State legislative elections, 2025
| 2025 State Legislative Elections | |
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Two of the country's 99 state legislative chambers held regularly scheduled elections in 2025. Elections in those two chambers represented 180 of the country's 7,386 state legislative seats (2.4%).
Democrats gained seats in both the New Jersey Assembly and Virginia House on November 4, 2025.
Off-year elections in Virginia are often studied as a forecast of the broader political trends to expect from the following year's national elections.[1] The New York Times' Neil Vigdor wrote in December 2024, "In recent elections, Virginia has become a vessel for millions of dollars in spending by outside groups, and its open governor’s seat and divided legislature appears likely to continue that trend."[2]
Democrats controlled the New Jersey and Virginia Senates, which were not up for election, and both states elected the Democratic candidate for governor. That meant New Jersey retained its Democratic trifecta, and Virginia became a Democratic trifecta. In total after the 2025 elections, there were 23 Republican trifectas, 16 Democratic trifectas, and 11 divided governments.
States are also holding special state legislative elections in 2025 to fill vacant seats. Click here for more.
- Partisan balanceThe partisan balance of state legislatures
- BattlegroundsInformation on battleground elections
- On the ballotA list of elections on the ballot
- Pre-election analysisAnalysis published before the election
- Important dates and deadlinesA list of important dates and deadlines for the 2025 election cycle
- Satellite spendingInformation about satellite spending in the 2025 election cycle
Partisan balance
As of December 9th, 2025, Republicans controlled 55.32% of all state legislative seats nationally, while Democrats held 43.47%. Republicans held a majority in 57 chambers, and Democrats held the majority in 39 chambers. Two chambers (Alaska House and Alaska Senate) were organized under multipartisan, power-sharing coalitions. One chamber (Minnesota House of Representatives) was split evenly between both parties.
| Partisan balance of all 7,386 state legislative seats | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legislative chamber | 
|
|
 Other
|
Vacant | ||||
| State senates | 827 | 1,120 | 6 | 20 | ||||
| State houses | 2,384 | 2,966 | 21 | 42 | ||||
| Total: | 3,211
|
4,086
|
27
|
62 | ||||
Battlegrounds
Click the tabs below to view detailed information regarding battleground districts in the 2025 state legislative elections. In this section, you will find:
- Our list of battleground chambers in the general election
- A list of districts targeted by each political party
Ballotpedia tracked one state legislative battleground chamber in 2025.
The columns in the chart below list the following:
- Seats up in 2025: This was the number of seats that were up for election in 2025.
- Margin: This was the difference in seats between the majority and minority parties.
- Majority share of seats: This was the percentage of the chamber's seats controlled by the majority party.
- Last time party control changed: This was the election where the majority at the time of the 2025 elections took control of the chamber.
| Chamber | Offices up in 2025 | Margin | Majority share of seats | Last time party control changed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia House of Delegates | All 100 | D+2 | 51% | 2023 |
On the ballot
Click the tabs below to view information about the elections this year. In this section, you will find:
- A list of states holding elections
- Information about special elections
- Ballotpedia's Sample Ballot Lookup Tool
The table below highlights each state that held legislative elections in 2025. To learn more about elections in a particular chamber, click the link in the chamber column.
| State | Chamber | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-election | Post-election | ||||||||||
| D | R | Other | Vacancies | Total | D | R | Other | Vacancies | Total | ||
| New Jersey | House | 52 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 80 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | 80 |
| Virginia | House | 51 | 48 | 0 | 1 | 100 | 64 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
| Total | 103 | 76 | 0 | 1 | 180 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | 180 | |
Incumbents defeated
General elections
In state legislative general elections, 17 incumbents lost to challengers, 10.1% of incumbents running for re-election and 11.4% of the contested incumbents. That was higher by percentage than any odd election year since 2011. The average percentage of incumbents defeated in general elections between 2011 and 2023 was 4.3%.
In 2025 general elections:
In 2025
Click [show] on the table below to view general election incumbent defeat statistics by state in 2025. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.
| State legislative incumbents defeated in general elections, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Democratic | Republican | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Filed | Def. | % | Filed | Def. | % | Filed | Def. | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Nationwide | 96 | 0 | 0.0% | 72 | 17 | 23.6% | 168 | 17 | 10.1% | |||||||||||||||
| New Jersey | 45 | 0 | 0.0% | 28 | 5 | 17.9% | 73 | 5 | 6.8% | |||||||||||||||
| Virginia | 51 | 0 | 0.0% | 44 | 12 | 27.3% | 95 | 12 | 12.6% | |||||||||||||||
Historical comparison
The chart below shows a partisan breakdown of incumbents defeated in general elections from 2011 to 2025.
