State legislative vacancies, 2025
2025 State Legislative Vacancies | |
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As of October 2025, there have been 141 state legislative vacancies in 45 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.
- Click here to read more about procedures for filling state legislative vacancies.
- Click here to read more about 2025's regular state legislative elections.
- Click here to read more about 2025's special state legislative elections.
The table below details the partisan breakdown for state legislative vacancies in 2025. 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 (2025) | |||
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Party | As of vacancy | After vacancy | |
Democratic Party | |||
Republican Party | |||
Independent | |||
Total | 141 | 96 |
As of October 17th, 2025, Republicans controlled 55.42% of all state legislative seats nationally, while Democrats held 43.64%. 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 | ||||||||
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Legislative chamber | ![]() |
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Vacant | ||||
State senates | 831 | 1,119 | 5 | 18 | ||||
State houses | 2,392 | 2,974 | 20 | 27 | ||||
Total: | 3,223
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4,093
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25
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45 |
Click here for the list of special elections triggered by a state legislative vacancy in 2025.
Current and past vacancies
The table below highlights each instance where a state legislative vacancy triggered a replacement via appointment or special election in 2025. Know of a vacancy that should be covered here? Click here to let us know.
Note: Updates to reflect newly elected or appointed individuals are made only after they have been officially sworn in.
2025 state legislative vacancies | |||||||
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Date of vacancy | Office | Legislator | Party | Reason | Vacancy procedure | Date filled | Successor |
October 17, 2025 | Indiana House District 9 | Patricia Boy | Democratic | Resignation | Appointment | TBD | TBD |
October 14, 2025 | New Mexico Senate District 33 | Nicholas Paul | Republican | Resignation | Appointment | TBD | TBD |
October 12, 2025 | Georgia House District 23 | Mandi Ballinger | Republican | Death | Special election | TBD | TBD |
October 9, 2025 | Oregon House District 48 | Hoa Nguyen | Democratic | Death | Appointment | TBD | TBD |
October 9, 2025 | West Virginia Senate District 7 | Mike Stuart | Republican | Appointed to another position | Appointment | TBD | TBD |
October 8, 2025 | Kentucky House District 37 | David Yates | Democratic | Appointed to another position | Special election | TBD | TBD |
October 6, 2025 | Nevada Assembly District 19 | Thaddeus Yurek | Republican | Resignation | Appointment | TBD | TBD |
October 6, 2025 | Iowa Senate District 16 | Claire Celsi | Democratic | Death | Special election | TBD | TBD |
October 5, 2025 | Oregon Senate District 26 | Daniel Bonham | Republican | Resignation | Appointment | TBD | TBD |
October 2, 2025 | Illinois House District 42 | Terra Costa Howard | Democratic | Appointed to another position | Appointment | October 12, 2025 | Margaret DeLaRosa (D) |
October 2, 2025 | North Carolina House District 47 | Jarrod Lowery | Republican | Resignation | Appointment | October 13, 2025 | John Lowery (R) |
October 2, 2025 | Texas Senate District 4 | Brandon Creighton | Republican | Resignation | Special election | TBD | TBD |
October 1, 2025 | Massachusetts Senate 1st Middlesex District | Edward Kennedy | Democratic | Death | Special election | TBD | TBD |
October 1, 2025 | Oklahoma House District 35 | Ty Burns | Republican | Resignation | Special election | TBD | TBD |
September 30, 2025 | Arkansas House District 70 | Carlton Wing | Republican | Resignation | Special election | TBD | TBD |
