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Historical partisan composition of state legislatures
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This page contains information on the historical partisan composition of state legislatures. For more information on the current partisan composition of state legislatures, click here.
State senates and state house of representatives with a Democratic majority are encased in a blue ( ) box, while state senates and state house of representatives with a Republican majority are encased in a red ( ) box. Tied chambers, or those governed by a multipartisan coalition, are encased in a purple ( ) box.
Election breakdowns
Below is partisan composition data at the time of major elections.
2025 Elections
Heading into the 2025 elections, Democrats controlled 39 chambers, Republicans controlled 57, the Minnesota House of Representatives was tied, and a bipartisan coalition controlled the Alaska House and Senate.[1]
- State chambers controlled by a Democratic majority: 39
- State chambers controlled by a Republican majority: 57[2]
- State chambers controlled by a tie: 1
- State chambers controlled by a bipartisan coalition: 2
2024 Elections
Heading into the 2024 elections, Democrats controlled 41 chambers, Republicans controlled 56, and a bipartisan coalition controlled the Alaska House and Senate.[1]
- State chambers controlled by a Democratic majority: 41
- State chambers controlled by a Republican majority: 56[2]
- State chambers controlled by a bipartisan coalition: 2
2023 Elections
Heading into the 2023 elections, Democrats controlled 40 chambers, Republicans controlled 57, and a bipartisan coalition controlled the Alaska House and Senate.[1]
- State chambers controlled by a Democratic majority: 40
- State chambers controlled by a Republican majority: 57[2]
- State chambers controlled by a bipartisan coalition: 2
2022 Elections
Heading into the 2022 elections, Democrats controlled 36 chambers, Republicans controlled 62, and a bipartisan coalition controlled the Alaska House.[1]
- State chambers controlled by a Democratic majority: 36
- State chambers controlled by a Republican majority: 62[2]
- State chambers controlled by a bipartisan coalition: 1
2021 Elections
Heading into the 2021 elections, Republicans held a majority of state legislative chambers. As of November 2021, 61 chambers were under GOP control, while Democrats held majorities in 37 chambers.[1] A power-sharing agreement was established between Democrats and Republicans in the Alaska House of Representatives.
- State chambers controlled by a Democratic majority: 37
- State chambers controlled by a Republican majority: 61[2]
- One chamber with power sharing between the parties
2020 Elections
Heading into the 2020 elections, Republicans held a majority of state legislative chambers. As of November 2020, 59 chambers were under GOP control, while Democrats held majorities in 39 chambers.[1] A power-sharing agreement was established between Democrats and Republicans in the Alaska House of Representatives.
- State chambers controlled by a Democratic majority: 39
- State chambers controlled by a Republican majority: 59[2]
- One chamber with power sharing between the parties
2019 Elections
Heading into the 2019 elections, Republicans held a majority of state legislative chambers. As of November 2019, 61 chambers were under GOP control, while Democrats held majorities in 37 chambers.[1] A power-sharing agreement was established between Democrats and Republicans in the Alaska House of Representatives.
- State chambers controlled by a Democratic majority: 37
- State chambers controlled by a Republican majority: 61[2]
- One chamber with power sharing between the parties
At the time of the 2019 elections, 7,280 state legislators were affiliated with either the Republican or Democratic parties.
| Party | Number of | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic state legislators | 3,462 | 46.9% |
| Republican state legislators | 3,851 | 52.2% |
| Independent state legislators | 21 | 0.3% |
| Third party legislators | 14 | 0.2% |
| Vacancies | 35 | 0.5% |
2018 Elections
Heading into the 2018 elections, Republicans held a majority of state legislative chambers. As of November 2018, 67 chambers were under GOP control, while Democrats held majorities in 32 chambers.[1]
- State chambers controlled by a Democratic majority: 32
- State chambers controlled by a Republican majority: 67[2]
At the time of the 2018 elections, 7,280 state legislators were affiliated with either the Republican or Democratic parties.
| Party | Number of | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic state legislators | 3,257 | 44.1% |
| Republican state legislators | 4,023 | 54.5% |
| Independent state legislators | 24 | 0.3% |
| Third party legislators | 11 | 0.1% |
| Vacancies | 68 | 0.9% |
2017 Elections
Heading into November 2017, the Democratic Party held the majority in 31 state chambers and the Republican Party held the majority in 68 state chambers. One state chamber (Nebraska) was officially nonpartisan, but is held by a Republican majority.
- State chambers controlled by a Democratic majority: 31
- State chambers controlled by a Republican majority: 68[2]
At the time of the 2017 elections, 7,276 state legislators were affiliated with either the Republican or Democratic parties.
| Party | Number of | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic state legislators | 3,114 | 42% |
| Republican state legislators | 4,162 | 56.3% |
| Independent state legislators | 25 | 0.34% |
| Third party legislators | 15 | 0.20% |
| Vacancies | 67 | 0.90% |
2016 Elections
Heading into November 2016, the Democratic Party held the majority in 30 state chambers and the Republican Party held the majority in 68 state chambers. One state chamber (Nebraska) was officially nonpartisan.
