State legislative incumbents without general election challengers, 2019

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2019 State Legislative Competitiveness
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There were 538 state legislative seats up for election on November 5, 2019, in four states. Overall, 417 incumbents ran in the general election. Of that total, 224 incumbents were uncontested, representing 53.7% of all incumbents who ran in the general election. That was a 17% decrease from 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 2019:

  • There were 106 Democratic incumbents in uncontested general elections, representing 54.1% of all Democratic incumbents who ran in the general election, a 0% change from 2015.
  • There were 117 Republican incumbents in uncontested general elections, representing 53.9% of all Republican incumbents who ran in the general election, a 27% decrease from 2015.
  • There was one minor party or independent incumbents in an uncontested general election, representing 25.0% of all minor party or independent incumbents who ran in the general election.
  • The total number of incumbents in uncontested general elections—224—was 45 fewer and a 17% decrease from 2015.



    • State legislative incumbents without general election challengers, 2019
    Chamber Seats
    Democratic Republican Total[1]
    Filed Cont. % Filed Cont. % Filed Cont. %
    House 407 156 77 49.4% 162 87 53.7% 322 165 51.2%
    Senate 131 40 29 72.5% 55 30 54.5% 95 59 62.1%
    Total 538 196 106 54.1% 217 117 53.9% 417 224 53.7%


    Click [show] on the table below to view incumbents without general election challengers statistics by state in 2019. 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 2019.


    Click [show] on the table below to view overall incumbents in contested primaries statistics by state from 2011 to 2019. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

    By state

    Overview

    Louisiana

    There were 144 seats up for election in Louisiana. A total of 82 incumbents advanced to the general election: 29 Democrats, 51 Republicans, and two independent or minor party incumbents. Of that total, 75 incumbents—28 Democrats, 46 Republicans, and one independent or minor party incumbent—had no general election challengers, representing 91.5% of incumbents on the general election ballot.

    In 2019

    Statistics from 2019 are shown below. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

    State legislative incumbents with no general election challengers in Louisiana, 2019
    Chamber Seats
    Democratic Republican Total[1]
    Incs. Uncont. % Incs. Uncont. % Incs. Uncont. %
    House 105 21 20 95.2% 38 35 92.1% 61 56 91.8%
    Senate 39 8 8 100.0% 13 11 84.6% 21 19 90.5%
    Total 144 29 28 96.6% 51 46 90.2% 82 75 91.5%

    2011-2019

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

    State legislative incumbents in contested primaries in Louisiana, 2011-2019
    Year Seats
    Democratic Republican Total[1]
    Incs. Uncont. % Incs. Uncont. % Incs. Uncont. %
    2011 144 45 41 91.1% 63 57 90.5% 109 99[2] 90.8%
    2013 Did not hold elections.
    2015 144 37 35 94.6% 68 64 94.1% 107 101[3] 94.4%
    2017 Did not hold elections.
    2019 144 29 28 96.6% 51 46 90.2% 82 75[4] 91.5%


    See also:

    Mississippi

    There were 174 seats up for election in Mississippi. A total of 138 incumbents advanced to the general election: 52 Democrats, 84 Republicans, and two independent or minor party incumbents. Of that total, 108 incumbents—45 Democrats and 63 Republicans—had no general election challengers, representing 78.3% of incumbents on the general election ballot.

    In 2019

    Statistics from 2019 are shown below. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

    State legislative incumbents with no general election challengers in Mississippi, 2019
    Chamber Seats
    Democratic Republican Total[1]
    Incs. Uncont. % Incs. Uncont. % Incs. Uncont. %
    House 122 38 34 89.5% 60 45 75.0% 100 79 79.0%
    Senate 52 14 11 78.6% 24 18 75.0% 38 29 76.3%
    Total 174 52 45 86.5% 84 63 75.0% 138 108 78.3%

    2011-2019

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

    State legislative incumbents in contested primaries in Mississippi, 2011-2019
    Year Seats
    Democratic Republican Total[1]
    Incs. Uncont. % Incs. Uncont. % Incs. Uncont. %
    2011 174 76 46 60.5% 62 38 61.3% 138 84 60.9%
    2013 Did not hold elections.
    2015 174 59 46 78.0% 83 48 57.8% 142 94 66.2%
    2017 Did not hold elections.
    2019 174 52 45 86.5% 84 63 75.0% 138 108 78.3%


    See also:

    New Jersey

    There were 80 seats up for election in New Jersey. A total of 75 incumbents advanced to the general election: 53 Democrats and 22 Republicans. Of that total, no incumbents were uncontested, representing 0.0% of incumbents on the general election ballot.

    In 2019

    Statistics from 2019 are shown below. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

    State legislative incumbents with no general election challengers in New Jersey, 2019
    Chamber Seats
    Democratic Republican Total[1]
    Incs. Uncont. % Incs. Uncont. % Incs. Uncont. %
    House 80 53 0 0.0% 22 0 0.0% 75 0 0.0%
    Senate Did not hold elections
    Total 80 53 0 0.0% 22 0 0.0% 75 0 0.0%

    2011-2019

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

    State legislative incumbents in contested primaries in New Jersey, 2011-2019
    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%
    2019 80 53 0 0.0% 22 0 0.0% 75 0 0.0%


    See also:

    Virginia

    There were 140 seats up for election in Virginia. A total of 122 incumbents advanced to the general election: 62 Democrats and 60 Republicans. Of that total, 41 incumbents—33 Democrats and eight Republicans—had no general election challengers, representing 33.6% of incumbents on the general election ballot.

    In 2019

    Statistics from 2019 are shown below. Hover over column headings to learn more about their contents.

    State legislative incumbents with no general election challengers in Virginia, 2019
    Chamber Seats
    Democratic Republican Total[1]
    Incs. Uncont. % Incs. Uncont. % Incs. Uncont. %
    House 100 44 23 52.3% 42 7 16.7% 86 30 34.9%
    Senate 40 18 10 55.6% 18 1 5.6% 36 11 30.6%
    Total 140 62 33 53.2% 60 8 13.3% 122 41 33.6%

    2011-2019

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

    State legislative incumbents in contested primaries in Virginia, 2011-2019
    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%
    2019 140 62 33 53.2% 60 8 13.3% 122 41 33.6%


    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 2019 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 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Totals may include minor party or independent officeholders.
    2. ↑ One minor party or independent candidates also had no general election challengers.
    3. ↑ Two minor party or independent candidates also had no general election challengers.
    4. ↑ One minor party or independent candidates also had no general election challengers.
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