Click [show] on the table below to view general election incumbent defeat statistics by state from 2011 to 2025. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.
| State legislative incumbents defeated in general elections, 2011-2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2021 | 2023 | 2025 | |||||||||||||||||
| Def. | % | Def. | % | Def. | % | Def. | % | Def. | % | Def. | % | Def. | % | Def. | % | |||||||||
| Nationwide | 21 | 4.4% | 5 | 2.5% | 12 | 2.7% | 14 | 7.0% | 14 | 3.4% | 14 | 7.2% | 13 | 3.1% | 17 | 10.1% | ||||||||
| New Jersey | 1 | 1.0% | 2 | 1.8% | 4 | 5.6% | 2 | 1.9% | 2 | 2.7% | 7 | 6.7% | 6 | 6.7% | 5 | 6.8% | ||||||||
| Virginia | 2 | 1.6% | 3 | 3.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 12 | 12.9% | 5 | 4.1% | 7 | 7.8% | 4 | 4.3% | 12 | 12.6% | ||||||||
List of defeated incumbents
Click [show] on the header below to see a full list of incumbents defeated in general elections by state. Winners marked with (i) were incumbents from the same chamber.
Primary elections
In state legislative primaries, three incumbents lost to challengers, 1.7% of incumbents running for re-election and 7.9% of incumbents in contested primaries. This was fewer than eight in 2021 and more than the low of zero in 2017 since 2011.
In 2025 primaries:
In 2025
Click [show] on the table below to view primary incumbent defeat statistics by state in 2025. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.
| State legislative incumbents defeated in primaries, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Democratic | Republican | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Filed | Def. | % | Filed | Def. | % | Filed | Def. | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Nationwide | 99 | 3 | 3.0% | 73 | 0 | 0.0% | 172 | 3 | 1.7% | |||||||||||||||
| New Jersey | 48 | 3 | 6.3% | 28 | 0 | 0.0% | 76 | 3 | 3.9% | |||||||||||||||
| Virginia | 51 | 0 | 0.0% | 45 | 0 | 0.0% | 96 | 0 | 0.0% | |||||||||||||||
Historical comparison
The chart below shows a partisan breakdown of incumbents defeated in primaries from 2011 to 2025.
Click [show] on the table below to view primary incumbent defeat statistics by state from 2011 to 2025. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.
| State legislative incumbents defeated in primaries, 2011-2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2021 | 2023 | 2025 | |||||||||||||||||
| Def. | % | Def. | % | Def. | % | Def. | % | Def. | % | Def. | % | Def. | % | Def. | % | |||||||||
| Nationwide | 0 | 0.0% | 2 | 1.0% | 3 | 1.5% | 0 | 0.0% | 4 | 2.0% | 8 | 3.9% | 7 | 3.7% | 3 | 1.7% | ||||||||
| New Jersey | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 1.3% | 3 | 2.8% | 1 | 1.1% | 3 | 3.9% | ||||||||
| Virginia | 0 | 0.0% | 2 | 2.2% | 3 | 2.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 3 | 2.4% | 5 | 5.3% | 6 | 6.1% | 0 | 0.0% | ||||||||
List of defeated incumbents
Click [show] on the header below to see a full list of incumbents defeated in primaries by state. Winners marked with (i) were incumbents from the same chamber.
| Incumbent | Party | Chamber | Year incumbent took office | Winning candidate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | ||||
| Garnet Hall |  Democratic |
New Jersey General Assembly | 2024 | Cleopatra Tucker (i) Chigozie Onyema |
| Barbara McCann Stamato | Democratic |
New Jersey General Assembly | 2024 | William Sampson (i) Jerry Walker |
| Jessica Ramirez | Democratic |
New Jersey General Assembly | 2024 | Ravinder Bhalla Katie Brennan |
Electoral competitiveness
Ballotpedia's 15th Annual State Legislative Competitiveness Report analyzed all 180 state legislative seats that were up for election on Nov. 4, 2025, in two states.
Competitiveness in 2025 was down from the record high in 2021, but still the second-highest since 2011.
In 2025, the nationwide State Legislative Competitiveness Index was 38.1, down from 40.0 in 2021 but above the average of 31.6 since 2011.
While the percentage of open seats was lower than in any odd year since 2011 (4.4%), the share of incumbents in contested primaries was above the average of 21.0% (22.2%), and the percentage of seats contested by both major parties was the second-highest since 2011 (87.8%).
Key findings of this report include:
| Nationwide State Legislative Competitiveness Index, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber | Open seats | Incs. in contested primaries | Major party competition | Competitiveness Index | ||||||||||||||||||||
| House | 4.4% | 22.2% | 87.8% | 38.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Senate | - | - | - | 0.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 4.4% | 22.2% | 87.8% | 38.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
The graphic below combines these figures for every election cycle from 2011 to 2025, showing the change in competitiveness, and how each criterion affects the overall competitiveness indices, over time.
