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State legislative special election changes in party control since 2010
From Ballotpedia
 Special Elections |
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Current as of Jan. 15, 2025 (updated annually)
In special elections from 2010 to 2024, 121 state legislative seats changed partisan control, or flipped. Democrats flipped 66 seats, Republicans flipped 49 seats, and independent and minor-party candidates flipped six seats. See the full list of seats here.
Seventeen seats flipped in 2017, the highest number in any year since 2010. Democrats flipped 14 and Republicans flipped three. The second-highest number of flips was in 2018, where the parties combined for 16 flips (12 Democratic and four Republican). The third-highest was 2015, where Democrats flipped five, Republicans flipped nine, and minor-party candidates flipped two for a total of 16. The years with the highest percentage of flipped seats out of all special elections held were, similarly, 2015 (18.0%), 2017 (17.3%), and 2018 (16.2%).
The state with the highest number of flips is New Hampshire (14 flips—12 Democratic and two Republican). Massachusetts follows with 11 flipped seats.
On this page, you will find:
- Seats flipped in special elections by year
- Seats flipped in special elections by party
- Seats flipped in special elections by state
- List of seats flipped in special elections
Visit this page to learn more about state legislative special elections in 2025. We will update this page with 2025 data at the end of the year.
Seats flipped in special elections by year
The table below presents the annual figures for state legislative seats that flipped in special elections since 2010. It includes total special elections, total seats flipped, and the percentage of seats flipped out of all special elections.
| Flipped seats in state legislative special elections | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total special elections | Total flips | Percentage | ||
| 2024 | 52 | 5 | 9.6% | ||
| 2023 | 53 | 4 | 7.6% | ||
| 2022 | 54 | 2 | 3.7% | ||
| 2021 | 66 | 6 | 9.1% | ||
| 2020 | 59 | 8 | 13.6% | ||
| 2019 | 77 | 8 | 10.4% | ||
| 2018 | 99 | 16 | 16.2% | ||
| 2017 | 98 | 17 | 17.3% | ||
| 2016 | 65 | 9 | 13.8% | ||
| 2015 | 89 | 16 | 18.0% | ||
| 2014 | 40 | 5 | 12.5% | ||
| 2013 | 84 | 7 | 8.3% | ||
| 2012 | 46 | 7 | 15.2% | ||
| 2011 | 95 | 11 | 11.7% | ||
| 2010 | 30 | 0 | 0.0% | ||
| Total | 1,007 | 121 | 12.0% | ||
Seats flipped in special elections by party
The table below presents the partisan figures for state legislative seats that flipped in special elections since 2010. It includes total seats flipped by Democrats, total seats flipped by Republicans, total seats flipped by independent and minor-party candidates, and the partisan net change each year.
| Flipped seats in state legislative special elections by party | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Democratic flips | Republican flips | Other flips | Partisan net change | |
| 2024 | 4 | 1 | 0 | D+3 | |
| 2023 | 2 | 2 | 0 | None | |
| 2022 | 1 | 1 | 0 | None | |
| 2021 | 3 | 3 | 0 | None | |
| 2020 | 7 | 1 | 0 | D+6 | |
| 2019 | 2 | 5 | 1 | R+2 | |
| 2018 | 12 | 4 | 0 | D+8 | |
| 2017 | 14 | 3 | 0 | D+11 | |
| 2016 | 5 | 2 | 2 | D+2 | |
| 2015 | 5 | 9 | 2 | R+4 | |
| 2014 | 1 | 4 | 0 | R+3 | |
| 2013 | 1 | 6 | 0 | R+5 | |
| 2012 | 5 | 2 | 0 | D+3 | |
| 2011 | 4 | 6 | 1 | R+2 | |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | 0 | None | |
| Total | 66 (+14 since 2010) | 49 (-19 since 2010) | 6 (+5 since 2010) | ||
Seats flipped in special elections by state
The table below presents the number of state legislative seats flipped in special elections by state since 2010. It includes the total number of flipped seats and the number of seats flipped by Democrats, Republicans, and independents and minor-party candidates.
