2018 United States state legislative elections
The 2018 United States state legislative elections were held on November 6, 2018 for 87 state legislative chambers in 46 states. Across the fifty states, approximately 56 percent of all upper house seats and 92 percent of all lower house seats were up for election.
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87 legislative chambers in 46 states | ||
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 Map of upper house elections: Democrats gained control Democrats retained control Republicans retained control Non-partisan legislature No regularly-scheduled elections | ||
 Map of lower house elections: Democrats gained control Democrats retained control Republicans retained control Coalition retained control Non-partisan legislature No regularly-scheduled elections | ||
Summary table
Regularly-scheduled elections were held in 87 of the 99 state legislative chambers in the United States; nationwide, regularly-scheduled elections were held for 6,064 of the 7,383 legislative seats. Most legislative chambers held elections for all seats, but some legislative chambers that use staggered elections held elections for only a portion of the total seats in the chamber.[1] The chambers that were not up for election either hold regularly-scheduled elections in odd-numbered years, or have four-year terms and hold all regularly-scheduled elections in presidential election years.
Note that this table only covers regularly-scheduled elections; additional special elections took place concurrently with these regularly-scheduled elections.
| State | Upper House[1] | Lower House[1] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seats up | Total | % up | Term | Seats up | Total | % up | Term | |
| Alabama | 35 | 35 | 100 | 4 | 105 | 105 | 100 | 4 |
| Alaska | 10 | 20 | 50 | 4 | 40 | 40 | 100 | 2 |
| Arizona | 30 | 30 | 100 | 2 | 60 | 60 | 100 | 2 |
| Arkansas | 18 | 35 | 51 | 2/4[lower-alpha 1] | 100 | 100 | 100 | 2 |
| California | 20 | 40 | 50 | 4 | 80 | 80 | 100 | 2 |
| Colorado | 17 | 35 | 49 | 4 | 65 | 65 | 100 | 2 |
| Connecticut | 36 | 36 | 100 | 2 | 151 | 151 | 100 | 2 |
| Delaware | 10 | 21 | 48 | 2/4[lower-alpha 1] | 41 | 41 | 100 | 2 |
| Florida | 20 | 40 | 50 | 2/4[lower-alpha 1] | 120 | 120 | 100 | 2 |
| Georgia | 56 | 56 | 100 | 2 | 180 | 180 | 100 | 2 |
| Hawaii | 12 | 25 | 48 | 2/4[lower-alpha 1] | 51 | 51 | 100 | 2 |
| Idaho | 35 | 35 | 100 | 2 | 70 | 70 | 100 | 2 |
| Illinois | 39 | 59 | 66 | 2/4[lower-alpha 1] | 118 | 118 | 100 | 2 |
| Indiana | 25 | 50 | 50 | 4 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 2 |
| Iowa | 25 | 50 | 50 | 4 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 2 |
| Kansas | 0 | 40 | 0 | 4 | 125 | 125 | 100 | 2 |
| Kentucky | 19 | 38 | 50 | 4 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 2 |
| Louisiana | 0 | 39 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 105 | 0 | 4 |
| Maine | 35 | 35 | 100 | 2 | 151 | 151 | 100 | 2 |
| Maryland | 47 | 47 | 100 | 4 | 141 | 141 | 100 | 4 |
| Massachusetts | 40 | 40 | 100 | 2 | 160 | 160 | 100 | 2 |
| Michigan | 38 | 38 | 100 | 4 | 110 | 110 | 100 | 2 |
| Minnesota | 0 | 67 | 0 | 2/4[lower-alpha 1] | 134 | 134 | 100 | 2 |
| Mississippi | 0 | 52 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 122 | 0 | 4 |
| Missouri | 17 | 34 | 50 | 4 | 163 | 163 | 100 | 2 |
| Montana | 25 | 50 | 50 | 4 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 2 |
| Nebraska | 24[lower-alpha 2] | 49[lower-alpha 2] | 49[lower-alpha 2] | 4 | N/A (unicameral) | |||
| Nevada | 11 | 21 | 52 | 4 | 42 | 42 | 100 | 2 |
| New Hampshire | 24 | 24 | 100 | 2 | 400 | 400 | 100 | 2 |
| New Jersey | 0 | 40 | 0 | 2/4[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 80 | 0 | 2 |
| New Mexico | 0 | 42 | 100 | 4 | 70 | 70 | 100 | 2 |
| New York | 63 | 63 | 100 | 2 | 150 | 150 | 100 | 2 |
| North Carolina | 50 | 50 | 100 | 2 | 120 | 120 | 100 | 2 |
| North Dakota | 24 | 47 | 51 | 4 | 47 | 94 | 50 | 4 |
| Ohio | 16 | 33 | 52 | 4 | 99 | 99 | 100 | 2 |
| Oklahoma | 24 | 48 | 50 | 4 | 101 | 101 | 100 | 2 |
| Oregon | 15 | 30 | 50 | 4 | 60 | 60 | 100 | 2 |
| Pennsylvania | 25 | 50 | 50 | 4 | 203 | 203 | 100 | 2 |
| Rhode Island | 38 | 38 | 100 | 2 | 75 | 75 | 100 | 2 |
| South Carolina | 0 | 46 | 0 | 4 | 124 | 124 | 100 | 2 |
| South Dakota | 35 | 35 | 100 | 2 | 70 | 70 | 100 | 2 |
| Tennessee | 17 | 33 | 52 | 4 | 99 | 99 | 100 | 2 |
| Texas | 15 | 31 | 48 | 2/4[lower-alpha 1] | 150 | 150 | 100 | 2 |
| Utah | 14 | 29 | 48 | 4 | 75 | 75 | 100 | 2 |
| Vermont | 30 | 30 | 100 | 2 | 150 | 150 | 100 | 2 |
| Virginia | 0 | 40 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 2 |
| Washington | 25 | 49 | 49 | 4 | 98 | 98 | 100 | 2 |
| West Virginia | 17 | 34 | 50 | 4 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 2 |
| Wisconsin | 17 | 33 | 52 | 4 | 99 | 99 | 100 | 2 |
| Wyoming | 15 | 30 | 50 | 4 | 60 | 60 | 100 | 2 |
| Total | 1106 | 1972 | 56 | N/A | 4958 | 5411 | 92 | N/A |
