State legislative special elections, 2020

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2020 State Legislative
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In 2020, 55 state legislative special elections were held in 26 states. Four special elections were canceled in New York due to the coronavirus pandemic. Between 2011 and 2019, an average of 77 special elections took place each year.

See the sections below for additional information on state legislative special elections in 2020.

  1. Causes and partisan control data: This section provides information on why special elections are held and the impact of special elections on the partisan composition of state legislatures.
  2. Noteworthy special elections: This section provides information on special elections covered in additional detail by Ballotpedia because they had the potential to impact a chamber's partisan control or they received attention from outside groups.
  3. Special elections by date: This section lists all special elections held in 2020 in the order they were held.
  4. Vacancies: This section provides information about vacancies across state legislatures in 2020.
  5. Seats that changed party control: This section lists the seats where a candidate of a party other than the previous incumbent's party won the special election.
  6. Historical data: This section contains data on special elections going back to 2010.


See also: State legislative elections, 2020

Causes and partisan control data

In 2020, special elections for state legislative positions were held for the following reasons:

  • 23 due to appointment, election, or the seeking of election to another position
  • 5 due to a resignation related to criminal charges[1]
  • 18 due to retirement
  • 13 due to the death of the incumbent

Impact of special elections on partisan composition

The partisan breakdown for the special elections was as follows:

As of October 6th, 2025, Republicans controlled 55.42% of all state legislative seats nationally, while Democrats held 43.68%. Republicans held a majority in 57 chambers, and Democrats held the majority in 39 chambers. Two chambers (Alaska House and Alaska Senate) were organized under multipartisan, power-sharing coalitions. One chamber (Minnesota House of Representatives) was split evenly between both parties.

Partisan balance of all 7,386 state legislative seats
Legislative chamber Democratic Party Republican Party Grey.png Other Vacant
State senates 833 1,120 5 15
State houses 2,393 2,973 20 27
Total: 3,226

4,093

25

42


Noteworthy special elections

Texas House of Representatives District 28

See also: Texas House of Representatives District 28 special election, 2019 (January 28, 2020 runoff)

Gary Gates (R) defeated Elizabeth Markowitz (D) 58-42 in a special runoff election on January 28, 2020, for the District 28 seat in the Texas House of Representatives. The seat became vacant after Rep. John Zerwas (R) resigned on September 30, 2019, to take an executive position with the University of Texas System.[2]

The two candidates advanced from a field of seven in a November 5, 2019, general election. Markowitz, the lone Democrat in the race, received 39.1 percent of the vote. Gates received 28.4 percent of the vote, while three other Republican candidates split another 30 percent of the vote. The Hayride, a conservative political commentary site, described the race as "a test case to see if [Republicans] can hold turf in the 'urban suburbs' of Houston."[3] ABC 13 said that Democrats could use this race to "create a domino effect that alters more seats, which shifts control in Austin."[4] In the 2018 general election, Zerwas defeated Meghan Scoggins (D) 54-46.

Heading into the election, Republicans held an 82-64 majority in the House with three seats vacant. All 150 seats in the chamber were up for election in November 2020. Houston Public Media wrote that Democrats were targeting this race to pick up the seat ahead of a bigger push to gain control of the chamber in the 2020 elections.[5]

General runoff election

Special general runoff election for Texas House of Representatives District 28

Gary Gates defeated Elizabeth Markowitz in the special general runoff election for Texas House of Representatives District 28 on January 28, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Gary Gates
Gary Gates (R)
 
58.1
 
17,484
Image of Elizabeth Markowitz
Elizabeth Markowitz (D) Candidate Connection
 
41.9
 
12,629

Total votes: 30,113
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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General election

Special general election for Texas House of Representatives District 28

The following candidates ran in the special general election for Texas House of Representatives District 28 on November 5, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Elizabeth Markowitz
Elizabeth Markowitz (D) Candidate Connection
 
39.1
 
11,356
Image of Gary Gates
Gary Gates (R)
 
28.5
 
8,275
Image of Tricia Krenek
Tricia Krenek (R)
 
18.1
 
5,272
Image of Anna Allred
Anna Allred (R)
 
9.3
 
2,705
Image of Gary Hale
Gary Hale (R) Candidate Connection
 
2.4
 
712
Sarah Laningham (R)
 
1.7
 
503
Clinton Purnell (R)
 
0.9
 
256

Total votes: 29,079
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Texas State Senate District 30

See also: Texas State Senate District 30 special election, 2020

A special general election runoff was held on December 19, 2020, for District 30 of the Texas State Senate. Drew Springer (R) earned 56.5% of the vote in the general runoff, defeating Shelley Luther (R).