There were 180 state legislative seats up for election on November 4, 2025, in two states. Of that total, there were eight open seats, guaranteeing at least 4% of all seats would be won by newcomers. That was the lowest by percentage of any odd-year cycle since 2011.
Ballotpedia uses the number and percentage of open seats to help determine the overall competitiveness of an election cycle. A greater number of open seats guarantees more newcomers entering legislatures and typically results in more candidates running for office. A smaller number of open seats guarantees fewer newcomers and typically results in fewer candidates running for office.
In 2025:
| Open state legislative seats, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber | Seats | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Democratic | Republican | Other | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||
| # | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| House | 180 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 4.4% | ||||||||||||||||||
| Senate | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 180 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 4.4% | ||||||||||||||||||
Factors like the number of chambers holding elections, the number of seats up for election, term limits, and redistricting can affect the number of open state legislative seats in a given year. In 2025, for example, there were two chambers holding elections for 180 total seats. In 2023, eight chambers held elections for 578 total seats, meaning greater potential for end-of-term retirements and incumbent ineligibility due to term limits. Elections following redistricting may also feature more open seats if incumbents are drawn into each other's districts. Incumbents may retire or challenge the other incumbent(s) for the overlapping district, leaving other districts open.
The chart below shows a breakdown of open seats from 2011 to 2025. The "Other" value includes seats left open by minor party and independent officeholders.
Pre-election analysis
Click the tabs below to view detailed analysis from before the election. In this section, you will find:
- Historical data related to competitiveness
- The effect of term limits on these elections
- Information about state government trifectas
- Chambers that changed partisan control from 2010 to 2024
- Trifecta status from 2010 to 2024
Ballotpedia began examining the competitiveness of every state legislative race in the country in 2010. Three factors are used in this analysis: seats where the incumbent did not run for re-election, incumbents who ran in contested primaries, and seats contested by both major parties.
The following table details competitiveness data collected from regularly scheduled state legislative elections between 2010 and 2024. Odd-year elections are shown grouped together first, followed by even-year elections.
| Competitiveness in state legislative elections (2010-2024) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total seats | Open seats | No major party competition | Incs. running | Incs. in contested primaries | ||||
| # | % | # | % | # | % | ||||
| Odd-year elections | |||||||||
| 2023 | 578 | 138 | 23.9% | 319 | 55.2% | 443 | 115 | 26.0% | |
| 2021 | 220 | 13 | 5.9% | 9 | 4.1% | 137 | 24 | 17.5% | |
| 2019 | 538 | 105 | 19.5% | 301 | 55.9% | 433 | 125 | 28.9% | |
| 2017 | 220 | 20 | 9.1% | 45 | 20.5% | 200 | 32 | 16.0% | |
| 2015 | 538 | 79 | 14.7% | 332 | 61.7% | 460 | 107 | 23.3% | |
| 2013 | 220 | 15 | 6.8% | 61 | 27.7% | 205 | 24 | 11.7% | |
| 2011 | 578 | 98 | 17.0% | 312 | 54.0% | 485 | 104 | 21.4% | |
| Even-year elections | |||||||||
| 2024 | 5,807 | 962 | 16.6% | 2,224 | 38.3% | 4,853 | 1,039 | 21.4% | |
| 2022 | 6,278 | 1,492 | 23.8% | 2,560 | 40.8% | 4,852 | 1,299 | 26.8% | |
| 2020 | 5,875 | 876 | 14.9% | 2,044 | 34.8% | 4,999 | 1,006 | 20.1% | |
| 2018 | 6,065 | 1,194 | 19.7% | 2,045 | 33.7% | 4,874 | 1,082 | 22.2% | |
| 2016 | 5,916 | 1,032 | 17.4% | 2,508 | 42.4% | 4,887 | 985 | 20.2% | |
| 2014 | 6,051 | 1,019 | 16.8% | 2,663 | 44.0% | 5,041 | 983 | 19.5% | |
| 2012 | 6,013 | 1,314 | 21.9% | 2,384 | 39.6% | 4,790 | 1,117 | 23.3% | |
| 2010 | 6,127 | 1,143 | 18.7% | 2,142 | 35.0% | 4,984 | 995 | 20.0% | |
Important dates and deadlines
The following table details 2025 state legislative filing deadlines and primary dates in each state. The signature filing deadline was the date by which candidates had to file nominating signatures with election officials in order to have their names placed on the ballot.
| State | Filing deadline | Primary election |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | March 24 | June 10 |
| Virginia | April 3 | June 17 |
Satellite spending
- See also: Satellite spending
Satellite spending describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[28][29][30]
If available, this section includes links to online resources tracking satellite spending in this election. To notify us of a resource to add, email us.
