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State Legislative Tracker: Maine recount leads to investigation

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December 1, 2014

Edited by Joel Williams
This week’s tracker includes a partisan count update and a look at a controversial recount in Maine that could affect multiple state official elections.

Weekly highlight

  • Maine: With the legislature due to meet Wednesday, one race still remains undecided following a controversial recount that shows more votes than voters in an island town outside of Portland. Unofficial results for the State Senate race in District 25 had Cathy Breen (D) defeating Cathy Manchester (R) by 32 votes, but the recount showed a different result, with Manchester winning by 11 votes. The state Democratic Party rejected the recount's findings, sending the matter to a seven-member special Senate committee, which will make a recommendation to the chamber at-large. Democrats take issue with the tabulation of 21 ballots from the town of Long Island, all of which were for Manchester. One hundred seventy-one votes were counted in Long Island on November 4 and preliminary returns agreed with the count; after the recount, results showed 192 votes.[1] Secretary of State Matt Dunlap (D) said in a statement last Tuesday, "This type of discrepancy has not occurred in recent memory." He did not, however, suggest an impending investigation by his own office, instead deferring to the State Senate. Party attorney Kate Knox called the issue "very problematic, in terms of voter fraud," and said the party was looking into legal action.[2] Incoming Senate President Mike Thibodeau (R) said he would expedite the Senate investigation so that the issue will be settled before the legislature holds elections for Attorney General, Secretary of State and State Treasurer on Wednesday.[3] Because Breen was considered the victor on election night, she will hold the seat for the length of time the Senate takes to come to a decision.[4] The outcome of the race will not jeopardize the GOP's Senate majority, which if Breen wins would stand at 20-15, but should Manchester win, elections for the three state executive officers could be affected as Democrats would no longer have an absolute legislative majority. If Breen wins, Democrats will control 94 of 186 voting legislative seats, because four House members have no party affiliation.[3][5] Manchester initially declined a recount the day after the election, citing an unwillingness to "waste the state's resources," but changed course later that day.[6]
  • Nevada: The Republican Party in Nevada, riding momentum gained since seizing control of the state government for the first time since 1929, was rocked when speaker-elect Ira Hansen (R) was forced to withdraw from the leadership position after his controversial views came to light last week.[7] In the 1990s and 2000s, Hansen was a writer for the Sparks Tribune, a local Nevada newspaper.[8] After Hansen became speaker-elect, journalist Dennis Myers of the Reno News & Review researched Hansen and uncovered controversial articles on microfilm discussing issues of race, homosexuality, women and evolution.[8] In his article, Myers included the following example: "The relationship of Negroes and Democrats is truly a master-slave relationship, with the benevolent master knowing what’s best for his simple minded darkies."[8] After the article was released, Hansen apologized for his comments and announced on November 23, 2014, that he would step down from the speaker-elect position. In an email message to the Republican caucus, Hansen said that his views were distorted and that he was a victim of "character assassination."[9] Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) condemned Hansen's comments, saying, "I wholeheartedly disagree with Assemblyman Hansen's past public statements on race, religion, gender, and sexual orientation. This abhorrent kind of speech is unacceptable."[10] It is unclear whether Hansen will also resign from his Assembly seat, but Nevada Republicans will now have to vote on a new speaker-elect.[10]

Partisan breakdown

As of today, December 1, 2014, the following figures represent the cumulative partisan breakdown of the 50 state senates and 49 state houses. In the 50 states, Republicans currently control 52.0% of all seats while Democrats hold 46.0%. All told, Republicans control 68 chambers while Democrats are the majority in 30 chambers. One chamber is nonpartisan.

Representation in 50 State Legislatures
Party Number of Percentage
Democratic state legislators 3,396 46.0%
Republican state legislators 3,844 52.0%
Independent (and nonpartisan) state legislators 65 0.88%
Third party legislators 8 0.11%
Vacancies 65 0.88%

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.