The general election took place on September 29, 2020. As no candidate earned more than 50% of the vote in the general election, the top two finishers advanced to a general runoff. Luther and Springer each received 32% of the vote. Jacob Minter (D) followed with 21%. No other candidate received over 10% of the vote. [6]

The candidates highlighted property tax cuts, health care, and other issues in their platforms. To view candidate responses to a Denton Record-Chronicle questionnaire, click here.

Springer replaced Pat Fallon (R) for the remainder of his term, expiring in 2023. Fallon submitted his letter of resignation on August 22, 2020, effective January 4, 2021, after he was nominated to run in the general election for Texas' 4th Congressional District.[7]

General runoff election

Special general runoff election for Texas State Senate District 30

Drew Springer defeated Shelley Luther in the special general runoff election for Texas State Senate District 30 on December 19, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Drew Springer
Drew Springer (R)
 
56.5
 
32,761
Image of Shelley Luther
Shelley Luther (R)
 
43.5
 
25,235

Total votes: 57,996
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

General election

Special general election for Texas State Senate District 30

The following candidates ran in the special general election for Texas State Senate District 30 on September 29, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Shelley Luther
Shelley Luther (R)
 
32.0
 
22,242
Image of Drew Springer
Drew Springer (R)
 
31.9
 
22,127
Jacob Minter (D)
 
21.4
 
14,825
Christopher Watts (R)
 
6.2
 
4,321
Image of Craig Carter
Craig Carter (R) Candidate Connection
 
5.0
 
3,448
Image of Andy Hopper
Andy Hopper (R) Candidate Connection
 
3.5
 
2,456

Total votes: 69,419
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Special elections by date