| State legislative special election flips by state | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Total flips | Democratic flips | Republican flips | Other flips |
| Alabama | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Arkansas | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| California | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Connecticut | 10 | 1 | 8 | 1 |
| Florida | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Georgia | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Iowa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Kentucky | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| Louisiana | 7 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
| Maine | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Massachusetts | 11 | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| Michigan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Minnesota | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Mississippi | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Missouri | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Montana | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| New Hampshire | 14 | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| New Jersey | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| New York | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| North Dakota | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Oklahoma | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Oregon | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Pennsylvania | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| South Carolina | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Texas | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Virginia | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Washington | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Wisconsin | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
List of seats flipped in special elections
The table below lists all state legislative seats that flipped in a special election since 2010 as well as the results of recent elections for the seat prior to the special election.[1]
| State legislative seats that flipped in special elections | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State (abbr.) | Chamber | District | Year | Party that gained seat | Party of incumbent who vacated seat | Party of winner in most recent election | Party of winner in second most recent election | Party of winner in third most recent election | |
| AL | House | Alabama House of Representatives District 10 | 2024 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| FL | House | Florida House of Representatives District 35 | 2024 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| NH | House | New Hampshire House of Representatives District Coos 6 | 2024 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | ||
| ND | Senate | North Dakota State Senate District 9 | 2024 | Democratic | Republican | ||||
| ND | House | North Dakota House of Representatives District 9 | 2024 | Democratic | Republican | ||||
| MA | Senate | Massachusetts State Senate Worcester & Hampshire District | 2023 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | |||
| NH | House | New Hampshire House of Representatives District Rockingham 1 | 2023 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Democratic | |
| ME | House | Maine House of Representatives District 45 | 2023 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | |
| VA | Senate | Virginia State Senate District 7 | 2023 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| MT | Senate | Montana State Senate District 39 | 2022 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | |
| MI | House | Michigan House of Representatives District 74 | 2022 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| CT | Senate | Connecticut State Senate District 36 | 2021 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Republican | |
| IA | House | Iowa House of Representatives District 29 | 2021 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | |
| TX | House | Texas House of Representatives District 118 | 2021 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | |
| NH | House | New Hampshire House of Representatives Hillsborough 7 | 2021 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | |||
| ME | House | Maine House of Representatives District 86 | 2021 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| MA | House | Massachusetts House of Representatives Fourth Essex District | 2021 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| KY | House | Kentucky House of Representatives District 99 | 2020 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | |
| NH | House | New Hampshire House of Representatives Merrimack 24 District | 2020 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| MA | Senate | Massachusetts State Senate Second Hampden & Hampshire District | 2020 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| MA | Senate | Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth & Barnstable District | 2020 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| MA | House | Massachusetts House of Representatives Third Bristol District | 2020 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| KY | Senate | Kentucky State Senate District 26 | 2020 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| SC | House | South Carolina House of Representatives District 115 | 2020 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| OR | Senate | Oregon State Senate District 10 | 2020 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| NJ | Senate | New Jersey State Senate District 1 | 2019 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | |
| MO | House | Missouri House of Representatives District 99 | 2019 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| PA | Senate | Pennsylvania State Senate District 37 | 2019 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Democratic | |
| LA | House | Louisiana House of Representatives District 62 | 2019 | Independent | Republican | Republican | Republican | ||
| KY | Senate | Kentucky State Senate District 31 | 2019 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | ||
| CT | House | Connecticut House of Representatives District 99 | 2019 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | |
| CT | Senate | Connecticut State Senate District 6 | 2019 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | |
| MN | Senate | Minnesota State Senate District 11 | 2019 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | ||
| WI | Senate | Wisconsin State Senate District 10 | 2018 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| MO | House | Missouri House of Representatives District 97 | 2018 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| FL | House | Florida House of Representatives District 72 | 2018 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| KY | House | Kentucky House of Representatives District 49 | 2018 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Republican | |
| NH | House | New Hampshire House of Representatives District Belknap 3 | 2018 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| CT | House | Connecticut House of Representatives District 120 | 2018 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| NY | House | New York State Assembly District 10 | 2018 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| PA | House | Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 178 | 2018 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| MO | Senate | Missouri State Senate District 17 | 2018 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | ||
| WI | Senate | Wisconsin State Senate District 1 | 2018 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | ||
| SC | Senate | South Carolina State Senate District 20 | 2018 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | ||
| TX | House | Texas House of Representatives District 52 | 2018 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| PA | House | Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 48 | 2018 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | |
| TX | Senate | Texas State Senate District 19 | 2018 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | ||
| LA | House | Louisiana House of Representatives District 10 | 2018 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | ||
| LA | House | Louisiana House of Representatives District 33 | 2018 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | ||
| LA | House | Louisiana House of Representatives District 42 | 2017 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | ||
| MS | Senate | Mississippi State Senate District 10 | 2017 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | ||
| MA | Senate | Massachusetts State Senate Worcester & Middlesex District | 2017 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | |
| NH | House | New Hampshire House of Representatives District Carroll 6 | 2017 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| NY | House | New York State Assembly District 9 | 2017 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| OK | Senate | Oklahoma State Senate District 44 | 2017 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | ||
