State legislative elections results, 2013

2013 Legislative Election Results
Table Of Contents
Election results • Election analysis Defeated incumbents Freshman incumbents Open seat winners
State-by-State Analysis
New Jersey • Virginia
Other 2013 Election information
State legislative elections • State legislative election results Statewide elections, 2013 • Filing deadlines and primary dates

There were 220 seats up for election on November 5, 2013.

A total of 40 (2.0%) of the country's 1,972 state senate seats were up for election in November 2013, and 180 (3.3%) of the country's 5,411 state house seats were up for election. Altogether, 220 (3.0%) of the country's 7,383 state legislative seats were up for election.

Partisan Balance of All 99 Chambers Before and After 2013 Elections
	Pre-election				Post-election
Legislative chamber
State senates	20	28	1	1	20	28	1	1
State houses	21	28	0	0	21	28	0	0
Totals:	41	56	1	1	41	56	1	1

• In the three states with elections, there were 205 incumbents who ran in the general election. Four of those incumbents, two Democrats and two Republicans, were defeated on November 5, 2013.
• In total, 23 (10.5%) new legislators were elected in 2013. Of these 23, eight (34.8%) were Democrats and 15 (65.2%) were Republicans.
• Open seat general election contests made up 17 (7.7%) of the 220 seats in 2013. Of these 17 open seats, Democrats won five (29.4%) while Republicans won 12 (70.6%).

For a detailed breakdown of election results by state, see Virginia 2013 legislative election results and New Jersey 2013 legislative election results.

Election results

New Jersey

See also: New Jersey State Senate elections, 2013 and New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2013

New Jersey State Senate Party As of November 4, 2013 After the 2013 Election      Democratic Party 24 24      Republican Party 16 16 Total 40 40

New Jersey General Assembly Party As of November 4, 2013 After the 2013 Election      Democratic Party 48 48      Republican Party 32 32 Total 80 80

Heading into the November 5 election, the Democratic Party held the majority in the New Jersey State Senate. The party lost no seats and remained the majority party after the 2013 election.

Incumbency was a key factor in the results for New Jersey's elections for State Senate in 2013. The incumbent ran for re-election in 39 of the 40 seats up for election in 2013. Every one of those incumbents advanced past the primary and general election. District 14 and District 38 saw the closest competition for incumbents; both Democrats. Peter Barnes, III (D) was the only newly-elected member of the New Jersey State Senate. He won election in an open seat contest.

Heading into the November 5 election, the Democratic Party held the majority in the New Jersey General Assembly. The party lost two seats but remained the majority party after the 2013 election.

As with the State Senate, incumbency was one of the stronger factors in the results for New Jersey's elections for State Assembly in 2013. A total of 74 incumbents appeared on the general election ballot. All but two of them, Nelson Albano (D) and Timothy Eustace (D), won re-election on November 5. The District 38 contest in which Eustace was defeated turned out to be one of closest in the chamber. There were eight newly-elected members of the New Jersey State Assembly. The newly elected members were split evenly between Democrats and Republicans.

The popularity of Republican Governor Chris Christie, who was also up for election in 2013, was expected to provide a push for Republican candidates in 2013. Democratic super PAC groups went big on campaign spending in order to prevent Republican advances. Christie won re-election with 60.5% of the vote, defeating State Senator Barbara Buono (D).

Virginia

See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2013

Virginia House of Delegates
Party		As of November 4, 2013	After the 2013 Election
	Democratic Party	32	33
	Republican Party	65	67
	Independent	1	0
	Vacancy	2	0
Total		100	100

Heading into the November 5 election, the Republican Party held the majority in the Virginia House of Delegates. Republicans expanded their majority in the State House while Democrats managed to pick up one additional seat. Two seats were vacant and retiring incumbent Lacey Putney, an independent, allowed for both party to make gains in the chamber. Putney was the longest-serving state legislator in the country, serving since 1962. A total of four seats flipped partisan control in 2013. Those districts were:

• District 2: Democratic challenger Michael Futrell defeated Republican incumbent Mark Dudenhefer. Dudenhefer was first elected in 2011.
• District 4: Democratic incumbent Joe Johnson did not seek re-election in 2013. Democrats conceded the district without presenting a Democratic candidate. The district went to the unchallenged Republican candidate A. Benton Chafin.
• District 19: Independent Lacey Putney's open district was won by Republican challenger Terry Austin.
• District 93: Republican incumbent Michael Watson was defeated by Democratic challenger T. Monty Mason. Watson was first elected in 2007.

Election analysis

Incumbents who were defeated in the general election

In the three states with elections, there were 205 incumbents who ran in the general election. The following is a breakdown of incumbents defeated in the 2013 general election:

Incumbents defeated in 2013 legislative general election
Party	Senate	House	Total
Democratic	2	1	3
Republican	0	3	3
Third Party	0	0	0
TOTALS	2	4	6

Total new legislators elected

In total, 23 (10.5%) new legislators were elected in 2013. Of these 23, eight (34.8%) were Democrats and 15 (65.2%) were Republicans.

The following is the breakdown of new legislators.

New Legislators after the 2013 legislative elections
Party	Senate	House	Total
Democratic	1	7	8
Republican	0	15	15
Independent	0	0	0
TOTALS	1	22	23

Winners of Open Seats

Open seat general election contests made up 17 (7.7%) of the 220 seats in 2013. Of these 17 open seats, Democrats won five (29.4%) while Republicans won 12 (70.6%).

The following is the breakdown of open seat winners.

Open Seat Winners in 2013 legislative elections
Party	Senate	House	Total
Democratic	1	4	5
Republican	0	12	12
Third Party	0	0	0
TOTALS	1	16	17

Impact on legislative majorities

See also: Partisan balance of state legislatures

Partisan Balance of All 99 Chambers Before and After 2013 Elections
	Pre-election				Post-election
Legislative chamber
State senates	20	28	1	1	20	28	1	1
State houses	21	28	0	0	21	28	0	0
Totals:	41	56	1	1	41	56	1	1