2020 state legislative special elections
Office Former incumbent Filing deadline Primary election date General election date
Connecticut House of Representatives District 48 Linda Orange (D) N/A[8] N/A January 14, 2020
Connecticut House of Representatives District 132 Brenda L. Kupchick (R) N/A[8] N/A January 14, 2020
Kentucky State Senate District 38 Dan Seum (R) November 26, 2019 N/A January 14, 2020
Pennsylvania State Senate District 48 Mike Folmer (R) N/A[9] N/A January 14, 2020
Connecticut House of Representatives District 151 Fred Camillo (R) N/A[8] N/A January 21, 2020
Georgia House of Representatives District 171 Jay Powell (R) December 18, 2019 N/A January 28, 2020
Minnesota House of Representatives District 30A Nick Zerwas (R) December 10, 2019 January 14, 2020 February 4, 2020
Minnesota House of Representatives District 60A Diane Loeffler (D) December 10, 2019 January 21, 2020 February 4, 2020
Georgia State Senate District 13 Greg Kirk (R) January 6, 2020 N/A February 4, 2020
Kentucky House of Representatives District 67 Dennis Keene (D) January 7, 2020 N/A February 25, 2020
Kentucky House of Representatives District 99 Rocky Adkins (D) January 7, 2020 N/A February 25, 2020
Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 190 Movita Johnson-Harrell (D) N/A[9] N/A February 25, 2020
Arkansas House of Representatives District 34 John W. Walker (D) November 19, 2019 January 14, 2020 March 3, 2020
Massachusetts House of Representatives Thirty-second Middlesex District Paul Brodeur (D) December 31, 2019 February 4, 2020 March 3, 2020
Rhode Island House of Representatives District 56 Shelby Maldonado (D) January 7, 2020 February 4, 2020 March 3, 2020
Arkansas House of Representatives District 22 Mickey Gates (R) November 12, 2019 December 10, 2019 March 3, 2020
Maine House of Representatives District 128 Arthur Verow (D) January 23, 2020 N/A March 3, 2020
New Hampshire House of Representatives District Merrimack 24 Dick Marple (R) December 27, 2019 January 21, 2020 March 10, 2020
Michigan House of Representatives District 34 Sheldon Neeley (D) November 19, 2019 January 7, 2020 March 10, 2020
Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 8 Tedd Nesbit (R) N/A[9] N/A March 17, 2020
Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 18 Gene DiGirolamo (R) N/A[9] N/A March 17, 2020
Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 58 Justin Walsh (R) N/A[9] N/A March 17, 2020
California State Senate District 28 Jeff Stone (R) January 9, 2020 March 3, 2020 May 12, 2020
Massachusetts State Senate Second Hampden & Hampshire District Donald Humason Jr. (R) January 21, 2020 March 3, 2020 May 19, 2020
Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth & Barnstable District Vinny deMacedo (R) January 21, 2020 March 3, 2020 May 19, 2020
Massachusetts House of Representatives Thirty-seventh Middlesex District Jennifer Benson (D) January 21, 2020 March 3, 2020 June 2, 2020
Massachusetts House of Representatives Third Bristol District Shaunna O'Connell (R) January 28, 2020 March 3, 2020 June 2, 2020
Georgia State Senate District 4 Jack Hill (R) April 15, 2020 N/A June 9, 2020
Mississippi House of Representatives District 88 Ramona Blackledge (R) March 2, 2020 N/A June 23, 2020
Kentucky State Senate District 26 Ernie Harris (R) N/A N/A June 23, 2020
Texas State Senate District 14 Kirk Watson (D) May 13, 2020 N/A July 14, 2020
South Carolina House of Representatives District 115 Peter McCoy (R) April 25, 2020 June 9, 2020 August 11, 2020
Louisiana House of Representatives District 54 Reggie Bagala (R) May 22, 2020 July 11, 2020 August 15, 2020
Mississippi State Senate District 15 Gary Jackson (R) August 3, 2020 N/A September 22, 2020
Mississippi State Senate District 39 Sally Doty (R) August 3, 2020 N/A September 22, 2020
Mississippi House of Representatives District 37 Gary Chism (R) August 3, 2020 N/A September 22, 2020
Mississippi House of Representatives District 66 Jarvis Dortch (D) August 3, 2020 N/A September 22, 2020
Texas State Senate District 30 Pat Fallon (R) August 28, 2020 N/A September 29, 2020
Oregon State Senate District 10 Jackie Winters (R) March 10, 2020 May 19, 2020 November 3, 2020
Oklahoma State Senate District 28 Jason Smalley (R) April 10, 2020 June 30, 2020 November 3, 2020
New Jersey State Senate District 25 Anthony Bucco (R) March 30, 2020 (major party)
June 2, 2020 (minor party and independent)
July 7, 2020 November 3, 2020
New Jersey General Assembly District 25 Anthony Bucco Jr. (R) March 30, 2020 (major party)
June 2, 2020 (minor party and independent)
July 7, 2020 November 3, 2020
Michigan House of Representatives District 4 Isaac Robinson (D) N/A August 4, 2020 November 3, 2020
Washington State Senate District 38 June Robinson (D) May 15, 2020 August 4, 2020 November 3, 2020
Alaska State Senate District M Chris Birch (R) June 1, 2020 August 18, 2020 November 3, 2020
Florida State Senate District 20 Tom Lee (R) June 15, 2020 August 18, 2020 November 3, 2020
South Carolina House of Representatives District 107 Alan Clemmons (R) August 4, 2020 August 18, 2020 November 3, 2020
Arkansas House of Representatives District 96 Grant Hodges (R) N/A N/A November 3, 2020
Hawaii State Senate District 16 Breene Harimoto (D) September 5, 2020 N/A November 3, 2020
Illinois State Senate District 6 John Cullerton (D) August 21, 2020 N/A November 3, 2020
Illinois State Senate District 11 Martin Sandoval (D) December 9, 2019 March 17, 2020 November 3, 2020
Mississippi House of Representatives District 87 William Andrews (R) September 14, 2020 N/A November 3, 2020
Virginia House of Delegates District 29 Chris Collins (R) August 14, 2020 N/A November 3, 2020
Alabama House of Representatives District 49 April Weaver (R) June 2, 2020 (major party)
August 4, 2020 (minor party and independent)
August 4, 2020 November 17, 2020
Georgia State Senate District 39 Nikema Williams (D) September 4, 2020 November 3, 2020 N/A

Vacancies

Partisan breakdown of vacancies

See also: State legislative vacancies, 2020

In 2020, there were 146 state legislative vacancies in 42 states.

The process for filling vacancies varies among the state legislatures. Twenty-five states fill vacancies in the state legislature through special elections. Twenty-one states fill vacancies through appointments, and four states fill vacancies through a hybrid system that uses both appointments and special elections. The most common reasons for a state legislative vacancy include officeholders resigning, dying, leaving for a new job, being elected or appointed to a different office, or receiving a legal conviction.