As of November 1, 2014, the breakdown of chamber control by party is as follows:

  • Democratic Party 14 chambers
  • Republican Party 35 chambers
  • Grey.png 1 chamber (Nebraska)
See also: Partisan composition of state senates

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.

As of November 1, 2014, the breakdown of chamber control by party is as follows:

  • Democratic Party 16 chambers
  • Republican Party 33 chambers
See also: Partisan composition of state houses

Cumulative numbers

As of September 5, 2025, 5,368 state representatives were affiliated with either the Democratic or Republican parties. This total is updated monthly.

Partisan balance of all 7,386 state legislative seats
Legislative chamber Democratic Party Republican Party Grey.png Other Vacant
State senates 833 1,121 5 14
State houses 2,391 2,977 20 25
Total: 3,224

4,098

25

39


Vacancies

As of April 8, 2025, there were 15 state house vacancies across 12 states. This total is updated monthly.

State Vacancies
Alabama 1
Connecticut 1
Florida 1
Hawaii 1
Iowa 1
Louisiana 1
Massachusetts 2
Mississippi 2
Missouri 1
New Hampshire 1
Oklahoma 2
Pennsylvania 1
South Carolina 1


Independents

As of April 8, 2025, there were 19 state representatives in eight states identifying as independents or parties other than Democratic and Republican. This total is updated monthly.

State Independents/Minor party
Alaska 4 (Independent), 1 (Undeclared)
Maine 1 (unenrolled)
Massachusetts 1 (unenrolled)
Mississippi 2 (Independent)
New Hampshire 1 (No affiliation)
Rhode Island 1 (Independent)
Vermont 4 (Vermont Progressive Party), 3 (Independent)

Sessions

Regular sessions

Current sessions capture for the week of December 1, 2014
See also: Dates of 2014 state legislative sessions
Click here to see a chart of each state's 2014 session information.

Currently 2 out of 50 state legislatures is meeting in regular session. Ohio is meeting in Skeleton Session. A Skeleton Session typically includes very short nonvoting sessions instead of regular sessions with a full chamber.[11]

The following states have adjourned their 2014 regular session:[12]

In recess

As of today, December 1, there is one state legislature currently in recess:[13]

2014 Legislative Elections

See also: State legislative elections, 2014

A total of 87 of the 99 chambers held state legislative elections on November 4, 2014.

The 87 chambers with elections in 2014 were in 46 states. They were:

The Kansas, Minnesota, New Mexico and South Carolina senates also typically hold elections in even years. However, senators are elected to 4-year terms in those states and those were not up for election again until 2016.

1,099 of the country's 1,972 state senate seats were up for re-election in November 2014, and 4,958 of the country's 5,411 state house seats were up for re-election. Altogether, 6,057 of the country's 7,383 state legislative seats were up for re-election on November 4, 2014.

Election results

Heading into the 2014 elections, Republicans held a majority of state legislative chambers. Fifty-nine chambers, counting the New York State Senate and Washington State Senate, were under Republican control. (Although the New York State Senate and Washington State Senate technically had Democratic majorities, in both states a coalition arrangement between several break-away Democrats and the minority Republicans gave the Republicans effective control of those chambers.) Democrats held effective controlling majorities in 39 chambers: 18 state senates and 21 state houses. Although technically nonpartisan, the Nebraska State Senate was controlled by a Republican majority.[14]

The following table details partisan balance in all 99 chambers.

Partisan Balance of All 99 Chambers Before and After 2014 Elections
Pre-election Post-election
Legislative Chamber Democratic Party Republican Party Split balance Grey.png Democratic Party Republican Party Split balance Grey.png
State senates 18 31* 0 1 14 35[15] 0 1
State houses 21 28 0 0 16 33 0 0
Total: 39 59* 0 1 30 68 0 1

*Note: Although Democrats had numerical majorities in both the New York State Senate and Washington State Senate, coalitions gave Republicans control of those chambers.