September 23, 2025 | New Hampshire House District Belknap 2 | Matthew Lunney | Republican | Resignation | Special election | TBD | TBD |
September 19, 2025 | Iowa House District 7 | Mike Sexton | Republican | Appointed to another position | Special election | TBD | TBD |
September 15, 2025 | Idaho House District 35A | Kevin Andrus | Republican | Appointed to another position | Appointment | September 24, 2025 | Mike Veile (R) |
September 15, 2025 | Colorado House District 14 | Rose Pugliese | Republican | Resignation | Appointment | October 11, 2025 | Ava Flanell (R) |
September 10, 2025 | Georgia Senate District 35 | Jason Esteves | Democratic | Resignation | Special election | TBD | TBD |
September 6, 2025 | West Virginia House District 48 | Tom Clark | Republican | Resignation | Appointment | October 15, 2025 | Gregory Watt (R) |
September 5, 2025 | Georgia House District 106 | Shelly Hutchinson | Democratic | Resignation | Special election | TBD | TBD |
September 2, 2025 | Arkansas Senate District 26 | Gary Stubblefield | Republican | Death | Special election | TBD | TBD |
September 1, 2025 | Florida House District 40 | LaVon Bracy Davis | Democratic | Resignation | Special election | September 2, 2025 | RaShon Young (D) |
August 29, 2025 | Kansas House District 33 | Mike Thompson | Republican | Resignation | Appointment | September 5, 2025 | Carolyn Caiharr |
August 29, 2025 | New York House District 115 | D. Billy Jones | Democratic | Resignation | Special election | TBD | TBD |
August 27, 2025 | South Dakota House District 16 | Richard Vasgaard | Republican | Death | Appointment | September 17, 2025 | John Shubeck (R) |
August 23, 2025 | Missouri House District 114 | Ken Waller | Republican | Death | Special election | TBD | TBD |
August 21, 2025 | Colorado House District 64 | Ryan Armagost | Republican | Resignation | Appointment | September 23, 2025 | Scott Slaugh (R) |
August 19, 2025 | North Dakota House District 42 | Emily O'Brien | Republican | Resignation | Appointment | TBD | TBD |
August 18, 2025 | Florida House District 87 | Mike Caruso | Republican | Elected to another position | Special election | TBD | TBD |
August 11, 2025 | Wyoming Senate District 6 | Darin Smith | Republican | Appointed to another position | Appointment | August 29, 2025 | Taft Love (R) |
August 11, 2025 | South Carolina House District 21 | Bobby Cox | Republican | Resignation | Special election | TBD | TBD |
August 11, 2025 | South Carolina House District 88 | RJ May | Republican | Resignation | Special election | TBD | TBD |
August 11, 2025 | South Carolina Senate District 12 | Roger Nutt | Republican | Resignation | Special election | TBD | TBD |
August 1, 2025 | Ohio House District 22 | Sedrick Denson | Democratic | Resignation | Appointment | October 1, 2025 | Ashley Bryant Bailey (D) |
July 31, 2025 | Alabama House District 38 | Debbie Hamby Wood | Republican | Resignation | Special election | TBD | TBD |
July 25, 2025 | Minnesota Senate District 47 | Nicole Mitchell | Democratic | Resignation | Special election | TBD | TBD |
July 21, 2025 | Florida Senate District 11 | Blaise Ingoglia | Republican | Appointed to another position | Special election | TBD | TBD |
July 21, 2025 | New Hampshire House District Hillsborough 24 | Donald Bouchard | Democratic | Resignation | Special election | TBD | TBD |
July 21, 2025 | Minnesota Senate District 29 | Bruce Anderson | Republican | Death | Special election | TBD | TBD |
July 18, 2025 | Florida House District 90 | Joseph Casello | Democratic | Death | Special election | TBD | TBD |
July 14, 2025 | Virginia House District 33 | C. Todd Gilbert | Republican | Appointed to another office | Regular election | TBD | TBD |
July 1, 2025 | Mississippi Senate District 26 | John Horhn | Democratic | Elected to another position | Special election | TBD | TBD |
June 30, 2025 | Mississippi House District 26 | Orlando Paden | Democratic | Elected to another position | Special election | TBD | TBD |
