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Impact of term limits on state representative elections in 2014
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| Term Limits |
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| Impact of Term Limits by Year |
| 2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2014 |
| State senates |
| Arizona • Arkansas • California Colorado • Florida • Maine Michigan • Missouri • Montana Nebraska • Nevada • Ohio Oklahoma • South Dakota |
| State houses |
| Arizona • Arkansas • California Colorado • Florida • Maine Michigan • Missouri • Montana Nevada • Ohio Oklahoma • South Dakota |
| State legislatures with term limits |
| Term limits on the ballot |
Elections of state representatives in 13 states with state legislative term limits took place on November 4, 2014. The 13 states where state representatives are impacted by term limits was just under 29 percent of the 45 states where state legislative elections of lower house members took place in 2014.
There are 15 states with state legislative term limits, but Louisiana did not hold a state house election in 2014 and Nebraska does not have a lower house.
In 2014, 160 state representatives were ineligible to run for re-election in November because of term limit laws in their state.
This included:
- 73 incumbent Democrats
- 87 incumbent Republicans
The 160 state representatives who were termed-out represent 12.7% of the 1,261 total seats up for election in the 13 term-limited states with elections in November 2014.
Differential impact on parties
Going into the 2014 elections, the Democratic Party was the majority party in four of the 13 state houses with term limits. The Republican Party was the majority in eight of the 13 state houses with term limits. In one state, Nevada, equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats were term-limited in November 2014. Heading into the election, the majority party in Nevada was Democratic.
- In four states, more Democrats were term-limited out than Republicans. In California, Colorado and Maine, the majority party was Democratic. In Ohio, the majority party was Republican.
- In eight states, more Republicans were term-limited out than Democrats. In Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma and South Dakota the majority party was Republican.
- In one state, Nevada, equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats were term-limited in November 2014. Heading into the election, the majority party in Nevada was Democratic.
Overview chart
Note: The figures in Column 5 ("Seats impacted by term limits") only reflects current members of state houses who were unable to run for re-election to their state's house in 2014 because of term limits. In some cases, including Ohio, state representatives who would have been unable to run for re-election in November resigned earlier in the year or were appointed to other positions. Representatives who resigned, and were not current members of their state houses, were not counted in these figures.
| Houses with limits | Majority party | Seats in house | Up for election in 2014 | Seats impacted by term limits | Party with most losses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona: (House), (2014 elections) | 60 | 60 | 1 |
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| Arkansas: (House), (2014 elections) | 100 | 100 | 9 |
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| California: (Assembly), (2014 elections) | 80 | 80 | 11 |
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| Colorado: (House), (2014 elections) | 65 | 65 | 5 |
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| Florida: (House), (2014 elections) | 120 | 120 | 5 |
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| Maine: (House), (2014 elections) | 151 | 151 | 11 |
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| Michigan: (House), (2014 elections) | 110 | 110 | 12 |
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| Missouri: (House), (2014 elections) | 163 | 163 | 2 |
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| Montana: (House), (2014 elections) | 100 | 100 | 3 |
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| Nevada: (House), (2014 elections) | 42 | 42 | 1 |
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| Ohio: (House), (2014 elections) | 99 | 99 | 11 |
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| Oklahoma: (House), (2014 elections) | 101 | 101 | 2 |
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| South Dakota: (House), (2014 elections) | 70 | 70 | 0 |
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| Totals: | (4) |
1,261 | 1,261 | 73 |
4 |
States
Arizona
All of Arizona's 60 state representative seats were up for election on November 6. Arizona representatives serve two-year terms with a four-term/eight-year limit that was imposed by Proposition 107 in 1992. Arizona's term limits apply to parts of terms and not just full terms.
There are 60 members of the Arizona House of Representatives. In the 2014 state house elections, three representatives, one Democrat and two Republicans, were ineligible to run for the senate again in November.
There are no Arizona state senators who were termed-out in 2014.
The state representatives who were term-limited in 2014 were:
Democrats (1):
Republicans (2):
Arkansas
The Arkansas House of Representatives has been a term-limited state house since Arkansas voters approved the Arkansas Term Limits Initiative in 1992 as an initiated constitutional amendment.
There are 100 members of the Arkansas House of Representatives. In 2014, 23 of them who were current members, nine Democrats and 14 Republicans, were ineligible to run again in November.
In addition to the 23 state representatives who left office because of term limits, one Arkansas state senator was also termed-out.
The state representatives who were term-limited in 2014 were:
Democrats (9):
- Butch Wilkins
- Darrin Williams
- James McLean
- James Word
- Jim Nickels
- Jody Dickinson
- John Edwards, Arkansas Representative
- Mark Perry
- Walls McCrary
Republicans (14):
- Debra Hobbs
- Davy Carter
- Duncan Baird
- Andrea Lea
- Allen Kerr
- Ann Clemmer
- Karen Hopper
- Les Carnine
- Jonathan Barnett
- John Burris
- Robert Dale
- Mary Slinkard
- Stephanie Malone
- Terry Rice
California
The California State Assembly has been a term-limited state house since California voters approved Proposition 140 in 1990. Under the terms of Proposition 140, the members of the state assembly can serve no more than three 2-year terms in the state assembly. This is a lifetime limit, as is the case in five other states with state legislative term limits.
