follows:

  • Democratic Party 32 chambers
  • Republican Party 67 chambers[3]
See also: Partisan composition of state houses and Partisan composition of state senates

Sixty-one 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.[4] This tactic has not been the universal approach, however; some legislative bodies have used a coin toss, gubernatorial choice, shared time, choosing co-leaders, or dividing chairperson positions between the parties.[5]

A state government trifecta is a term to describe single party government, when one political party holds three positions in a state's government.There are currently 36 trifectas: 15 Democratic and 21 Republican. As a result of the 2018 elections, Democrats increased their trifecta total with a net gain of six trifectas, and Republicans lost a net of four trifectas. States with divided government—no trifecta for either major party—declined by two.

Five states held elections in 2019 where trifecta status was on the line. Democrats gained one trifecta while Republicans lost a trifecta. The number of states with divided government remained the same. Click here to read more about changes in trifectas in 2019.

Cumulative numbers

As of October 30, 2020, Republicans controlled 52.07% of all state legislative seats nationally, while Democrats held 46.80%. Republicans held a majority in 59 chambers, and Democrats held the majority in 39 chambers. One chamber (Alaska House) was sharing power between two parties.[6]

Partisan balance of all 7,383 state legislative seats
Legislative chamber Democratic Party Republican Party Other[7]
State senates 875 1,084 13
State houses 2,580 2,760 71
Total: 3,455 3,844 84

State Senates

The partisan composition of state senates refers to which political party holds the majority of seats in the state senate. Altogether, in the 50 state senates, there are 1,972 state senators.

The breakdown of chamber control after the November 2018 election is as follows:

  • Democratic Party 18 chambers
  • Republican Party 32 chambers[3]

The breakdown of chamber control prior to the November 2018 election was as follows:

  • Democratic Party 14 chambers
  • Republican Party 36 chambers[3]
See also: Partisan composition of state senates

Cumulative numbers

As of October 30, 2020, 1,959 state senators 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[7]
State senates 875 1,084 13
State houses 2,580 2,760 71
Total: 3,455 3,844 84

Vacancies

As of October 30, 2020, there were nine vacancies in four states. This total is updated monthly.

State Vacancies
Alabama 1
Missouri 3
New York 3
Wisconsin 2

Third Party

As of October 30, 2020, there were four state senators in three states identifying as independents or parties other than Democratic and Republican. This total is updated monthly.

State Independents/Third Party
Nebraska 1 (Independent)
Pennsylvania 1 (Independent)
Vermont 2 (Vermont Progressive)

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 5,413 state representatives.

The breakdown of chamber control after the November 2018 election is as follows:

  • Democratic Party 19 chambers
  • Republican Party 29 chambers
  • Democratic Party Republican Party 1 chamber with power sharing between the parties

The breakdown of chamber control prior to the November 2018 election was as follows:

  • Democratic Party 18 chambers
  • Republican Party 31 chambers
See also: Partisan composition of state houses

Cumulative numbers

As of October 30, 2020, 5,340 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[7]
State senates 875 1,084 13
State houses 2,580 2,760 71
Total: 3,455 3,844 84

Vacancies

As of October 30, 2020, there were 41 state house vacancies in 19 different states. This total is updated monthly.

State Vacancies
Alabama 2
Alaska 1
Arkansas 2
California 1
Florida 3
Georgia 1
Kentucky 1
Maine 2
Massachusetts 1
Michigan 1
Mississippi 1
Missouri 2
New Hampshire 13
New York 4
Oklahoma 1
Pennsylvania 1
South Carolina 1
Virginia 1
Wisconsin 2

Third Party

As of October 30, 2020, there were 30 state representatives in 12 states identifying as independents or parties other than Democratic and Republican. This total is updated monthly.