June 30, 2025 | Mississippi Senate District 24 | David Jordan | Democratic | Resignation | Special election | TBD | TBD |
June 29, 2025 | Idaho House District 16B | Todd Achilles | Democratic | Resignation | Appointment | July 22, 2025 | Annie Haws (D) |
June 26, 2025 | Kansas House District 70 | Scott Hill | Republican | Appointed to another position | Appointment | August 1, 2025 | Greg Wilson (R) |
June 25, 2025 | Alabama House District 13 | Matt Woods | Republican | Elected to another position | Special election | October 2, 2025 | Greg Barnes (R) |
June 25, 2025 | Iowa Senate District 1 | Rocky De Witt | Republican | Death | Special election | September 15, 2025 | Catelin Drey (D) |
June 24, 2025 | Delaware House District 20 | Stell Selby | Democratic | Resignation | Special election | TBD | TBD |
June 19, 2025 | New Hampshire House Coos 5 | Brian Valerino | Republican | Resignation | Special election | TBD | TBD |
June 18, 2025 | West Virginia House District 8 | David Kelly | Republican | Appointed to another position | Appointment | July 7, 2025 | Bill Bell (R) |
June 18, 2025 | Texas Senate District 9 | Kelly Hancock | Republican | Appointed to another position | Special election | TBD | TBD |
June 16, 2025 | Montana House District 75 | Marta Bertoglio | Republican | Resignation | Appointment | July 22, 2025 | Mark Reinschmidt (R) |
June 15, 2025 | Alabama House District 63 | Cynthia Almond | Republican | Appointed to another position | Special election | TBD | TBD |
June 14, 2025 | Minnesota House District 34B | Melissa Hortman | Democratic | Death | Special election | September 26, 2025 | Xp Lee (D) |
June 13, 2025 | Kansas House District 85 | Patrick Penn | Republican | Appointed to another position | Appointment | June 24, 2025 | Steven Brunk (R) |
June 9, 2025 | Colorado Senate District 9 | Paul Lundeen | Republican | Resignation | Appointment | July 8, 2025 | Lynda Zamora Wilson (R) |
June 9, 2025 | Florida House District 32 | Debbie Mayfield | Republican | Seeking election to another position | Special election | June 10, 2025 | Brian Hodgers (R) |
June 3, 2025 | Washington House District 5-Position 1 | Victoria Hunt | Democratic | Appointed to another position | Appointment | June 3, 2025 | Zach Hall (D) |
June 2, 2025 | Kansas Senate District 24 | J.R. Claeys | Republican | Resignation | Appointment | June 26, 2025 | Scott Hill (R) |
June 1, 2025 | Ohio House District 95 | Don Jones | Republican | Appointed to another position | Appointment | June 16, 2025 | Ty Moore (R) |
May 30, 2025 | Utah House District 51 | Jefferson Moss | Republican | Appointed to another position | Appointment | August 13, 2025 | Leah Hansen (R) |
May 20, 2025 | North Dakota House District 25 | Cynthia Schreiber-Beck | Republican | Death | Appointment | September 11, 2025 | Kathy Skroch (R) |
May 7, 2025 | Oregon House District 26 | Courtney Neron | Democratic | Appointed to another position | Appointment | June 9, 2025 | Sue Rieke Smith (D) |
May 5, 2025 | North Dakota House District 26 | Jeremy Olson | Republican | Resignation | Appointment | May 24, 2025 | Kelby Timmons (R) |
May 5, 2025 | Georgia Senate District 21 | Brandon Beach | Republican | Appointed to another position | Special election | October 14, 2025 | Jason Dickerson (R) |
May 4, 2025 | Missouri House District 160 | Ben Baker | Republican | Appointed to another position | Special election | TBD | TBD |
May 1, 2025 | South Dakota House District 1 | Christopher Reder | Republican | Resignation | Appointment | August 5, 2025 | Nicholas Fosness (R) |
April 21, 2025 | South Dakota Senate District 22 | David Wheeler | Republican | Appointed to another office | Appointment | July 14, 2025 | Brandon Wipf (R) |
April 21, 2025 | Rhode Island Senate District 4 | Dominick Ruggerio | Democratic | Death | Special election | August 11, 2025 | Stefano Famiglietti (D) |
April 19, 2025 | Oregon Senate District 13 | Aaron Woods | Democratic | Death | Appointment | May 7, 2025 | Courtney Neron (D) |