Fourteen independent candidates were elected to state legislatures in 2014, two in state senates and twelve in state houses. Of the 218 independent candidates that ran for election in 2014, 6.4 percent won election.[16]

Primary Information

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2014 state legislative elections

The state legislative filing deadlines and primary dates were as follows:

Note: Ballot access is a complicated issue. The dates in the table below are primarily for candidates filing for access to the primary. For more detailed information about each state's qualification requirements -- including all relevant ballot access dates for the primary and general election -- click to our detailed pages in the state column.

2014 State Legislative Primary Information
State Filing Deadline Primary Date Days from Deadline to Primary
Alabama Red padlock.png 2/7/2014 Red padlock.png 6/3/2014 116
Alaska Red padlock.png 6/2/2014[17] Red padlock.png 8/19/2014 78
Arizona Red padlock.png 5/28/2014[18] Red padlock.png 8/26/2014 90
Arkansas Red padlock.png 3/3/2014[19][20] Red padlock.png 5/20/2014 78
California Red padlock.png 3/7/2014[21][22][23] Red padlock.png 6/3/2014 88
Colorado Red padlock.png 3/31/2014[24][25] Red padlock.png 6/24/2014 85
Connecticut Red padlock.png 6/10/2014[26] Red padlock.png 8/12/2014 90
Delaware Red padlock.png 7/8/2014 Red padlock.png 9/9/2014 63
Florida Red padlock.png 6/20/2014[27][28] Red padlock.png 8/26/2014 67
Georgia Red padlock.png 3/7/2014 Red padlock.png 5/20/2014 74
Hawaii Red padlock.png 6/3/2014[29] Red padlock.png 8/9/2014 67
Idaho Red padlock.png 3/14/2014 Red padlock.png 5/20/2014 78
Illinois Red padlock.png 12/2/2013 Red padlock.png 3/18/2014 106
Indiana Red padlock.png 2/7/2014 Red padlock.png 5/6/2014 88
Iowa Red padlock.png 3/14/2014 Red padlock.png 6/3/2014 81
Kansas Red padlock.png 6/2/2014 Red padlock.png 8/5/2014 65
Kentucky Red padlock.png 1/28/2014[30][31] Red padlock.png 5/20/2014 112
Maine Red padlock.png 3/17/2014[32] Red padlock.png 6/10/2014 85
Maryland Red padlock.png 2/25/2014[33] Red padlock.png 6/24/2014 119
Massachusetts Red padlock.png 6/3/2014[34] Red padlock.png 9/9/2014 98
Michigan Red padlock.png 4/22/2014 Red padlock.png 8/5/2014 105
Minnesota Red padlock.png 6/3/2014 Red padlock.png 8/12/2014 70
Missouri Red padlock.png 3/25/2014 Red padlock.png 8/5/2014 133
Montana Red padlock.png 3/10/2014 Red padlock.png 6/3/2014 85
Nebraska Red padlock.png 3/3/2014[35] Red padlock.png 5/13/2014 85
Nevada Red padlock.png 3/14/2014 Red padlock.png 6/10/2014 88
New Hampshire Red padlock.png 6/13/2014 Red padlock.png 9/9/2014 88
New Mexico Red padlock.png 2/4/2014 Red padlock.png 6/3/2014 119
New York Red padlock.png 7/10/2014 Red padlock.png 9/9/2014 61
North Carolina Red padlock.png 2/28/2014 Red padlock.png 5/6/2014 67
North Dakota Red padlock.png 4/7/2014 Red padlock.png 6/10/2014 64
Ohio Red padlock.png 2/5/2014 Red padlock.png 5/6/2014 90
Oklahoma Red padlock.png 4/11/2014 Red padlock.png 6/24/2014 74
Oregon Red padlock.png 3/11/2014 Red padlock.png 5/20/2014 70
Pennsylvania Red padlock.png 3/11/2014 Red padlock.png 5/20/2014 70
Rhode Island Red padlock.png 6/25/2014 Red padlock.png 9/9/2014 76
South Carolina Red padlock.png 3/30/2014 Red padlock.png 6/10/2014 72
South Dakota Red padlock.png 3/25/2014 Red padlock.png 6/3/2014 70
Tennessee Red padlock.png 4/3/2014 Red padlock.png 8/7/2014 126
Texas Red padlock.png 12/9/2013 Red padlock.png 3/4/2014 85
Utah Red padlock.png 3/20/2014 Red padlock.png 6/24/2014 96
Vermont Red padlock.png 6/12/2014 Red padlock.png 8/26/2014 75
Washington Red padlock.png 5/17/2014 Red padlock.png 8/5/2014 80
West Virginia Red padlock.png 1/25/2014 Red padlock.png 5/13/2014 108
Wisconsin Red padlock.png 6/2/2014 Red padlock.png 8/12/2014 71
Wyoming Red padlock.png 5/30/2014 Red padlock.png 8/19/2014 81


