Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.

State legislative incumbents without general election challengers, 2017

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Competitiveness Report Banner.png
Last updated on July 15, 2025
2017 State Legislative Competitiveness
Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge.png
2019 »
« 2015
Analyses
Annual Report
Open seats • Contested primaries • Incumbents in contested primaries • Major party competition • Uncontested incumbents • Incumbents defeated
Primary statistics
2017 elections
State legislative • State executive officials
Reports by year


There were 220 state legislative seats up for election on November 7, 2017, in two states. Overall, 201 incumbents ran in the general election. Of that total, 35 incumbents were uncontested, representing 17.4% of all incumbents who ran in the general election. That was 10 fewer than in 2015.

A general election is uncontested when there are no candidates other than the incumbent running. Learn more about the terms and methodologies used in this analysis.

Ballotpedia uses the number and percentage of incumbents in uncontested general elections to help determine the overall competitiveness of an election cycle. A larger number of uncontested general elections indicates less competitiveness because there are fewer opportunities for voters to elect a non-incumbent to office. A smaller number indicates more of those opportunities.

In 2017:

  • There were 25 Democratic incumbents in uncontested general elections, representing 23.8% of all Democratic incumbents who ran in the general election, a 47% increase from 2013.
  • There were 10 Republican incumbents in uncontested general elections, representing 10.4% of all Republican incumbents who ran in the general election, a 64% decrease from 2013.
  • The total number of incumbents in uncontested general elections—35—was the fewest since 2011 and a 22% decrease from 2013.



    • State legislative incumbents without general election challengers, 2017
    Chamber Seats
    Democratic Republican Total[1]
    Filed Cont. % Filed Cont. % Filed Cont. %
    House 180 82 23 28.0% 82 10 12.2% 164 33 20.1%
    Senate 40 23 2 8.7% 14 0 0.0% 37 2 5.4%
    Total 220 105 25 23.8% 96 10 10.4% 201 35 17.4%


    Click [show] on the table below to view incumbents without general election challengers statistics by state in 2017. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

    Historical comparison

    The chart below shows a breakdown of incumbents in contested primaries from 2011 to 2017.


    Click [show] on the table below to view overall incumbents in contested primaries statistics by state from 2011 to 2017. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

    By state

    Overview

    New Jersey

    There were 120 seats up for election in New Jersey. A total of 108 incumbents advanced to the general election: 72 Democrats and 36 Republicans. Of that total, two incumbents—both Democrats—had no general election challengers, representing 1.9% of incumbents on the general election ballot.

    In 2017

    Statistics from 2017 are shown below. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

    State legislative incumbents with no general election challengers in New Jersey, 2017
    Chamber Seats
    Democratic Republican Total[1]
    Incs. Uncont. % Incs. Uncont. % Incs. Uncont. %
    House 80 49 0 0.0% 22 0 0.0% 71 0 0.0%
    Senate 40 23 2 8.7% 14 0 0.0% 37 2 5.4%
    Total 120 72 2 2.8% 36 0 0.0% 108 2 1.9%

    2011-2017

    Historical statistics are shown below. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

    State legislative incumbents in contested primaries in New Jersey, 2011-2017
    Year Seats
    Democratic Republican Total[1]
    Incs. Uncont. % Incs. Uncont. % Incs. Uncont. %
    2011 120 64 1 1.6% 41 1 2.4% 105 2 1.9%
    2013 120 67 1 1.5% 46 0 0.0% 113 1 0.9%
    2015 80 42 0 0.0% 30 1 3.3% 72 1 1.4%
    2017 120 72 2 2.8% 36 0 0.0% 108 2 1.9%


    See also:

    Virginia

    There were 100 seats up for election in Virginia. A total of 93 incumbents advanced to the general election: 33 Democrats and 60 Republicans. Of that total, 33 incumbents—23 Democrats and 10 Republicans—had no general election challengers, representing 35.5% of incumbents on the general election ballot.