April 19, 2025 | Washington Senate District 5 | Bill Ramos | Democratic | Death | Appointment | June 3, 2025 | Victoria Hunt (D) |
April 15, 2025 | Alabama House District 12 | Corey Harbison | Republican | Resignation | Special election | TBD | TBD |
April 9, 2025 | New York Senate District 22 | Simcha Felder | Democratic | Elected to another position | Special election | May 27, 2025 | Sam Sutton (D) |
April 7, 2025 | Oklahoma House District 97 | Jason Lowe | Democratic | Elected to another office | Special election | June 18, 2025 | Aletia Haynes Timmons (D) |
April 1, 2025 | California House District 63 | Bill Essayli | Republican | Appointed to another office | Special election | TBD | TBD |
April 1, 2025 | Iowa House District 78 | Sami Scheetz | Democratic | Appointed to another office | Special election | May 13, 2025 | Angel Ramirez (D) |
March 31, 2025 | Florida Senate District 19 | Randy Fine | Republican | Seeking election to another position | Special election | June 10, 2025 | Debbie Mayfield (R) |
March 31, 2025 | Hawaii House District 18 | Gene Ward | Republican | Resignation | Appointment | May 28, 2025 | Joe Gedeon (R) |
March 26, 2025 | North Carolina House District 34 | Paul Newton | Republican | Resignation | Appointment | April 8, 2025 | Chris Measmer (R) |
March 21, 2025 | Minnesota Senate District 6 | Justin Eichorn | Republican | Resignation | Special election | May 6, 2025 | Keri Heintzeman (R) |
March 14, 2025 | Arizona Senate District 9 | Eva Burch | Democratic | Resignation | Appointment | March 31, 2025 | Kiana Sears (D) |
March 11, 2025 | Louisiana House District 45 | Brach Myers | Republican | Elected to another position | Special election | March 21, 2025 | Annie Spell (R) |
March 11, 2025 | Louisiana House District 67 | Larry Selders | Democratic | Elected to another position | Special election | May 19, 2025 | Terry Landry Jr. (D) |
March 10, 2025 | New Hampshire House District Rockingham 25 | Fred Doucette | Republican | Elected to another position | Special election | TBD | TBD |
March 3, 2025 | Montana House District 87 | Ron Marshall | Republican | Resignation | Appointment | March 11, 2025 | Terry Nelson (R) |
February 28, 2025 | Connecticut House District 113 | Jason Perillo | Republican | Elected to another position | Special election | April 25, 2025 | Amy Romano (R) |
February 18, 2025 | North Dakota House District 27 | Josh Christy | Republican | Death | Appointment | March 12, 2025 | Timothy Brown (R) |
February 18, 2025 | Colorado Senate District 17 | Sonya Jaquez Lewis | Democratic | Resignation | Appointment | March 18, 2025 | Katie Wallace (D) |
February 17, 2025 | Alabama House District 11 | Randall Shedd | Republican | Resignation | Special election | August 27, 2025 | Heath Allbright (R) |
February 15, 2025 | Massachusetts House 3rd Bristol District | Carol Doherty | Democratic | Death | Special election | July 16, 2025 | Lisa Field (D) |
February 13, 2025 | Florida Senate District 15 | Geraldine Thompson | Democratic | Death | Special election | September 2, 2025 | LaVon Bracy Davis (D) |
February 5, 2025 | Maryland House District 8 | Carl Jackson | Democratic | Appointed to another position | Appointment | March 3, 2025 | Kim Ross (D) |
February 2, 2025 | Illinois Senate District 26 | Dan McConchie | Republican | Resignation | Appointment | February 28, 2025 | Darby Hills (R) |
January 31, 2025 | Iowa House District 100 | Martin Graber | Republican | Death | Special election | March 24, 2025 | Blaine Watkins (R) |
January 29, 2025 | South Dakota House District 13 | Tony Venhuizen | Republican | Appointed to another position | Appointment | February 5, 2025 | Jack Kolbeck (R) |
January 29, 2025 | Oklahoma House District 71 | Amanda Swope | Democratic | Resignation | Special election | June 18, 2025 | Amanda Clinton (D) |
January 24, 2025 | Maryland House District 41 | Dalya Attar | Democratic | Appointed to another position | Appointment | March 3, 2025 | Sean Stinnett (D) |