On Feb. 18, 2025, the Republican State Leadership Committee announced a six-figure Virginia ad campaign, stating:
| “ | The RSLC PAC, in coordination with the Virginia House Republican Campaign Committee (HRCC), today launched a new digital ad exposing how Virginia House Democrats are breaking their promises to voters by pursuing an out-of-touch agenda in Richmond this legislative session. The ad will be backed by a six-figure buy on digital platforms throughout the state and highlights how Virginia House Democrats are blocking tax cuts and efforts to lower electric costs, as well as refusing to crack down on dangerous illegal immigrants.[31][12] | ” |
On April 7, 2025, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee announced a seven-figure Virginia ad campaign. DLCC Director Heather Williams said:
| “ | Opportunities to move policy and build power aren’t happening in Washington – they’re happening in the statehouses. State legislative races are the most immediate opportunity for Democrats to defend and build sustainable power, and Virginia will be the highest profile, most data-rich election of 2025.[32][12] | ” |
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Recalls
See also
- Past state legislative elections: 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016
- Past state legislative special elections: 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016
- Past election analysis: 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018
Footnotes
- ↑ Politico, "Virginia is the bellwether to watch next week," November 11, 2023
- ↑ New York Times, December 2, 2024
- ↑ Politico, "Virginia is the bellwether to watch next week," November 11, 2023
- ↑ State Navigate, "Election forecasts show Democrats overwhelmingly favored in Virginia 2025 elections," July 28, 2025
- ↑ Virginia Mercury, "Democrats pour $400K into Virginia House races as key battlegrounds emerge," June 25, 2025
- ↑ Republican State Leadership Committee, "NEW AD: RSLC PAC and Virginia House Republican Campaign Committee Launch Six-Figure Digital Ad Highlighting Broken Promises of Virginia House Democrats," February 18, 2025
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Here’s the redistricting plan Virginia Democrats want voters to approve," October 28, 2025
- ↑ New York Times, "In Battle for Congress, Virginia Democrats to Begin Votes to Redraw Maps," October 27, 2025
- ↑ State Navigate, "Virginia," accessed October 16, 2025
- ↑ NBC News, "Democrats unveil state legislative map for the next election cycle, with eyes on opposing Trump's agenda and redistricting," February 11, 2025
- ↑ DLCC, "DLCC Priority," accessed March 19, 2025
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ RSLC, "MEMO: RSLC Launches “Project Doorstrike” Initiative for 2025-2026 Election Cycle," September 4, 2025
- ↑ Totals may include minor party or independent officeholders.
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Virginia Republicans snatched control of the state Senate, ended budget-Medicaid impasse," June 9, 2014
- ↑ 2015 and 2013 are not included because no chambers changed during those years.
- ↑ Chamber went from a Democratic majority to a 67-67 tie.
- ↑ Chamber went from a Republican majority to a bipartisan governing coalition.
- ↑ Democrats won a majority of seats, but did not have a majority when the legislative session began due to vacancies created during the interim.
- ↑ Chamber went from being controlled by a Democratic-led bipartisan coalition to being led by a coalition with power split between the parties.
- ↑ In this election, the Oregon House changed from a 30-30 tie to a 34-26 Democratic advantage.
- ↑ The chamber first changed from Democratic to Republican control in a February 2011 special election. Republicans increased their majority to 24-15 in the 2011 elections.
- ↑ The chamber changed partisan control prior to the 2011 elections due to Democrats switching to the Republican Party and special election wins by Republicans. Republicans increased their majority in the 2011 elections to 31-21.
- ↑ In the 2011 elections, the chamber changed from a 22-18 Democratic advantage to a 20-20 tie. Republicans effectively controlled the chamber because Lieutenant Gov. Bill Bolling (R) could cast tie-breaking votes.
- ↑ This chamber did not hold elections in 2010. It switched partisan control in December 2010 when Democrat Noble Ellington changed his party affiliation to Republican. In the regularly-scheduled 2011 elections, Republicans increased their majority to 58-45.
- ↑ This chamber went from a 50-50 tie to a 68-32 Republican advantage in the 2010 elections.
- ↑ This chamber went from a 36-24 Democratic advantage to a 30-30 tie in the 2010 elections.
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed December 12, 2021
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed December 12, 2021
- ↑ National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," December 12, 2021
- ↑ Republican State Leadership Committee, "NEW AD: RSLC PAC and Virginia House Republican Campaign Committee Launch Six-Figure Digital Ad Highlighting Broken Promises of Virginia House Democrats," February 18, 2025
- ↑ Virginia Mercury, "DLCC pours money into Virginia races, citing ‘All eyes on 2025,’" April 7, 2025