Special Elections

SLP badge.png
See also: State legislative special elections, 2014

There is one special election scheduled this week in Texas.

Texas State Senate District 18

See also: Texas state legislative special elections, 2014

Lois W. Kolkhorst (R) defeated Cindy Drabek (D), Christian E. Hawkins (D), Gary Gates (R) and Charles Gregory (R) off in the special election on December 6, 2014.[36][37]

The seat was vacant following Glenn Hegar's (R) election as Texas Comptroller on November 4, 2014.[38]

A special election for the position of Texas State Senate District 18 was called for December 6, 2014. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was November 19, 2014.

Texas State Senate, District 18, Special Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngLois W. Kolkhorst 55.8% 21,961
     Republican Gary Gates 34.2% 13,439
     Democratic Cindy Drabek 4.8% 1,893
     Democratic Christian E. Hawkins 3.3% 1,280
     Republican Charles Gregory 2% 779
Total Votes 39,352

[38]

December 6 special election candidates:
Democratic Party Cindy Drabek
Democratic Party Christian E. Hawkins
Republican Party Gary Gates
Republican Party Charles Gregory
Republican Party Lois W. Kolkhorst

Recent results

RunoffArrow.jpg☑ Mississippi State Senate District 17

See also: Mississippi state legislative special elections, 2014

William W. Canon, Bill Gavin, Bobby Patrick and Charles A. Younger faced off in the November 4 special election. Because no candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two vote-getters - Patrick and Younger - met in a runoff election on November 25, which Younger won.[39] Special elections in Mississippi are nonpartisan.[40][41]

The seat was vacant following Terry W. Brown's (R) death from cancer.[42]

A special election for the position of Mississippi State Senate District 17 was called for November 4, 2014, with a runoff on November 25. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was October 6.[43]

Mississippi State Senate, District 17, Special Election, 2014
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngCharles A. Younger 57.5% 3,018
Bobby Patrick 42.5% 2,231
Total Votes 5,249
November 25 runoff election candidates:
Grey.png Bobby Patrick
Grey.png Charles A. Younger Green check mark transparent.png

Looking ahead

Upcoming special elections include:

