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State legislative elections by state, 2016

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2016 State
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Part 2: Battlegrounds
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2016 Elections
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In the 50 states, there are 99 state legislative chambers altogether, and 86 of the 99 state legislative chambers held elections on November 8, 2016.

Main article: State legislative elections, 2016

A total of 1,212 (61.4%) of the country's 1,972 state senate seats and 4,711 (87.0%) of the country's 5,411 state house seats were up for a vote. Altogether, 5,923 (80.2%) of the country's 7,383 state legislative seats were up for election during the presidential election year.[1]

Elections in 2016

Partisan breakdowns prior to November 8 are listed on this page for each chamber with elections in 2016. Vacant seats are attributed towards the party that previously held the seat.

Alabama

Alabama did not hold any state legislative elections in 2016.

Alaska

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (6) Republican Party (14)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (16) Republican Party (23) Third Party (1)

Alaska's state senators are elected to four-year terms. Alaska legislators assume office on the third Tuesday of January following their election.[2][3]

Arizona

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (12) Republican Party (18)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (24) Republican Party (36)

Arizona's state senators are elected to two-year terms. Arizona legislators assume office on the first day of the session after they are elected. Each regular session begins on the second Monday in January.[4] Members are limited to four terms, for a total of eight years.

Arkansas

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (11) Republican Party (24)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (36) Republican Party (63) Third Party (1)

Arkansas' state senators are elected to four-year terms. Arkansas legislators assume office on the second Monday of January following their election.[5] Members are limited to two terms, for a total of eight years.

California

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (26) Republican Party (14)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (52) Republican Party (28)

California's state senators are elected to four-year terms. Senators are limited to serving no more than two four-year terms. California's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Representatives are limited to serving no more than four two-year terms. California legislators assume office the first Monday in the December following their election.[6]

Colorado

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Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (17) Republican Party (18)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (34) Republican Party (31)

Colorado's state senators are elected to four-year terms. Senators are limited to no more than two consecutive terms. Colorado's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Representatives are limited to no more than four consecutive terms. Colorado legislators assume office on the first day of the legislative session after their election. The legislative session must begin no later than 10:00 AM on the second Wednesday of January.[7] The state constitution requires the newly elected governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, treasurer, and secretary of state to take office on the second Tuesday of January.[8] In the year after those offices are elected, the legislative session must begin before the second Tuesday of January to declare the winners of those races.[9][10]

Connecticut

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (21) Republican Party (15)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (87) Republican Party (64)

Connecticut's state senators are elected to two-year terms. Connecticut's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Connecticut legislators assume office the Wednesday following the first Monday of January after their election.[11]

Delaware

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (12) Republican Party (9)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (25) Republican Party (16)

Delaware's state senators are elected to four-year terms. Delaware's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Delaware legislators assume office the first Wednesday after the first Monday in November (the day after election day).[12][13]

Florida

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (14) Republican Party (26)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (39) Republican Party (81)

Florida's state senators are elected to four-year terms. Senators are limited to no more than two consecutive four-year terms. Florida's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Representatives are limited to no more than four consecutive terms. Florida legislators assume office on the day they are elected in the general election.[14]

Georgia

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (17) Republican Party (39)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (61) Republican Party (118) Third Party (1)

Georgia's state senators are elected to four-year terms. Georgia's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Georgia legislators assume office the second Monday in January.[15]

Hawaii

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (24) Republican Party (1)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (44) Republican Party (7)

Hawaii's state senators are elected to four-year terms. Hawaii's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Hawaii legislators assume office on the day they are elected in the general election.[16]

Idaho

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (7) Republican Party (28)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (14) Republican Party (56)

Idaho's state senators are elected to two-year terms. Idaho's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Idaho legislators assume office on the first day in December following the general election.[17]

Illinois

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (39) Republican Party (20)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (71) Republican Party (47)

Illinois' state senators are elected to two or four-year terms. Under the Illinois Constitution of 1970, senators are divided into three groups, each group having a two-year term at a different part of the decade between censuses, with the rest of the decade being taken up by two four-year terms. Illinois' state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Illinois legislators assume office the second Wednesday in January.[18]

Indiana

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (10) Republican Party (40)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (29) Republican Party (71)

Indiana's state senators are elected to four-year terms. Indiana's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Indiana legislators assume office the day after their general election.[19]

Iowa

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (26) Republican Party (23) Independent (1)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (43) Republican Party (57)

Iowa's state senators are elected to four-year terms. Iowa state senators assume office on the first day of January which is not a Sunday or legal holiday.[20][21] Iowa's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Iowa state representatives always assume office the first day of January after their election.[22]

Kansas

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (8) Republican Party (32)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (28) Republican Party (97)

Kansas' state senators are elected to four-year terms. Kansas' state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Kansas legislators assume office the second Monday of January after their election.[23]

Kentucky

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (11) Republican Party (27)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (53) Republican Party (47)

Kentucky's state senators are elected to four-year terms. Kentucky's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Kentucky legislators assume office the first day of January after their election.[24]

Louisiana

Louisiana did not hold any state legislative elections in 2016.

