Incumbents defeated in state legislative elections, 2021

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Competitiveness Report Banner.png
Last updated on November 18, 2024
2021 State Legislative Competitiveness
Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge.png
2023 »
« 2019
Analyses
Annual Report
Open seatsContested primariesIncumbents in contested primariesMajor party competition • Uncontested incumbents • Incumbents defeated
Primary statistics

2021 elections
2021 Election Analysis HubState legislativeState executive officials
Reports by year


There were 220 state legislative seats up for election on November 2, 2021, in two states. This page analyzes incumbents defeated in those elections. An incumbent may be defeated at two points in an election cycle: during a primary and during a general election.[1]

In 2021, 22 incumbents lost their re-election bids: 14 in general elections and eight in primaries. This was more than 2017 (14) and 2013 (7).

On this page, you will find:

Incumbents defeated in general elections

In state legislative general elections, 14 incumbents lost to challengers, 7.2% of incumbents running for re-election. This was the highest number of Democrats who lost in odd-year general elections since Ballotpedia began gathering data in 2011, and it was the first year where no Republicans lost in odd-year general elections.

In 2021 general elections:

  • 14 Democratic incumbents lost, 11.7% of the 120 Democratic incumbents who ran.
  • The total number of incumbents defeated in general elections—14—did not change from 2017 (14).
  • In 2021

    See also

    Footnotes

    1. Incumbents may also be defeated in other nominating contests such as conventions. Ballotpedia counts an incumbent defeat in a convention as a defeat in a primary.