State summaries
Alabama
All members of the Alabama Senate and the Alabama House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Republicans retained control of both chambers.
Alaska
Half of the seats of the Alaska Senate and all of the seats of the Alaska House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Republicans retained control of the senate, while a cross-partisan coalition of Democrats, Republicans, and independents retained control of the house of representatives.[2]
Arizona
All of the seats of the Arizona Senate and the Arizona House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Republicans retained control of both chambers, but lost four seats in the House and lost the popular vote in the Senate by 1.4 points.
Arkansas
Half of the seats of the Arkansas Senate and all of the seats of the Arkansas House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Republicans retained control of both chambers.
California
Half of the seats of the California State Senate and all of the seats of the California State Assembly were up for election in 2018. Democrats retained control of both chambers.
Colorado
Half of the seats of the Colorado Senate and all of the seats of the Colorado House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Democrats won control of the senate and retained control of the house of representatives.
Connecticut
All of the seats of the Connecticut State Senate and the Connecticut House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Democrats won control of the senate and retained control of the house of representatives.
Delaware
Half of the seats of the Delaware Senate and all of the seats of the Delaware House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Democrats retained control of both chambers.
Florida
Half of the seats of the Florida Senate and all of the seats of the Florida House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Republicans retained control of both chambers.
Georgia
All of the seats of the Georgia State Senate and the Georgia House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Republicans retained control of both chambers.
Hawaii
Half of the seats of the Hawaii Senate and all of the seats of the Hawaii House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Democrats retained control of both chambers.
Idaho
All of the seats of the Idaho Senate and the Idaho House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Republicans retained control of both chambers.
Illinois
Two thirds of the seats of the Illinois Senate and all of the seats of the Illinois House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Democrats retained control of both chambers.
Indiana
Half of the seats of the Indiana Senate and all of the seats of the Indiana House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Republicans retained control of both chambers.
Iowa
Half of the seats of the Iowa Senate and all of the seats of the Iowa House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Republicans retained control of both chambers.
Kansas
All of the seats of the Kansas House of Representatives were up for election in 2018; the Republican-controlled Kansas Senate did not hold regularly-scheduled elections in 2018. Republicans retained control of the house of representatives.
Kentucky
Half of the seats of the Kentucky Senate and all of the seats of the Kentucky House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Republicans retained control of both chambers.
Maine
All of the seats of the Maine Senate and the Maine House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Democrats gained control of the state senate and retained control of the house of representatives.
Maryland
All of the seats of the Maryland Senate and the Maryland House of Delegates were up for election in 2018. Democrats retained control of both chambers.
Massachusetts
All of the seats of the Massachusetts Senate and the Massachusetts House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Democrats control both chambers, and the governor is a member of the Republican Party. Democrats hold a veto-proof supermajority in the state legislature.[3]
Michigan
All of the seats of the Michigan Senate and the Michigan House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Republicans retained control of both chambers, but Democrats picked up enough seats to break the Republican legislative supermajority.[4]
Minnesota
All of the seats of the Minnesota House of Representatives were up for election in 2018; the Republican-controlled Minnesota Senate did not hold regularly-scheduled elections in 2018. Democrats won control of the house house of representatives, making Minnesota is the only state in the country where each major party controlled one state legislative chamber.[5]
Missouri
Half of the seats of the Missouri Senate and all of the seats of the Missouri House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Republicans retained control of both chambers.