The table below details the partisan breakdown for state legislative vacancies in 2020. The number on the left reflects how many vacant seats were originally held by each party, while the number on the right shows how many vacant seats each party held after the special elections and appointments took place.

Partisan breakdown of the vacancies (2020)
Party As of vacancy After vacancy
     Democratic Party
68
73
     Republican Party
78
73
     Independent
0
0
Total 146 146


Seats that changed party control

The table below details how many seats changed parties as the result of a special election in 2020. The number on the left reflects how many vacant seats were originally held by each party, while the number on the right shows how many vacant seats each party won in the special elections. In elections between 2011 and 2019, either the Democratic Party or Republican Party saw an average net gain of four seats across the country. Between 2018 and 2019, Democrats had a net gain of six seats.

Note: This table reflects information for elections that were held and not the total number of vacant seats.

Partisan Change from Special Elections (2020)
Party As of Special Election After Special Election
     Democratic Party 21 27
     Republican Party 38 32
     Independent 0 0
Total 59 59

Flipped seats

In 2020, eight seats flipped as a result of state legislative special elections.

Seats flipped from D to R

Seats flipped from R to D


Historical data

State breakdown by year

The table below details how many state legislative special elections were held in a state in a given year. From 2010 to 2024, Georgia held the most state legislative special elections with 82. Pennsylvania held the second-most special elections with 69.

Partisan breakdown by year

The average number of special elections per even year between 2011 and 2024 (2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024) was 59, while the average per odd year was 80. The most special elections in a single year during that same time frame was 99, which happened in 2018.

The table below details how many state legislative seats changed parties as the result of a special election between 2011 and 2024. The numbers on the left side of the table reflect how many vacant seats were originally held by each party, while the numbers on the right side of the table show how many vacant seats each party won in special elections.

State legislative special election vacancies and results, 2011-2024
Year Total elections held Vacancies before elections Seats held after elections Net change
Democratic Party Democrats Republican Party Republicans Minor party Democratic Party Democrats Republican Party Republicans Minor party
2024 52 26 26 0 29 23 0 +3 D, -3 R
2023 53 33 20 0 33 20 0 -
2022 54 36 18 0 36 18 0 -
2021 66 33 33 0 33 33 0 -
2020 59 21 38 0 27 32 0 +6 D, -6 R
2019 77 39 38 0 36 40 1 -3 D, +2 R, +1 I
2018 99 42 57 0 50 49 0 +8 D, -8 R
2017 98 45 53 0 56 42 0 +11 D, -11 R
2016* 65 37 28 0 39 24 2 +2 D, -4 R
2015* 89 42 46 1 38 50 1 -4 D, +4 R
2014 40 22 18 0 19 21 0 -3 D, +3 R
2013 84 51 33 0 48 36 0 -3 D, +3 R
2012 46 23 23 0 25 21 0 +2 D, -2 R
2011* 95 49 45 1 46 48 1 -3 D, +3 R
Averages 70 36 34 N/A 37 33 N/A N/A
*Please see the year-specific pages for information regarding minor-party candidates.

Seats that changed partisan control by year

See also: State legislative special election changes in party control since 2010

Current as of January 17, 2025 (updated annually)
Since 2010, 121 state legislative seats have switched partisan control, or flipped, in special elections. The chart below shows the number of special elections that resulted in partisan changes in each year:

Flipped seats in state legislative special elections
Year Total special elections Total flips Democratic flips Republican flips Other flips
2024 52 5 4 1 0
2023 53 4 2 2 0
2022 54 2 1 1 0
2021 66 6 3 3 0
2020 59 8 7 1 0
2019 77 8 2 5 1
2018 99 16 12 4 0
2017 98 17 14 3 0
2016 65 9 5 2 2
2015 89 16 5 9 2
2014 40 5 1 4 0
2013 84 7 1 6 0
2012 46 7 5 2 0
2011 95 11 4 6 1
2010 30 0 0 0 0
Total 1,007 121 66 49 6


Days between vacancies and elections by year

The following table tracks the gap between when state legislative vacancies occurred and special elections were held from 2012 through September 12, 2025:

Analysis of state elections

See also: Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2020


In November 2020, regular elections were held for 86 of 99 state legislative chambers, plus 11 gubernatorial offices, nine lieutenant gubernatorial offices, 10 attorney general offices, and seven secretary of state offices.

Election analysis

All state elections

Trifectas

State executive elections

State legislative elections

State ballot measures


See also

Footnotes