    In 2017

    Statistics from 2017 are shown below. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

    State legislative incumbents with no general election challengers in Virginia, 2017
    Chamber Seats
    Democratic Republican Total[1]
    Incs. Uncont. % Incs. Uncont. % Incs. Uncont. %
    House 100 33 23 69.7% 60 10 16.7% 93 33 35.5%
    Senate Did not hold elections
    Total 100 33 23 69.7% 60 10 16.7% 93 33 35.5%

    2011-2017

    Historical statistics are shown below. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

    State legislative incumbents in contested primaries in Virginia, 2011-2017
    Year Seats
    Democratic Republican Total[1]
    Incs. Uncont. % Incs. Uncont. % Incs. Uncont. %
    2011 140 54 22 40.7% 68 52 76.5% 123 74 60.2%
    2013 100 30 16 53.3% 58 28 48.3% 88 44 50.0%
    2015 140 44 25 56.8% 78 48 61.5% 122 73 59.8%
    2017 100 33 23 69.7% 60 10 16.7% 93 33 35.5%


    See also:

    Terms and definitions

    Incumbent

    See also: Incumbent

    Ballotpedia defines incumbency by chamber. Under this definition, if an incumbent in House District 1 filed for re-election in House District 2, they would still be counted as an incumbent due to their remaining in the same chamber even though they ran for a different seat. If an incumbent in House District 1 filed to run in Senate District 2, they would not be counted as an incumbent in the Senate race since they are coming from a different chamber.

    Ballotpedia uses the term re-elect to refer to any incumbent who is running in an election to retain their office, including incumbents who were originally appointed to their position.

    Uncontested general election

    See also: General election

    An uncontested general election is one where there is one candidate running, meaning the candidate will automatically win the election.

    Methodology

    Candidacy withdrawals

    See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2017 state government elections

    In order to have their names printed on election ballots, candidates must submit information prior to a filing deadline. Filing deadlines are the dates by which candidates must submit required paperwork to state election administrators.

    For major party candidates, filing deadlines always precede primaries. However, candidates may choose to withdraw before the primary or general takes place. Withdrawals include decisions to leave the race, disqualifications, and deaths. These withdrawals are either official or unofficial.

    An official withdrawal means the candidate withdrew before a specific date set in state law and their name was removed from the primary or general ballot. If an incumbent officially withdrew before the general election, they are not included in any of the totals of this analysis, unless they later re-entered the race as a minor party or independent candidate.

    An unofficial withdrawal means the candidate withdrew after a specific date set in state law, typically after ballots have been printed, meaning their name remains on the ballot even though they are not actively campaigning. If an incumbent unofficially withdrew, they are included in the totals of this analysis.

    See also

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Totals may include minor party or independent officeholders.
    v • e
    Competitiveness in State Legislative Elections
    Background
    Competitive Analysis Main Logo.JPG
    2024
    2023
    2022
    2021
    2020
    2019
    2018
    2017
    2016
    2015
    2014
    2013
    2012
    2011
    2010
    2009
    2007
    v • e
    State legislatures
    Legislatures
    Alabama (H, S) · Alaska (H, S) · Arizona (H, S) · Arkansas (H, S) · California (A, S) · Colorado (H, S) · Connecticut (H, S) · Delaware (H, S) · Florida (H, S) · Georgia (H, S) · Hawaii (H, S) · Idaho (H, S) · Illinois (H, S) · Indiana (H, S) · Iowa (H, S) · Kansas (H, S) · Kentucky (H, S) · Louisiana (H, S) · Maine (H, S) · Maryland (H, S) · Massachusetts (H, S) · Michigan (H, S) · Minnesota (H, S) · Mississippi (H, S) · Missouri (H, S) · Montana (H, S) · Nebraska · Nevada (A, S) · New Hampshire (H, S) · New Jersey (GA, S) · New Mexico (H, S) · New York (A, S) · North Carolina (H, S) · North Dakota (H, S) · Ohio (H, S) · Oklahoma (H, S) · Oregon (H, S) · Pennsylvania (H, S) · Rhode Island (H, S) · South Carolina (H, S) · South Dakota (H, S) · Tennessee (H, S) · Texas (H, S) · Utah (H, S) · Vermont (H, S) · Virginia (H, S) · Washington (H, S) · West Virginia (H, S) · Wisconsin (A, S) · Wyoming (H, S)
    SLP badge.png
    2025
    2024
    2023
    Historical elections
    2022 •  2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 • 2010 • 2009 • 2008 • 2007 • 2006 • 2005 • 2004 • 2003 • 2002 • 2001 • 2000
    Features of
    state legislatures
    State senates
    State houses
    Leadership positions
    Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=State_legislative_incumbents_without_general_election_challengers,_2017&oldid=10437753"