Maine

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (15) Republican Party (20)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (78) Republican Party (69) Third Party (4)

Maine's state senators are elected to two-year terms. Senators are limited to no more than four consecutive terms. Maine's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Representatives are limited to no more than four consecutive terms. Maine legislators assume office the day before the first Wednesday of December following the general election.[25][26]

Maryland

Maryland did not hold any state legislative elections in 2016.

Massachusetts

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (34) Republican Party (6)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (126) Republican Party (34)

Massachusetts' state senators are elected to two-year terms. Massachusetts' state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Massachusetts legislators assume office the first Wednesday in January after the election.[27]

Michigan

Michigan did not hold any state senate elections in 2016.

House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (47) Republican Party (63)

Michigan's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Michigan legislators assume office at noon on the first day of January.[28]

Minnesota

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (39) Republican Party (28)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (61) Republican Party (73)

Minnesota's state senators are elected to four-year terms. Minnesota's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Minnesota legislators assume office on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January after the election. When the first Monday in January falls on January 1, legislators assume office on the first Wednesday after the first Monday.[29][30]

Mississippi

Mississippi did not hold any state legislative elections in 2016.

Missouri

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (9) Republican Party (25)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (45) Republican Party (117) Third Party (1)

Missouri's state senators are elected to four-year terms. Senators are limited to no more than two four-year terms. Missouri's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Representatives are limited to no more than four two-year terms. Missouri legislators assume office the first day of the legislative session, which is the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January at 12:00pm.[31]

Montana

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (21) Republican Party (29)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (41) Republican Party (59)

Montana's state senators are elected to four-year terms. Montana term limits state that officials may not seek re-election if they have held office for eight years in a 16-year period. Montana's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Montana term limits state that officials may not seek re-election if they have held office for eight years in a 16-year period. Montana legislators assume office the first Monday of January following the election. If January 1 is a Monday, legislators assume office on the first Wednesday.[32]

Nebraska

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (12) Republican Party (35) Third Party (1) Libertarian Party (1)

Nebraska's state senators are elected to four-year terms. Senators are limited to no more than two four-year terms. Nebraska legislators assume office the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January.[33]

Nevada

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (10) Republican Party (11)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (17) Republican Party (24) Libertarian Party (1)

Nevada's state senators are elected to four-year terms. Nevada's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Nevada legislators assume office on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in November (the day after election day).[34]

New Hampshire

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (10) Republican Party (14)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (162) Republican Party (237) Libertarian Party (1)

New Hampshire's state senators are elected to two-year terms. New Hampshire's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. New Hampshire legislators assume office on the first Wednesday of December following the general election.[35]

New Jersey

New Jersey did not hold any state legislative elections in 2016.

New Mexico

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (24) Republican Party (18)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (33) Republican Party (37)

New Mexico's state senators are elected to four-year terms. New Mexico's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. New Mexico legislators assume office on the first day of January after a general election.[36]

New York

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (32) Republican Party (31)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (107) Republican Party (43)

New York's state senators are elected to two-year terms. New York's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. New York legislators assume office the first day of January after a general election.[37]

North Carolina

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (16) Republican Party (34)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (45) Republican Party (74) Third Party (1)

North Carolina's state senators are elected to two-year terms. North Carolina's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. North Carolina legislators assume office on January 1 the year after their election.[38]

North Dakota

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (15) Republican Party (32)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (23) Republican Party (71)

North Dakota's state senators are elected to four-year terms. North Dakota's state representatives are elected to four-year terms. North Dakota legislators assume office December 1st.[39]

Ohio

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (10) Republican Party (23)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (34) Republican Party (65)

Ohio's state senators are elected to four-year terms. Senators are limited to no more than two consecutive terms. Ohio's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Representatives are limited to no more than four consecutive terms. Ohio legislators assume office the first day of January after a general election.[40][41]

Oklahoma

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (9) Republican Party (39)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (30) Republican Party (71)

Oklahoma's state senators are elected to four-year terms. Senators are limited to no more than a combined total of twelve years in the senate and house of representatives. Oklahoma's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Representatives are limited to no more than a combined total of twelve years in the senate and house of representatives. Oklahoma legislators assume office 15 days following the general election.[42][43]