- State chambers controlled by a Democratic majority: 30
- State chambers controlled by a Republican majority: 68
- State chambers that were officially nonpartisan: 1
At the time of the 2016 elections, 7,252 state legislators were affiliated with either the Republican or Democratic parties.
| Party | Number of | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic state legislators | 3,150 | 42.6% |
| Republican state legislators | 4,102 | 55.5% |
| Independent (and nonpartisan) state legislators | 71 | 0.96% |
| Third party legislators | 12 | 0.162% |
| Vacancies | 48 | 0.65% |
2015 Elections
Heading into November 2015, the Democratic Party held the majority in 30 state chambers and the Republican Party held the majority in 68 state chambers. One state chamber (Nebraska) is officially nonpartisan.
- State chambers controlled by a Democratic majority: 30
- State chambers controlled by a Republican majority: 68
- State chambers that are officially nonpartisan: 1
At the time of the 2015 elections, 7,262 state legislators were affiliated with either the Republican or Democratic parties.
| Party | Number of | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic state legislator | 3,158 | 43% |
| Republican state legislator | 4,104 | 56% |
| Nonpartisan state legislator | 49 | 0.66% |
| Independent state legislator | 21 | 0.28% |
| Third party state legislator | 7 | 0.09% |
| Vacancies | 42 | 0.56% |
2014 Elections
Before the November 2014 elections, the Democratic Party held the majority in 39 state chambers and the Republican Party held the majority in 59 state chambers. One state chamber (Nebraska) is officially nonpartisan. The overall score heading into the November 4 elections was:
- State chambers controlled by a Democratic majority: 39
- State chambers controlled by a Republican majority: 59
- State chambers that are officially nonpartisan: 1
At the time of the 2014 elections, 7,240 state legislators were affiliated with either the Republican or Democratic parties:
| Party | Number of | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic state legislators | 3,422 | 46.3% |
| Republican state legislators | 3,818 | 51.7% |
| Nonpartisan state legislators | 49 | 0.66% |
| Independent state legislators | 17 | 0.23% |
| Third party state legislator | 12 | 0.16% |
| Vacancies | 62 | 0.84% |
2012 Elections
- See also: State legislative elections, 2012
Before the November 2012 elections, the Democratic Party held the majority in 37 state chambers and the Republican Party held the majority in 59 state chambers. One state chamber (Nebraska) is officially nonpartisan. Two state senates (Alaska and Virginia) were evenly divided between Democratic and Republican. The Oregon House of Representatives was evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans. Thus, the overall score heading into the November 6, 2012, elections was:
- State chambers controlled by a Democratic majority: 37
- State chambers controlled by a Republican majority: 59
- State chambers that are officially nonpartisan: 1
- State senates that were tied: 2
- State houses that were split evenly: 1
At the time of the 2012 elections, 7,247 state legislators were affiliated with either the Republican or Democratic parties:
| Party | Number of | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic state legislators | 3,301 | 48% |
| Republican state legislators | 3,946 | 53.4% |
| Nonpartisan state legislators | 49 | 0.66% |
| Independent state legislators | 22 | 0.30 |
| Third party state legislator | 12 | 0.16 |
| Vacancies | 33 | 0.44 |
2010 Elections
- See also: State legislative elections, 2010
Before the November 2010 elections, the Democratic Party held the majority in 60 state chambers and the Republican Party held the majority in 36 state chambers. One state chamber (Nebraska) is officially nonpartisan. One state senate (Alaska) was evenly divided between Democratic and Republican senators but several Republicans in that senate vote with the Democratic caucus, so that functionally, the Alaska State Senate could be counted in the column of state senates where Democrats are in the majority. The Montana House of Representatives was split evenly, with 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans.
In that case, the overall score heading into the November 2, 2010, elections was:
- State chambers controlled by a Democratic majority: 60
- State chambers controlled by a Republican majority: 36
- State senates that are officially nonpartisan: 1
- State houses that are split evenly: 1
At the time of the 2010 elections, 7,273 state legislators were affiliated with either the Republican or Democratic parties:
| Party | Number of | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic state legislators | 4,031 | 54.5% |
| Republican state legislators | 3,246 | 43.9% |
| Nonpartisan state legislators | 49 | 0.66% |
| Independent state legislators | 27 | 0.36% |
| Vacancies | 35 | 0.47% |
Historical control
Topline figures
The chart below shows the number of state legislative chambers controlled by each party following the November elections in a given year.
The chart below shows the number of state legislative seats controlled by each party in January of a given year.
See also
- Partisan composition of state legislatures
- Partisan composition of state senates
- Historical partisan composition of state senates
- Partisan composition of state houses
- Historical partisan composition of state houses
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Although the Nebraska State Senate elects its members in nonpartisan elections, members of the chamber generally function along party lines when it comes to voting and caucusing. Please see Nebraska State Senate partisan affiliation for more information. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "nebraska" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Includes Nebraska, which is officially nonpartisan. For more information on how Ballotpedia determined the partisan affiliation of Nebraska senators, please click here. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "NE" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "NE" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Excludes three nonvoting members representing the Penobscot Nation, the Passamaquoddy Tribe and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians.
