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State legislative special elections, 2024

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2024 State Legislative
Special Elections

Special Elections Information
BreakdownHistorical dataElections by date

Special elections by state

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In 2024, 52 state legislative special elections were scheduled for 2024 in 22 states. Between 2011 and 2023, an average of 71 special elections took place each year. See the sections below for additional information on state legislative special elections in 2024.

  1. Causes: This section provides information on why special elections are held.
  2. Partisan control: This section provides information on the impact of special elections on the partisan composition of state legislatures.
  3. Special elections by date: This section lists all special elections held in 2024 in the order they were held.
  4. Historical data: This section contains data on special elections going back to 2010.


See also: State legislative elections, 2024

Causes

In 2024, special elections for state legislative positions were held for the following reasons:

  • 31 due to resignation
  • 11 due to appointment, election, or the seeking of election to another position
  • 4 due to the death of the incumbent
  • 6 due to redistricting


Partisan control

The partisan breakdown for the special elections was as follows:

Noteworthy special elections

Special elections by date

2024 state legislative special elections
Office Former incumbent Filing deadline Primary election date General election date
South Carolina State Senate 19 John Scott (D) September 9, 2023 October 24, 2023 January 2, 2024
Alabama House 16 Kyle South (R) July 25, 2023 (major party)
September 26, 2023 (minor party and independent)
September 26, 2023 January 9, 2024
Virginia House 48 Les Adams (R) December 17, 2023 N/A January 9, 2024
Virginia State Senate 9 Frank Ruff (R) December 20, 2023 N/A January 9, 2024
Florida House 35 Fred Hawkins (R) August 10, 2023 November 7, 2023 January 16, 2024
Connecticut House District 115 Dorinda Keenan Borer (D) December 18, 2023 (party nominations)[9] N/A January 23, 2024
New Hampshire House Coos District 1 Troy Merner (R) October 13, 2023 December 5, 2023 January 23, 2024
New Hampshire House Coos District 6 William Hatch (D) October 13, 2023 December 5, 2023 January 23, 2024
Oklahoma House 39 Ryan Martinez (R) September 20, 2023 December 12, 2023 February 13, 2024
Pennsylvania House 140 John Galloway (D) December 26, 2023 N/A February 13, 2024
Georgia House 125 Barry Fleming (R) January 10, 2024 N/A February 13, 2024
Georgia State Senate 30 Mike Dugan (R) January 10, 2024 N/A February 13, 2024
New York State Assembly 77 Latoya Joyner (D) January 19, 2024 (party nominations)
January 22, 2024 (independent petitions)
N/A February 13, 2024
Maine House 122 Lois Reckitt (D) December 29, 2023
January 3, 2024 (write-in)
March 5, 2024 March 5, 2024
Massachusetts Sixth Worcester District Peter Durant (R) December 26, 2023 February 6, 2024 March 5, 2024
New Hampshire House Strafford District 11 Hoy Menear (D) December 8, 2023 January 23, 2024 March 12, 2024
New Hampshire House Rockingham District 21 Robin Vogt (D) December 29, 2023 January 23, 2024 March 12, 2024
Kentucky House 24 Brandon Reed (R) January 30, 2024 (major party and independents)
February 20, 2024 (write-ins)
N/A March 19, 2024
Kentucky House 26 Russell Webber (R) January 30, 2024 (major party and independents)
February 20, 2024 (write-ins)
N/A March 19, 2024
Minnesota House 27B Kurt Daudt (R) February 15, 2024 (major party)
March 12, 2024 (write-ins)
February 29, 2024 March 19, 2024
Alabama House 10 David Cole (R) October 10, 2023 (major party)