Oregon

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (18) Republican Party (12)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (35) Republican Party (25)

Oregon's state senators are elected to four-year terms. Oregon's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Oregon legislators assume office the second Monday in January following the election.[44]

Pennsylvania

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (19) Republican Party (31)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (84) Republican Party (119)

Pennsylvania's state senators are elected to four-year terms. Pennsylvania's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Pennsylvania legislators assume office on the first day of December after a general election.[45]

Rhode Island

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (32) Republican Party (5) Third Party (1)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (62) Republican Party (12) Third Party (1)

Rhode Island's state senators are elected to two-year terms. Rhode Island's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Rhode Island legislators assume office the first Tuesday in January.[46]

South Carolina

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (18) Republican Party (28)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (46) Republican Party (78)

South Carolina's state senators are elected to four-year terms. South Carolina's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. South Carolina legislators assume office the Monday after the election.[47]

South Dakota

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (8) Republican Party (27)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (12) Republican Party (58)

South Dakota's state senators are elected to two-year terms. Senators are limited to no more than four consecutive terms. South Dakota's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Representatives are limited to no more than four consecutive terms. South Dakota legislators assume office the second Tuesday in January after the general election.[48]

Tennessee

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (5) Republican Party (28)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (26) Republican Party (73)

Tennessee's state senators are elected to four-year terms. Tennessee's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Tennessee legislators assume office on the day they are elected in the general election.[49]

Texas

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (11) Republican Party (20)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (50) Republican Party (99) Grey.png (1)

Texas' state senators are elected to four-year terms. Texas' state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Texas legislators assume office at the beginning of the legislative session, which starts at noon on the second Tuesday in January in the year after the election.[50][51]

Utah

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (5) Republican Party (23) Libertarian Party (1)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (12) Republican Party (63)

Utah's state senators are elected to four-year terms. Utah's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Utah legislators assume office the first day in January.[52][53]

Vermont

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (20) Republican Party (9) Third Party (1)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (85) Republican Party (53) Third Party (12)

Vermont's state senators are elected to two-year terms. Vermont's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Vermont legislators assume office the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January after the election.[54]

Virginia

Virginia did not hold any state legislative elections in 2016.

Washington

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (24) Republican Party (25)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (50) Republican Party (48)

Washington's state senators are elected to four-year terms. Washington's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Washington legislators assume office the second Monday of January.[55]

West Virginia

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (16) Republican Party (18)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (36) Republican Party (64)

West Virginia's state senators are elected to four-year terms. West Virginia's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. West Virginia legislators assume office on the first day of December following their election.[56]

Wisconsin

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (14) Republican Party (19)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (36) Republican Party (63)

Wisconsin's state senators are elected to four-year terms. Wisconsin's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Wisconsin legislators assume office the first Monday in January following the election, unless the first Monday of January falls on January 1 or 2. In those cases, legislators assume office on January 3.[57]

Wyoming

Senate Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (4) Republican Party (26)
House Partisan Breakdown: Democratic Party (9) Republican Party (51)

Wyoming's state senators are elected to four-year terms. Wyoming's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Wyoming legislators assume office the first Monday in January in odd-numbered years.[58]