State Independents/Third Party
Alaska 1 (Nonpartisan), 1 (Undeclared)
California 1 (Independent)
Louisiana 2 (Independent)
Maine 5 (Independent), 1 (Common Sense Independent)
Massachusetts 1 (Independent)
Mississippi 1 (Independent)
New Hampshire 1 (Libertarian)
New York 1 (Independence)
Rhode Island 1 (Independence)
Vermont 12 (7 Vermont Progressive Party, 5 Independent)
West Virginia 1 (Independent)
Wyoming 1 (Independent)

Trifectas

See also: State government trifectas

The following table shows the status of state government—divided control, Democratic trifecta, or Republican trifecta—in each state. It also includes the year of the last change to each state's trifecta status.

Trifecta status by state
State Trifecta status Year of last status change
Alabama Republican trifecta 2011
Alaska Divided government 2015
Arizona Republican trifecta 2009
Arkansas Republican trifecta 2015
California Democratic trifecta 2011
Colorado Democratic trifecta 2019
Connecticut Democratic trifecta 2011
Delaware Democratic trifecta 2009
Florida Republican trifecta 2011
Georgia Republican trifecta 2005
Hawaii Democratic trifecta 2011
Idaho Republican trifecta 1995
Illinois Democratic trifecta 2019
Indiana Republican trifecta 2011
Iowa Republican trifecta 2017
Kansas Divided government 2019
Kentucky Divided government 2019
Louisiana Divided government 2016
Maine Democratic trifecta 2019
Maryland Divided government 2015
Massachusetts Divided government 2015
Michigan Divided government 2019
Minnesota Divided government 2015
Mississippi Republican trifecta 2012
Missouri Republican trifecta 2017
Montana Divided government 2005
Nebraska Republican trifecta 1999
Nevada Democratic trifecta 2019
New Hampshire Divided government 2019
New Jersey Democratic trifecta 2018
New Mexico Democratic trifecta 2019
New York Democratic trifecta 2019
North Carolina Divided government 2017
North Dakota Republican trifecta 1995
Ohio Republican trifecta 2011
Oklahoma Republican trifecta 2011
Oregon Democratic trifecta 2013
Pennsylvania Divided government 2015
Rhode Island Democratic trifecta 2013
South Carolina Republican trifecta 2003
South Dakota Republican trifecta 1995
Tennessee Republican trifecta 2011
Texas Republican trifecta 2003
Utah Republican trifecta 1985
Vermont Divided government 2017
Virginia Democratic trifecta 2020
Washington Democratic trifecta 2017
West Virginia Republican trifecta 2017
Wisconsin Divided government 2019
Wyoming Republican trifecta 2011

Percentage of Americans living under trifecta government

The chart below shows the percentage of the population living under Democratic trifectas, Republican trifectas, and divided governments. The population figures come the U.S. Census Bureau's 2019 estimates.[8]

Percent of Americans living under trifectas as of January 2020
Total Democratic trifectas Republican trifectas Divided governments
Population 327,533,774 [9] 120,182,161 133,860,630 73,490,983
Proportion (%) 100% 36.7% 40.9% 22.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Election breakdowns

See also: Historical partisan composition of state legislatures

Click here for more on changes to partisan control of state legislative chambers over time.

States

See also: Historical partisan composition of state legislatures

Click here for more on the historical partisan composition of state legislatures.

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2020 Legislative Election Results: It’s Status Quo in the States," November 5, 2020
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 This state did not hold state legislative elections in 2020.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Includes Nebraska, which is officially nonpartisan. For more information on how Ballotpedia determined the partisan affiliation for Nebraska senators, please click here. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "NE" defined multiple times with different content
  4. ↑ Alaska State Senate, "Senate Bipartisan Working Group," accessed June 14, 2012
  5. ↑ Governing, "How Tied Chambers Affect States," June 9, 2011
  6. ↑ Nebraska is officially nonpartisan but was held by a Republican majority. For more information on how Ballotpedia determined the partisan affiliation for Nebraska senators, please click here.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 This tally includes third party incumbents and vacancies.
  8. ↑ [https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-kits/2019/national-state-estimates.html U.S. Census Bureau, " 2019 National and State Population Estimates," accessed January 8, 2020]
  9. ↑ Excludes the 693,972 inhabitants of Washington, D.C.
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