December 12, 2023 (minor party and independent)
December 12, 2023 March 26, 2024
South Carolina House 109 Deon Tedder (D) December 16, 2023 January 30, 2024 April 2, 2024
Georgia House 139 Richard Smith (R) February 16, 2024 N/A April 9, 2024
Michigan House 13 Lori M. Stone (D) November 27, 2023 January 30, 2024 April 16, 2024
Michigan House 25 Kevin Coleman (D) November 27, 2023 January 30, 2024 April 16, 2024
Alabama State Senate 9 Clay Scofield (R) November 7, 2023 (major party)
January 9, 2024 (minor party and independent)
January 9, 2024 April 23, 2024
Pennsylvania House 139 Joe Adams (R) March 4, 2024 N/A April 23, 2024
Texas State Senate 15 John Whitmire (D) March 4, 2024 N/A May 4, 2024
Alabama House 27 Wes Kitchens (R) January 30, 2024 (major party)
April 2, 2024 (minor party and independent)
April 2, 2024 July 16, 2024
Wisconsin State Senate 4 Lena Taylor (D) June 4, 2024 July 2, 2024 July 30, 2024
Pennsylvania House 195 Donna Bullock (D) July 29, 2024 N/A September 17, 2024
Pennsylvania House 201 Stephen Kinsey (D) July 29, 2024 N/A September 17, 2024
Alabama House 52 John Rogers (D) April 16, 2024 (major party)
June 18, 2024 (minor party and independent)
June 18, 2024 October 1, 2024
Florida State Senate 24 Bobby Powell (D) June 11, 2024 August 20, 2024 November 5, 2024
Hawaii State Senate 5 Gilbert Keith-Agaran (D) June 6, 2024 August 10, 2024 November 5, 2024
Illinois State Senate 5 Patricia Van Pelt (D) December 4, 2023 (major party)
June 24, 2024 (minor party and independent)
March 19, 2024 November 5, 2024
Illinois State Senate 20 Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D) December 4, 2023 (major party)
June 24, 2024 (minor party and independent)
March 19, 2024 November 5, 2024
Illinois State Senate 27 Ann Gillespie (D) June 3, 2024 N/A[10] November 5, 2024
Illinois State Senate 53 Jason Barickman (R) December 4, 2023 (major party)
June 24, 2024 (minor party and independent)
March 19, 2024 November 5, 2024
Minnesota State Senate 45 Kelly Morrison (D) June 11, 2024 (major party)
October 29, 2024 (write-ins)
August 13, 2024 November 5, 2024
North Dakota State Senate 9 Kent Weston (R)[11] April 8, 2024 June 11, 2024 November 5, 2024
North Dakota House of Representatives District 9A Jayme Davis (D)[11] April 8, 2024 June 11, 2024 November 5, 2024
North Dakota House of Representatives District 9B Donna Henderson (R)[11] April 8, 2024 June 11, 2024 November 5, 2024
North Dakota State Senate 15 Judy Estenson (R)[11] April 8, 2024 June 11, 2024 November 5, 2024
North Dakota House of Representatives District 15 Kathy Frelich (R)[11] April 8, 2024 June 11, 2024 November 5, 2024
North Dakota House of Representatives District 15 Dennis Johnson (R)[11] April 8, 2024 June 11, 2024 November 5, 2024
North Dakota House 23 Scott Dyk (R) September 3, 2024 N/A November 5, 2024
Utah State Senate 12 Karen Mayne (D) January 8, 2024 June 25, 2024 November 5, 2024
Ohio State Senate 33 Michael Rulli (R) August 12, 2024 N/A November 5, 2024
Oklahoma State Senate 46 Kay Floyd (R) April 5, 2024 June 18, 2024 November 5, 2024
Oklahoma State Senate 48 George Young (D) April 5, 2024 June 18, 2024 November 5, 2024
Texas House 56 Charles Anderson (R) August 22, 2024 N/A November 5, 2024

Seats that changed party control

The table below details how many seats changed parties as the result of a special election in 2024. 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.

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

Partisan Change from Special Elections (2024)
Party As of Special Election After Special Election
     Democratic Party 26 29
     Republican Party 26 23
     Independent 0 0
Total 52 52

List of seats

In 2024, five seats changed party hands as a result of state legislative special elections.