See also

  1. This includes special elections being held on November 8 where there were regularly scheduled elections in the state.
  2. JUSTIA US Law, "Alaska Statutes, Sec. 24.05.080," accessed November 1, 2021
  3. Alaska’s Constitution, "A Citizen’s Guide," accessed November 1, 2021
  4. Arizona Revised Statutes, "41-1101, Section B," accessed November 22, 2016
  5. Justia, "Arkansas Constitution Article 5 - Legislative Department Section 5 - Time of meeting," accessed October 26, 2021
  6. California Constitution, "Article 4, Section 2. (a)(3)," accessed November 1, 2021
  7. Colorado Secretary of State, "Colorado Constitution - Article 5, Section 7," accessed February 9, 2021
  8. Colorado Secretary of State, "Colorado Constitution - Article 4, Section 1," accessed February 9, 2021
  9. Colorado Secretary of State, "Colorado Constitution - Article 4, Section 3," accessed February 9, 2021
  10. Colorado LegiSource, "Surprise! The 2019 Legislative Session Convening a Week Earlier," September 20, 2018
  11. Connecticut Constitution, "Article Three, Section 10," accessed November 1, 2021
  12. Delaware Constitution, "Article II, Section 3," accessed November 1, 2021
  13. Delaware Constitution, "Article II, Section 4," accessed November 1, 2021
  14. Florida Constitution, "Article III, Section 15(d)," accessed November 22, 2016
  15. Georgia Secretary of State, "Georgia Constitution - Article III, Section IV, Paragraph I," accessed February 12, 2021
  16. Legislative Reference Bureau, "Hawaii Constitution, Article III, Section 4," accessed November 1, 2021
  17. Idaho Constitution, "Article III, Section 3," accessed December 18, 2019
  18. Illinois Constitution, "Article 4, Section 5a," accessed November 1, 2021
  19. Indiana Constitution, "Article 4, Section 3," accessed November 1, 2021
  20. JUSTIA US Law, "Iowa Code, Section 39.8 - Term of office," accessed November 1, 2021
  21. Iowa Secretary of State, "Terms of Offices for Elected Officials," accessed November 1, 2021
  22. Iowa Constitution, "Article III, Legislative Department, Section 3," accessed November 1, 2021
  23. Kansas Constitution, "Article Two, Section 2", accessed February 9, 2021
  24. Kentucky Constitution, "Section 30," accessed February 10, 2021
  25. Maine Constitution, "Article IV. Part First., Section 2," accessed November 1, 2021
  26. Maine Constitution, "Article IV. Part Second., Section 5," accessed November 1, 2021
  27. Massachusetts Constitution, "Article LXXXII," accessed February 12, 2021
  28. Michigan Constitution, "Article XI, Section 2," accessed February 12, 2021
  29. Minnesota.gov, "Minnesota Statute 3.05," accessed February 12, 2021
  30. Minnesota.gov, "Minnesota Statute 3.011," accessed November 1, 2021
  31. Missouri Revisor of Statutes, "Article III Section 20. Regular sessions of assembly — quorum — compulsory attendance — public sessions — limitation on power to adjourn.," accessed November 1, 2021
  32. Montana State Legislature, "Montana Code Annotated 2021, 5-2-102. Term of office," accessed November 4, 2021
  33. Nebraska Constitution, "Article III-10," accessed November 4, 2021
  34. Nevada Constitution, "Article 4, Section 4," accessed November 1, 2021
  35. New Hampshire Constitution, "Part II, Article 3," accessed February 10, 2021
  36. New Mexico Constitution, "Article IV, Section 4, accessed November 1, 2021
  37. New York Senate, "New York Constitution, Article XIII, Section 4," accessed November 1, 2021
  38. North Carolina Constitution, "Article II, Section 9," accessed February 12, 2021
  39. North Dakota Constitution, "Article IV, Section 7," accessed February 12, 2021
  40. Ohio Constitution, "Article 2, Section 02," accessed November 1, 2021
  41. Ohio.gov, "A Guidebook for Ohio Legislators," accessed November 1, 2021
  42. Oklahoma State Courts Network, "Oklahoma Statutes Citationized 14 O.S. § 80.35.14," accessed November 2, 2021
  43. Oklahoma State Courts Network, "Oklahoma Statutes Citationized 14 O.S. § 141 ," accessed November 2, 2021
  44. Oregon Constitution, "Article IV, Section 4," accessed February 17, 2021
  45. Pennsylvania Constitution, "Article II, Section 2," accessed November 1, 2021
  46. Rhode Island Constitution, "Article VI, Section 3," accessed February 17, 2021
  47. South Carolina Constitution, "Article III, Section 10," accessed November 1, 2021
  48. South Dakota Constitution, "Article 3, Section 7," accessed November 20, 2012
  49. Tennessee Constitution, "Article II, Section 3," accessed November 1, 2021
  50. Texas Government Code, "Title 3., Subtitle A., Sec. 301.001," accessed February 17, 2021
  51. Texas Constitution, "Article 3. Legislative Department, Section 4," accessed November 4, 2021
  52. Utah Constitution, "Article VI, Section 3," accessed February 17, 2021
  53. Utah Constitution, "Article VI, Section 4," accessed February 17, 2021
  54. Vermont Constitution, "Chapter II, Section 46," accessed February 4, 2021
  55. Washington State Legislature, "RCW 44.04.021 Commencement of terms of office," accessed February 17, 2021
  56. West Virginia Constitution, "Article IV, Section 7," accessed February 9, 2021
  57. Wisconsin Statutes, "Chapter 13: Legislative Branch: 13.02 Regular sessions," accessed October 5, 2021
  58. Justia, "2020 Wyoming Statutes Title 22 - Elections Chapter 2 - General Provisions Section 22-2-107 - When Elected State and County Officers Assume Offices.," accessed November 4, 2021