On November 8, 2016, 86 of America's 99 state legislative chambers held elections. Both Democrats and Republicans made gains in different areas of the country. Overall, the GOP gained came out ahead.
Republicans flipped 138 seats while Democrats flipped 95 seats. The Republican Party's share of seats in state legislatures increased by 43 seats across the country. Republicans controlled 4,161 (56.4 percent) of the 7,383 legislative seats heading into the election.
In 2010 and 2014, Republicans won hundreds of formerly Democratic-held state legislative seats across the United States. These past successes put them at a relatively greater partisan risk in 2016, since the GOP held a higher percentage of the seats up for election than Democrats. However, Republicans were able to maintain and increase their advantage in state legislative chambers nationwide. The Democratic Party would need to oust Republican majorities in many state legislative chambers over the course of 2018 and 2020 in order to control the redistricting process in 2020. This process establishes congressional and legislative district lines in many states, which can influence the competitiveness of those elections in favor of one political party or another until the following census in 2020.
Sixty-eight chambers were under GOP control, while Democrats held majorities in 31 chambers.[2] In 43 of the 50 state senates, 1,212 seats were up for election. In 43 of the 49 state houses, 4,711 of the country's 5,411 state house seats were up for election.
Two chambers moved to a split balance following the election:
Republicans in the Connecticut State Senate picked up three seats, moving the balance of the chamber to 18-18.
The Delaware State Senate resulted in a temporary split after state Sen. Bethany Hall-Long (D) won election in the lieutenant governor's race. A special election will decide the balance of the chamber. The most recent election for Hall-Long's District 10 seat was competitive, with a 2.2 percent margin of victory.
Three states had unique governing situations in their state legislative chambers:
Alaska Republicans were able to maintain a numerical majority in the state House despite losing two seats. Shortly after the election, a coalition was announced between House Democrats, three Republican representatives, and two independent representatives. The coalition gave effective control of the chamber to Democrats.
The Independent Democratic Caucus of the New York State Senate, along with an additional Democratic state senator, once again gave Republicans control of the state Senate despite Democrats winning a numerical majority.
Democrats gained a numerical majority in the Washington State Senate. However, Republicans maintained control of the chamber due to a Democratic senator who caucuses with the Republicans
There was little shift in the number of chambers controlled by either party. The Democratic Party and Republican Party each lost three chambers to the other party on election night. However, Democrats also lost majorities in the Connecticut State Senate and Delaware State Senate when those chambers moved to a split partisan balance. A special election will determine which party controls the 21-member Delaware Senate. In Alaska, coalition between House Democrats, three Republican representatives, and two independent representatives gave effective control of the chamber to Democrats.
Heading into the 2016 elections, Republicans held a majority of state legislative chambers. Sixty-nine chambers were under GOP control, while Democrats held majorities in 30 chambers.[3]
The following table details partisan balance in all 99 chambers.
There are no formal party alignments or groups within the Nebraska State Senate. Coalitions tend to form issue-by-issue based on a member's philosophy of government, geographic background and constituency. However, almost all of the members of the legislature are affiliated with the state affiliate of either the Democratic or the Republican Party and both parties explicitly endorse candidates for legislative seats. Senators and candidates are listed as officially nonpartisan, but in most cases the individual has a direct party affiliation. As an example, in most cases if a sitting senator runs for Congress, the individual runs on either the Democratic or Republican line on the ballot.
The number of incumbents defeated in general elections varies depending on the nature of the election. Some years, like 2010, experience what is referred to as a wave election. This was a year in which Republicans had significant momentum and were able to flip many seats. About 500 incumbents were defeated in that general election. Other years have been more tame. In 2014, just over 250 incumbents were defeated. Republicans had another strong year in 2014 but, due to their existing position of controlling majorities in most state legislatures, the resulting number of defeated incumbents remained low.
In the 2016 general election, 233 incumbents were defeated.
There were 125 Democratic incumbents defeated in general elections.
Another 105 Republican incumbents were defeated.
There were four minor party incumbents defeated.
Incumbent turnover by year
The number of incumbents defeated in general elections varies depending on the nature of the election. Some years, like 2010, experience what is referred to as a wave election. This was a year in which Republicans had significant momentum and were able to flip many seats. About 500 incumbents were defeated in that general election. Other years have been more tame. In 2014, just over 250 incumbents were defeated. Republicans had another strong year in 2014 but, due to their existing position of controlling majorities in most state legislatures, the resulting number of defeated incumbents remained low.
Incumbent turnover by party
2016
2014
2012
2010
Retired Democrats
427
466
517
579
Democrats defeated in primary election
39
46
71
56
Democrats defeated in general election
124
226
66
482
Total Democratic Turnover
590
738
654
1,117
Retired Republicans
590
545
591
533
Republicans defeated in primary election
84
85
123
56
Republicans defeated in general election
102
40
224
14
Total Republican Turnover
776
670
938
603
Total new legislators elected
There were 1,389 new legislators elected in 2016, representing 23.5 percent of all state legislature seats up for election. Of these 1,389 freshman legislators, 546 (39.3 percent) were Democrats and 813 (58.5 percent) were Republicans.
The following table details the number of new legislators elected in 2016.
New legislators after the 2016 legislative elections
Party
Senate
House
Total
Democratic
105
441
546
Republican
196
617
813
Other
16
14
30
Total:
317
1,072
1,389
New legislators by year
The following table compares the number of new major party legislators elected by year.
There was a large number of freshman legislators elected in 2010 due to a strong Republican wave election. Although 2012 was not a wave election, it was the first election after new district maps were implemented, resulting in more open seats due to incumbents being less willing to run in often unfamiliar territory. Furthermore, the number of incumbents defeated in 2012 primaries was higher than most years, resulting in more seats without an incumbent in the general election. Although the Republican Party had a strong year in 2014 and 2016, the party's existing position of majority control stifled any significant shift in new legislators entering office.
The concept of the trifecta is important in state lawmaking because in many states, the governor, senate majority leader, and house majority leader play decisive roles in the legislative process.
↑Includes Connecticut and Delaware, which have senates controlled by Democrats only through tie-breaking votes.
↑Although the Nebraska State Senate elects its members in nonpartisan elections, members of the chamber generally function along party lines when it comes to voting and caucusing. Please see Nebraska State Senate partisan affiliation for more information.
↑Although the Nebraska State Senate elects its members in nonpartisan elections, members of the chamber generally function along party lines when it comes to voting and caucusing. Please see Nebraska State Senate partisan affiliation for more information.
↑A coalition between House Democrats, three Republican representatives, and two independent representatives gave effective control of the chamber to Democrats.
↑A coalition between House Democrats, three Republican representatives, and two independent representatives gave effective control of the chamber to Democrats.
↑Tie-breaking votes are cast by the lieutenant governor.
↑In the November 2016 elections, Sen. Bethany Hall-Long (D) won election for lieutenant governor of Delaware. She remained in office until shortly before being sworn in on January 17, 2017. The Delaware State Senate began its 2017 legislative session on January 10, 2017.
↑Independence member caucuses with Democrats and was included in the count.
↑Independence member caucuses with Democrats and was included in the count.
↑A power-sharing agreement gave Republicans effective control of the chamber.
↑Includes Connecticut and Delaware, which have senates controlled by Democrats only through tie-breaking votes.
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