Seats that changed from D to R

Seats that changed from R to D


Vacancies

Partisan breakdown of vacancies

See also: State legislative vacancies, 2024

In 2024, there were 144 state legislative vacancies in 40 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 2024. 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 (2024)
Party As of vacancy After vacancy
     Democratic Party
78
75
     Republican Party
62
60
     Independent
4
1
     N/A
0
8[12]
Total 144 144


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, 2024
State Houses-Tile image.png
See also: State legislative elections, 2024

In the 50 states, there are 99 state legislative chambers altogether. Across 44 states, 85 of those chambers held regular legislative elections in 2024. These elections were for 5,807 of the country's 7,386 state legislative seats (79%). The general election for state legislative races was held on November 5, 2024.

Two state legislative chambers, the Michigan and Minnesota state Houses, changed party control following the 2024 general election. Republicans won control of the Michigan House from Democrats, and won a tie in the Minnesota House.

To learn more about the state legislative races that were on your ballot, click here to use our Sample Ballot Lookup tool.

States are also holding special state legislative elections in 2024 to fill vacant seats. Click here for more.

In the U.S. Territories, seven legislative chambers held regularly scheduled elections for 169 seats in 2024. Elections were held for the American Samoa House of Representatives, the Guam Legislature, the Puerto Rico Senate and House of Representatives, the Northern Mariana Islands Senate and House of Representatives, and the U.S. Virgin Islands Legislature.

As of September 24th, 2025, Republicans controlled 55.5% 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 834 1,122 5 12
State houses 2,392 2,977 20 24
Total: 3,226

4,099

25

36


Featured analysis

  • State legislative seats that changed party control in 2024: As a result of the Nov. 5, 2024, elections, partisan composition of all 7,386 state legislative seats changed by 0.7 percentage points. Democrats had a net loss of 54 seats, representing 0.7% of all state legislative seats. Republicans had a net gain of 55 seats, representing 0.7% of all state legislative seats. Independents and minor party officeholders had a net loss of one seat, representing 0.01% of all state legislative seats.
  • Annual State Legislative Competitiveness Report: Vol. 12, 2022: Competitiveness refers to the presence of choice throughout the election cycle. A greater level of competitiveness means voters have the ability to make more decisions. A lower level of competitiveness equals fewer choices. State legislative competitiveness in 2022 reached its highest level compared to all even-year election cycles since 2010. In 2022, the nationwide State Legislative Competitiveness Index is 36.2, beating out 2018 (36.1) and the 2012 post-redistricting cycle (35.2).

More related analysis

Tap the box below to show more analysis articles related to the 2024 state legislative elections.


See also

Footnotes

  1. Mai Xiong campaign website, "Home page," accessed February 1, 2024
  2. Macomb Daily, "Xiong, Singer win 13th House district primaries," January 31, 2024
  3. Michigan Advance, "Here’s your look at the candidates for Michigan’s two empty state House seats," November 28, 2023
  4. Peter Herzberg, "About Me," accessed February 1, 2024
  5. Information submitted via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on January 10, 2024.
  6. Ann Johnson Stewart 2024 campaign website, "Home page," accessed September 27, 2024
  7. Minnesota Senate DFL, "State Senator Ann Johnson Stewart Announces She Won’t Run in Newly-Drawn Senate District 45," April 13, 2022
  8. Kathleen Fowke 2024 campaign website, "Home page," accessed September 27, 2024
  9. Candidates running for special elections in Connecticut are nominated through party conventions.
  10. If an elected senator leaves office after the primary filing period and a special election is called to fill the seat, only a candidate of the same party can be slated for the November ballot.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 The seat was up for special election after U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota Judge Peter Welte ruled that North Dakota had to redraw the District 9 and 15 boundaries. The seats were not scheduled to be up for election until 2026.
  12. Note: Because the vacancy was for a multi-member seat, the exact successor could not be determined after the election.