| OK | House | Oklahoma House of Representatives District 75 | 2017 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| NH | House | New Hampshire House of Representatives District Belknap 9 | 2017 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Democratic | |
| OK | House | Oklahoma House of Representatives District 46 | 2017 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| NH | House | New Hampshire House of Representatives District Rockingham 4 | 2017 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| FL | Senate | Florida State Senate District 40 | 2017 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| NH | House | New Hampshire House of Representatives District Hillsborough 15 | 2017 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| GA | House | Georgia House of Representatives District 117 | 2017 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| GA | House | Georgia House of Representatives District 119 | 2017 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| WA | Senate | Washington State Senate District 45 | 2017 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | ||
| OK | Senate | Oklahoma State Senate District 37 | 2017 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | ||
| GA | Senate | Georgia State Senate District 6 | 2017 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| OK | Senate | Oklahoma State Senate District 34 | 2016 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | ||
| MN | House | Minnesota House of Representatives District 50B | 2016 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | ||
| MA | House | Massachusetts House of Representatives Twelfth Essex District | 2016 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Democratic | |
| KY | House | Kentucky House of Representatives District 62 | 2016 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | ||
| NH | House | New Hampshire House of Representatives District Rockingham 21 | 2016 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Democratic | ||
| NY | Senate | New York State Senate District 9 | 2016 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | ||
| TX | House | Texas House of Representatives District 120 | 2016 | Independent | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | ||
| LA | House | Louisiana House of Representatives District 85 | 2016 | Independent | Republican | Republican | Republican | ||
| CT | House | Connecticut House of Representatives District 90 | 2016 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | ||
| VA | House | Virginia House of Delegates District 34 | 2015 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | ||
| CT | Senate | Connecticut State Senate District 23 | 2015 | Working Families | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | ||
| KY | Senate | Kentucky State Senate District 27 | 2015 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | ||
| PA | House | Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 170 | 2015 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | |
| MS | House | Mississippi House of Representatives District 45 | 2015 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | ||
| NY | House | New York State Assembly District 43 | 2015 | Working Families | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | |
| GA | House | Georgia House of Representatives District 80 | 2015 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| PA | House | Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 161 | 2015 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| OK | House | Oklahoma House of Representatives District 85 | 2015 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| GA | Senate | Georgia State Senate District 43 | 2015 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | |
| ME | House | Maine House of Representatives District 19 | 2015 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | ||
| ME | House | Maine House of Representatives District 23 | 2015 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Republican | ||
| MO | House | Missouri House of Representatives District 29 | 2015 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| TX | House | Texas House of Representatives District 118 | 2015 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | ||
| PA | Senate | Pennsylvania State Senate District 37 | 2015 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | ||
| WA | House | Washington House of Representatives District 30b | 2015 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | ||
| AR | Senate | Arkansas State Senate District 21 | 2014 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | ||
| VA | House | Virginia House of Delegates District 100 | 2014 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | ||
| MA | House | Massachusetts House of Representatives Fourth Hampden District | 2014 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | ||
| CT | House | Connecticut House of Representatives District 61 | 2014 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | ||
| VA | Senate | Virginia State Senate District 38 | 2014 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | ||
| MA | House | Massachusetts House of Representatives Twelfth Essex District | 2013 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | ||
| CA | Senate | California State Senate District 16 | 2013 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | ||
| NH | House | New Hampshire House of Representatives District Sullivan 4 | 2013 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Republican | ||
| CT | House | Connecticut House of Representatives District 53 | 2013 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | |
| FL | House | Florida House of Representatives District 36 | 2013 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | ||
| WA | Senate | Washington State Senate District 26 | 2013 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | ||
| KY | House | Kentucky House of Representatives District 7 | 2013 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | ||
| ME | Senate | Maine State Senate District 20 | 2012 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | |||
| OK | House | Oklahoma House of Representatives District 1 | 2012 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | |||
| NY | House | New York State Assembly District 103 | 2012 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | |||
| NY | House | New York State Assembly District 100 | 2012 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | |||
| PA | House | Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 169 | 2012 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | |||
| KY | House | Kentucky House of Representatives District 2 | 2012 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | |||
| NY | Senate | New York State Senate District 27 | 2012 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | |||
| NH | House | New Hampshire House of Representatives Hillsborough 4 | 2011 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | |||
| NH | House | New Hampshire House of Representatives Hillsborough 3 | 2011 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | |||
| NH | House | New Hampshire House of Representatives Strafford 3 | 2011 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | |||
| WI | House | Wisconsin State Assembly District 94 | 2011 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | |||
| LA | Senate | Louisiana State Senate District 22 | 2011 | Republican | Independent | Independent | |||
| LA | Senate | Louisiana State Senate District 26 | 2011 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | |||
| MA | House | Massachusetts House of Representatives Twelfth Bristol District | 2011 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | |||
| CT | Senate | Connecticut State Senate District 13 | 2011 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | |||
| CT | House | Connecticut House of Representatives District 101 | 2011 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | |||
| MA | House | Massachusetts House of Representatives Sixth Worcester District | 2011 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | |||
| MO | House | Missouri House of Representatives District 83 | 2011 | Independent | Democratic | Democratic | |||
See also
- State legislative special elections, 2024
- State legislative special elections, 2023
- State legislative special elections, 2022
- State legislative special elections, 2021
- State legislative special elections, 2020
- State legislative special elections, 2019
- State legislative special elections, 2018
- State legislative special elections, 2017
- State legislative special elections, 2016
- State legislative special elections, 2015
- State legislative special elections, 2014
- State legislative special elections, 2013
- State legislative special elections, 2012
- State legislative special elections, 2011
- State legislative special elections, 2010
Footnotes
- ↑ The electoral history of the seats comes from Ballotpedia data, which generally covers elections after 2009. As a result, seats that flipped in more recent years and those with two-year terms have more historical data than those that occurred closer to 2010 or have four-year terms.