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ WCSH, "Inspection of SD 25 recount shows more ballots than voters," November 28, 2014
  2. ↑ Portland Press Herald, "Mystery ballots in state Senate race bring call for investigation," November 25, 2014
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Bangor Daily News, "Incoming Maine Senate president aims for quick resolution to recount dispute," November 27, 2014
  4. ↑ The Forecaster, "Maine secretary of state can't explain Senate District 25 ballot 'discrepancy,'" November 28, 2014
  5. ↑ Bangor Daily News, "Split Legislature creates uncertain re-election path for Democrats in Maine constitutional offices," November 26, 2014
  6. ↑ The Forecaster, "Only thing sure in Senate District 25: Cathy will win," November 24, 2014
  7. ↑ NY Times, "Nevada Lawmaker, Ira Hansen, Is Forced From Leadership Post Over Remarks on Minorities," November 24, 2014
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Reno News & Review, "On paper: Republican leader left a trail," November 20, 2014
  9. ↑ Reno-Gazette Journal, "Ira Hansen stepping down as speaker of Nevada Assembly," November 23, 2014
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Huffington Post, "Nevada Speaker-Elect Ira Hansen Steps Down After Racist And Sexist Writings Emerge," November 24, 2014
  11. ↑ Cleveland.com, "Ohio's 2014 legislative calendar will be crammed with election-year politicking and backroom pleading: Thomas Suddes," December 15, 2013
  12. ↑ Stateside Associates, " Session Calendar 2014," accessed December 1, 2014
  13. ↑ StateNet, " Daily Session Summary," accessed December 1, 2014
  14. ↑ Omaha.com, "Democrats cut into GOP lead in Nebraska Legislature," accessed May 13, 2014 (dead link)
  15. ↑ Note: West Virginia was originally tied but State Senator Daniel Hall changed from the Democratic to the Republican Party the day after the election, giving partisan control to the Republicans.
  16. ↑ ballot-access.org, "Fourteen Independent Candidates Elected to State Legislatures," November 6, 2014
  17. ↑ Alaska Statutes, "Section 15.25, Nomination of Candidates," accessed October 31, 2013
  18. ↑ Secretary of State Website, "2014 Election Important Dates," accessed November 4, 2013
  19. ↑ Running for Public Office, "A 'Plain English' Handbook for Candidates," 2012 Edition, accessed October 21, 2013 (dead link)
  20. ↑ Arkansas Code of 1987, "Title 7, Elections," accessed October 30, 2013
  21. ↑ Summary of Qualifications and Requirements for the Office of State Senator, Member of the Assembly, "June 3, 2014, Primary Election," accessed October 21, 2013
  22. ↑ California Elections Code, "Section 8100-8107," accessed October 28, 2013
  23. ↑ California Secretary of State Website, "Key Dates and Deadlines," accessed October 21, 2013
  24. ↑ Colorado Secretary of State Website, "Major Political Parties FAQs," accessed October 31, 2013
  25. ↑ Colorado Revised Statutes, "Title 1, Elections," accessed October 31, 2013
  26. ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State Website, "Frequently Asked Questions, Nominating Papers," accessed October 31, 2013
  27. ↑ Florida Department of State Division of Elections, "2013-2014 Dates to Remember," accessed November 6, 2013
  28. ↑ 2013 Florida Statutes, "Section 99.061," accessed December 2, 2014
  29. ↑ Hawaii State Legislature, "HRS §12-6 Nomination papers: time for filing; fees", accessed May 22, 2013
  30. ↑ 2014 Kentucky Election Calendar, accessed November 12, 2013
  31. ↑ Kentucky State Board of Elections "Candidate Qualifications and Filing Fees" accessed November 26, 2011
  32. ↑ Maine Secretary of State "State of Maine 2014 Candidate's Guide to Ballot Access," accessed February 11, 2014
  33. ↑ The State Board of Elections, "Candidacy," accessed November 5, 2013
  34. ↑ 2014 Massachusetts State Primary and State Election Schedule, accessed December 2, 2013
  35. ↑ Official Election Calendar for the State of Nebraska, accessed November 18, 2014
  36. ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed November 21, 2014
  37. ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Special election results," accessed December 31, 2014
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 statesman.com, "As Hegar resigns, Dec. 6 special election set for Senate District 18," November 14, 2014
  39. ↑ The Dispatch, "Patrick, Younger advance to runoff in Dist. 17," November 5, 2014
  40. ↑ Mississippi Secretary of State, "2014 Special Election Candidate Qualifying List," accessed October 7, 2014
  41. ↑ Mississippi Secretary of State, "Official special election results," accessed December 10, 2014
  42. ↑ WTVA, "State Senator Terry Brown has died," accessed September 4, 2014
  43. ↑ Jackson Free Press, "Nov. 4 Election Set to Fill Brown's Senate Seat," September 16, 2014
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