Montana
Half of the seats of the Montana Senate and all of the seats of the Montana House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Republicans retained control of both chambers.
Nebraska
Nebraska is the only U.S. state with a unicameral legislature; half of the seats of the Nebraska Legislature were up for election in 2018. Nebraska is also unique in that its legislature is officially non-partisan and holds non-partisan elections, although the Democratic and Republican parties each endorse legislative candidates.
Nevada
Half of the seats of the Nevada Senate and all of the seats of the Nevada Assembly were up for election in 2018. Democrats retained control of both chambers.
New Hampshire
All of the seats of the New Hampshire Senate and the New Hampshire House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Democrats won control of both chambers.
New Mexico
All of the seats of the New Mexico House of Representatives were up for election in 2018; the Democratic-controlled New Mexico Senate did not hold regularly-scheduled elections in 2018. Democrats retained control of the house of representatives.
New York
All of the seats of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly were up for election in 2018. Democrats won control of the state senate and retained control of the state assembly.
North Carolina
All of the seats of the North Carolina Senate and the North Carolina House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Republicans retained control of both chambers, but Democrats won enough seats to break the Republican legislative super-majority.[6]
North Dakota
Half of the seats of the North Dakota Senate and the North Dakota House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Republicans retained control of both chambers.
Ohio
Half of the seats of the Ohio Senate and all of the seats of the Ohio House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Republicans retained control of both chambers.
Oklahoma
Half of the seats of the Oklahoma Senate and all of the seats of the Oklahoma House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Republicans retained control of both chambers.
Oregon
Half of the seats of the Oregon State Senate and all of the seats of the Oregon House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Democrats retained control of both chambers.
Pennsylvania
Half of the seats of the Pennsylvania State Senate and all of the seats of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Republicans retained control of both chambers, but Democrats picked up enough seats to break the Republican legislative supermajority.[4]
Rhode Island
All of the seats of the Rhode Island Senate and the Rhode Island House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Democrats retained control of both chambers.
South Carolina
All of the seats of the South Carolina House of Representatives were up for election in 2018; the Republican-controlled South Carolina Senate did not hold regularly-scheduled elections in 2018. Republicans retained control of the house of representatives.
South Dakota
All of the seats of the South Dakota Senate and the South Dakota House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Republicans retained control of both chambers.
Tennessee
Half of the seats of the Tennessee Senate and all of the seats of the Tennessee House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Republicans retained control of both chambers.
Texas
Half of the seats of the Texas Senate and all of the seats of the Texas House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Republicans retained control of both chambers.
Utah
Half of the seats of the Utah State Senate and all of the seats of the Utah House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Republicans retained control of both chambers.
Vermont
All of the seats of the Vermont Senate and the Vermont House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Democrats retained control of both chambers.
Washington
Half of the seats of the Washington State Senate and all of the seats of the Washington House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Democrats retained control of both chambers.
West Virginia
Half of the seats of the West Virginia Senate and all of the seats of the West Virginia House of Delegates were up for election in 2018. Republicans retained control of both chambers.
Wisconsin
Half of the seats of the Wisconsin State Senate and all of the seats of the Wisconsin State Assembly were up for election in 2018. Republicans retained control of both chambers.
Wyoming
Half of the seats of the Wyoming Senate and all of the seats of the Wyoming House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. Republicans retained control of both chambers.
Notes
- The upper houses of Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Texas use a 2-4-4 term length system.
- These figures represent the seats of Nebraska's unicameral legislature.
References
- "2018 Legislative Races by State and Legislative Chamber". National Conference of State Legislatures.
- Wilson, Reid (February 15, 2019). "Alaska House elects a Speaker after more than a month of gridlock". The Hill.
- Young, Colin A.; Lannan, Katie (November 7, 2018). "Democrats Further Solidify Super-Majorities In The Mass. House And Senate". WBUR News.
- Rogers, Steven (November 12, 2018). "The blue wave was big—and significant—in state legislatures". Washington Post. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
- Quinton, Sophie; Povich, Elaine S. (November 9, 2018). "So Much Changed in Statehouses This Week. Here's What It All Means". Stateline. The Pew Charitable Trusts.
- Jim Morrill & Paul A. Specht, Blue waves in urban North Carolina help Democrats break GOP 'supermajorities', Charlotte Observer (November 7, 2018).