January 21, 2025 | Delaware Senate District 5 | Kyle Evans Gay | Democratic | Elected to another position | Special election | February 16, 2025 | Raymond Seigfried (D) |
January 21, 2025 | Washington House District 34-Position 1 | Emily Alvarado | Democratic | Appointed to another position | Appointment | January 21, 2025 | Brianna Thomas (D) |
January 20, 2025 | Pennsylvania House District 35 | Matthew Gergely | Democratic | Death | Special election | April 7, 2025 | Dan Goughnour (D) |
January 19, 2025 | North Carolina House District 40 | Joe John | Democratic | Resignation | Appointment | January 29, 2025 | Phil Rubin (D) |
January 16, 2025 | South Carolina House District 50 | Will Wheeler | Democratic | Resignation | Special election | TBD | TBD |
January 16, 2025 | New Jersey House District 35 | Benjie Wimberly | Democratic | Appointed to another position | Appointment | January 23, 2025 | Alaa Abdelaziz (D) |
January 15, 2025 | Missouri House District 95 | Michael O'Donnell | Republican | Appointed to another position | Special election | TBD | TBD |
January 15, 2025 | Washington House District 41-Position 1 | Tana Senn | Democratic | Appointed to another position | Appointment | January 21, 2025 | Janice Zahn (D) |
January 15, 2025 | Washington Senate District 34 | Joe Nguyen | Democratic | Appointed to another position | Appointment | January 21, 2025 | Emily Alvarado (D) |
January 14, 2025 | Minnesota House District 40B | Jamie Becker-Finn | Democratic | Left at term end | Special election | March 17, 2025 | David Gottfried (D) |
January 13, 2025 | West Virginia Senate District 17 | Eric Nelson | Republican | Appointed to another position | Appointment | February 6, 2025 | Anne Charnock (R) |
January 13, 2025 | Indiana House District 42 | Alan Morrison | Republican | Appointed to another position | Appointment | January 16, 2025 | Tim Yocum (R) |
January 11, 2025 | New Mexico House District 59 | Jared Hembree | Republican | Resignation | Appointment | January 21, 2025 | Mark Murphy (R) |
January 13, 2025 | West Virginia Senate District 8 | Mark Hunt | Republican | Elected to another position | Appointment | February 6, 2025 | T. Kevan Bartlett (R) |
January 10, 2025 | Utah House District 4 | Kera Birkeland | Republican | Resignation | Appointment | January 21, 2025 | Tiara Auxier (R) |
January 10, 2025 | Colorado House District 41 | Iman Jodeh | Democratic | Appointed to another office | Appointment | January 27, 2025 | Jamie Jackson (D) |
January 9, 2025 | Colorado Senate District 31 | Chris Hansen | Democratic | Resignation | Appointment | January 10, 2025 | Matt Ball (D) |
January 9, 2025 | Colorado Senate District 29 | Janet Buckner | Democratic | Resignation | Appointment | January 10, 2025 | Iman Jodeh (D) |
January 8, 2025 | West Virginia House District 91 | Joseph de Soto | Democratic | Removed from office | Appointment | January 24, 2025 | Ian Masters (R) |
January 8, 2025 | Vermont House Rutland-3 District | Chris Brown | Republican | Never assumed office | Appointment | January 8, 2025 | Zachary Harvey (R) |
January 8, 2025 | Maryland House District 30A | Shaneka Henson | Democratic | Appointed to another position | Appointment | February 6, 2025 | Dylan Behler (D) |
January 7, 2025 | Washington House District 48 Position 1 | Vandana Slatter | Democratic | Appointed to another position | Appointment | January 7, 2025 | Osman Salahuddin (D) |
January 7, 2025 | Washington Senate District 48 | Patty Kuderer | Democratic | Elected to another position | Appointment | January 7, 2025 | Vandana Slatter (D) |
January 7, 2025 | Maryland Senate District 8 | Katherine Klausmeier | Democratic | Appointed to another position | Appointment | February 5, 2025 | Carl Jackson (D) |
January 7, 2025 | Connecticut Senate District 21 | Kevin Kelly | Republican | Appointed to another position | Special election | February 28, 2025 | Jason Perillo (R) |
January 7, 2025 | Connecticut House District 40 | Christine Conley | Democratic | Appointed to another position | Special election | February 28, 2025 | Dan Gaiewski (D) |
