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Election results, 2022: State legislative seats that changed party control
As a result of the Nov. 8, 2022, elections, partisan composition of all 7,386 state legislative seats changed by less than half a percentage point.
- Democrats had a net loss of four seats, representing 0.1% of all state legislative seats.
- Republicans had a net gain of 27 seats, representing 0.4% of all state legislative seats.[1]
- Independents and minor party officeholders had a net loss of 20 seats, representing 0.2% of all state legislative seats.
Of the 46 states that held elections on Nov. 8, Democrats had net gains in 16 states, Republicans had net gains in 21 states, and independent or minor party candidates had net gains in two states.[2] Partisan compositions did not change in seven states. The table below shows the states with the largest gains for each party:
| Seats gained | % of legislature | |
|---|---|---|
| Largest Democratic gains | ||
| Vermont | 17 | 9.4% |
| Colorado | 7 | 7.0% |
| Pennsylvania | 13 | 5.1% |
| Nevada | 3 | 4.8% |
| Michigan | 7 | 4.7% |
| Largest Republican gains | ||
| West Virginia | 17 | 12.7% |
| Wyoming | 7 | 7.5% |
| Florida | 11 | 6.9% |
| Kentucky | 7 | 5.1% |
| Arkansas | 6 | 4.4% |
| Largest independent or minor party gains | ||
| Alaska | 2 | 3.3% |
| Rhode Island | 1 | 0.9% |
Map
The map below shows the 46 states that held elections on Nov. 8 based on whether Democrats, Republicans, or independent or minor party candidates gained seats in the legislature. Hover over each state for more information, including the number of seats, the percentage of the legislature, and before and after looks at partisan control.
Partisan changes by state
Use the tabs below to view state-specific information for entire legislatures or by chamber.
The "Numerical change" view shows the number of seats held and changes before and after Nov. 8. The "Percentage change" view shows the percentage of seats held and change in that percentage before and after Nov. 8.
Methodology
Redistricting
In previous cycles, this report has detailed each legislative seat that changed party control. During redistricting, it is not uncommon for states to change or rename districts, making a direct comparison difficult. In 2022, this analysis instead focused on the overall composition of legislatures and their chambers.
Additionally, redistricting also allows states the opportunity to add or remove legislative seats. In 2022, Wyoming created three new seats—two in the House and one in the Senate. This is why, when comparing the net gains and losses, the figures do not cancel out to zero, but instead show an overall net gain of three seats after Nov. 8.
Regularly-scheduled elections
Forty-six states held regularly-scheduled state legislative elections in at least one chamber in 2022. Four states—Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia—did not hold any regularly-scheduled elections. Additionally, the state Senates in Kansas, New Mexico, and South Carolina were not up for election.
When comparing the overall partisan composition of all state legislative seats, all chambers—including those that did not hold regularly-scheduled elections—are included.
When comparing the 46 states that held regularly-scheduled elections in 2022, the partisan composition of all chambers—including those that did not hold regularly-scheduled elections—is included.
Vacancies
For the purpose of this analysis, vacant seats as of Nov. 8 were categorized as being held by the party that most recently held the seat. There were 74 vacant seats on Nov. 8: 32 previously held by Democrats and 42 held by Republicans.
If the vacancy was filled through a special election held on Nov. 8, the results of that special election were used to determine post-election partisan totals. Three states—Mississippi, New Mexico, and Virginia—each had one vacancy in place before and after Nov. 8: two previously held by Democrats and one held by a Republican. In those states, these were treated as Democratic or Republican seats in both the pre- and post-election totals.
Nebraska
Nebraska's state Senate is officially nonpartisan, meaning candidates appear on the ballot without party labels and do not receive party designations in office. Ballotpedia uses a mixture of publicly available sources to determine the partisan affiliations of candidates and officeholders in this case including, but not limited to, voter registration as provided by the Nebraska Secretary of State, party endorsements, and media outlets. Learn more about this process here.
Analysis of state elections
- See also: State legislative elections, 2022
On November 8, 2022, members in 88 of the country's 99 state legislative chambers were up for election across 46 states. These elections were for 6,278 of the country's 7,383 state legislative seats (85%).
Heading into the election, Democrats controlled 36 chambers and Republicans controlled 62. A bipartisan coalition controlled the Alaska House.
As a result of the election:
- Democrats gained control of four chambers—the Michigan House and Senate, Minnesota Senate, and Pennsylvania House—bringing their total to 40.[3] Wins in Minnesota and Michigan created new Democratic trifectas in those states. Both had previously been divided governments.
- In Alaska, a bipartisan coalition gained control of the Senate. The coalition in the House changed from being made primarily of Democrats and independents to one made primarily of Republicans.
- Republicans lost control of five chambers, bringing their total to 57.
Featured analysis
- State legislative seats that changed party control in 2022: As a result of the Nov. 8, 2022, elections, partisan composition of all 7,386 state legislative seats changed by less than half a percentage point. Democrats had a net loss of six seats, representing 0.1% of all state legislative seats. Republicans had a net gain of 28 seats, representing 0.4% of all state legislative seats.[4] Independents and minor party officeholders had a net loss of 20 seats, representing 0.2% 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).
- State legislative special elections
- Impact of term limits
- Open seats
- Contested primaries
- Incumbents in contested primaries
- Data on incumbents defeated
- Summaries of incumbents defeated in primaries
- Incumbent win rates by state
- Pivot counties in state legislative elections
- Trifecta vulnerability in the 2022 elections
- Rematches in 2022 general elections
- Elections without a Democratic or Republican candidate
- States with two or more statewide offices up for election
- Wave election analysis
- Seats that changed party control
- Veto-proof state legislatures with opposing party governors
- Ballotpedia's Top 15 elections to watch, 2022
- Candidates with the same last names, 2022
- Trends in the margins of victory for incumbents of three or more terms, 2018-2024
See also
- Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2022
- Election results, 2022: State legislatures
- Incumbents defeated in state legislative elections, 2022
- Annual State Legislative Competitiveness Report: Vol. 12, 2022
Footnotes
- ↑ This total includes three seats created in Wyoming during the 2020 redistricting process, which affects the net changes before and after the Nov. 8 elections.
- ↑ Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia did not hold regularly-scheduled elections in 2022.
- ↑ In the Pennsylvania House, Democrats won 102 seats but would enter the legislative session with 99 members due to three vacancies: one due to the death of an incumbent and the others due to resignations to assume higher office. Vacancies are filled by special elections. According to CNalysis, all three vacant districts voted for President Joe Biden (D) by margins of more than 15 percentage points in 2020:
- House District 32: Biden +26
- House District 34: Biden +62
- House District 35: Biden +16
- ↑ This total includes three seats created in Wyoming during the 2020 redistricting process, which affects the net changes before and after the Nov. 8 elections.