January 7, 2025 | Virginia House District 26 | Kannan Srinivasan | Democratic | Resignation | Special election | January 7, 2025 | Jas Singh (D) |
January 6, 2025 | Mississippi Senate District 18 | Jenifer B. Branning | Republican | Elected to another position | Special election | April 29, 2025 | Lane Taylor (R) |
January 3, 2025 | West Virginia House District 89 | Darren Thorne | Republican | Appointed to another position | Appointment | TBD | TBD |
January 3, 2025 | Maryland Senate District 41 | Jill Carter | Democratic | Appointed to another position | Appointment | January 24, 2025 | Dalya Attar (D) |
January 3, 2025 | Michigan Senate District 35 | Kristen McDonald Rivet | Democratic | Elected to another position | Special election | TBD | TBD |
January 3, 2025 | New Jersey Senate District 35 | Nellie Pou | Democratic | Elected to another position | Appointment | January 30, 2025 | Benjie Wimberly (D) |
January 2, 2025 | Delaware Senate District 1 | Sarah McBride | Democratic | Elected to another position | Special election | February 16, 2025 | Dan Cruce (D) |
January 2, 2025 | Maryland Senate District 30 | Sarah Elfreth | Democratic | Elected to another position | Appointment | January 8, 2025 | Shaneka Henson (D) |
January 1, 2025 | Massachusetts House District 6th Essex District | Jerry Parisella | Democratic | Appointed to another office | Special election | May 21, 2025 | Hannah Bowen (D) |
January 1, 2025 | Alabama Senate District 5 | Greg Reed | Republican | Appointed to another office | Special election | June 25, 2025 | Matt Woods (R) |
January 1, 2025 | Florida House District 3 | Joel Rudman | Republican | Resignation | Special Election | June 10, 2025 | Nathan Boyles (R) |
January 1, 2025 | Maryland House District 31 | Rachel Muñoz | Republican | Resignation | Appointment | January 10, 2025 | LaToya Nkongolo (R) |
January 1, 2025 | Oklahoma House District 74 | Mark Vancuren | Republican | Resigned | Special election | June 18, 2025 | Kevin Norwood (R) |
January 1, 2025 | Utah Senate District 21 | Mike Kennedy | Republican | Elected to another position | Appointment | January 1, 2025 | Brady Brammer (R) |
January 1, 2025 | Utah House District 54 | Brady Brammer | Republican | Appointed to another position | Special election | January 1, 2025 | Kristen Chevrier (R) |
Methodology
Ballotpedia counts a seat as vacant if the outgoing officeholder leaves office before their official term-end date or the incoming officeholder takes office after their official term-start date. If an officeholder takes or leaves office according to their official term-start or -end date, Ballotpedia does not count that as a vacant seat.
How are vacancies filled in state legislatures?
The map below displays the different ways that vacancies are filled in state legislatures according to state law.
State legislative vacancies can be filled through special elections, governor appointments, board of county commissioners appointments, political party appointments, legislative chamber appointments, or a type of hybrid system. All 50 states use one or more of these systems to fill legislative vacancies.
Click on a state below to see the process for filling legislative vacancies in that state. The map also displays who holds the real power in filling legislative vacancies. For example, in the state of Utah, the state's constitution says that the governor is responsible for filling a legislative vacancy. However, the political party actually holds the real power in filling vacancies in the Utah State Legislature since the party recommends a successor to the governor and the governor then appoints the new member.
See also
- State legislatures
- How vacancies are filled in state legislatures
- State legislative elections, 2025
- State legislative special elections, 2025
- State legislative historical elections by year
- State supreme court vacancies, 2025
Footnotes