There are 80 members of the California State Assembly. In 2014, 16 of them who were current members, 11 Democrats and five Republicans, were ineligible to run again in November.
In addition to the 16 California state representatives who left office because of term limits, seven California state senators were also termed-out.
The state representatives who were term-limited in 2014 were:
Democrats (11):
- Bonnie Lowenthal
- Isadore Hall, III
- Joan Buchanan
- John Perez
- Manuel Perez
- Mariko Yamada
- Nancy Skinner
- Paul Fong
- Steven Bradford
- Tom Ammiano
- Wesley Chesbro
Republicans (5):
Colorado
The Colorado House of Representatives has been a term-limited state house since Colorado voters approved Issue 5 in 1990. The affirmative vote by Colorado's electorate in Issue 5 altered Section 3 of Article V on the Colorado Constitution to say that Colorado State Representatives could serve no more than four 2-year terms in office.
There are 65 members of the Colorado House of Representatives. In 2014, eight of them who were current members, five Democrats and three Republicans, were ineligible to run again in November.
In addition to the eight Colorado state representatives who left office because of term limits, four Colorado state senators were also termed-out.
The state representatives who were term-limited in 2014 were:
Democrats (5):
Republicans (3):
Florida
The Florida House of Representatives has been a term-limited state house since Florida voters approved Amendment 9 in 1992. Amendment 9 altered Article VI, section 4 of the Florida Constitution to impose a maximum of four 2-year terms on Florida State Representatives.
There are 120 members of the Florida House of Representatives. In 2014, 16 of them who were current members, five Democrats and 11 Republicans, were ineligible to run again in November.
In addition to the 16 Florida state representatives who left office because of term limits, three Florida state senators were also termed-out.
The state representatives who were term-limited in 2014 were:
Democrats (5):
Republicans (11):
- Bryan Nelson
- Eduardo Gonzalez
- Ed Hooper
- Charles McBurney
- Doug Holder
- Jimmy Patronis
- Matt Hudson
- Robert Schenck
- Seth McKeel
- Stephen Precourt
- Will Weatherford
Maine
The Maine House of Representatives has been a term-limited state house since Maine voters approved Question 1 in 1993. Under this law, state representatives can serve no more than four consecutive 2-year terms. The Maine State Legislature tried, unsuccessfully, in 2007 to get the state's voters to extend the number of years they could consecutively serve in office by putting the Maine Term Limits Extension act on the ballot. Voters overwhelmingly (67-33%) rejected it.
There are 153 members of the Maine House of Representatives. In 2014, 18 of them who were current members, 11 Democrats and seven Republicans, were ineligible to run again in November.
In addition to the 18 Maine state representatives who left office because of term limits, one Maine state senator was also termed-out.
The state representatives who were term-limited in 2014 were:
Democrats (11):
- Alan Casavant
- Andrea Boland
- Ann Peoples
- Bryan Kaenrath
- Charles Priest
- Charles Theriault
- Paulette Beaudoin
- Seth Berry
- Sharon Treat
- Teresea Hayes
- W. Bruce MacDonald
Republicans (7):
- Jeffery Gifford
- H. David Cotta
- Bernard Ayotte
- Michael Beaulieu
- Kathleen Chase
- L. Gary Knight
- Windol Weaver
Michigan
The Michigan House of Representatives has been a term-limited state house since Michigan voters approved Proposal B in 1992. Proposal B created Section 54 of Article IV of the Michigan Constitution. It says that state representatives are limited to 3 two-year terms. As with five other states, this is a lifetime limit.
There are 110 members of the Michigan House of Representatives. In 2014, 28 of them who were current members, 12 Democrats and 16 Republicans, were ineligible to run again in November.
In addition to the 28 Michigan state representatives who left office because of term limits, seven Michigan state senator were also termed-out.
The state representatives who were term-limited in 2014 were:
Democrats (12):
- Andrew Kandrevas
- David Nathan
- Dian Slavens
- Douglas Geiss
- Ellen Lipton
- Fred Durhal, Jr.
- Harold Haugh
- Jon Switalski
- Kate Segal
- Rashida Tlaib
- Vicki Barnett
- Woodrow Stanley
Republicans (16):
- Jase Bolger
- Jim Stamas
- Hugh Crawford
- Gail Haines
- Cindy Denby
- Bob Genetski
- Eileen Kowall
- Kevin Daley
- Matt Lori
- Kenneth Kurtz
- Joe Haveman
- John Walsh (Michigan)
- Tom McMillin
- Peter Lund
- Wayne Schmidt
- William Rogers
Missouri
The Missouri House of Representatives has been a term-limited state house since Missouri voters approved Amendment 12 in 1992. Amendment 12 created Section 8 of Article III of the Missouri Constitution, limiting members of the state house to 4 2-year terms. As with five other states, this is a lifetime limit. (Section 8 was later amended by Amendment 3 in 2002 so that it does not apply to partial terms.)
There are 163 members of the Missouri House of Representatives. In 2014, eight of them who were current members, two Democrats and six Republicans, were ineligible to run again in November.
In addition to the eight Missouri state representatives who left office because of term limits, five Missouri state senators were also termed-out.
The state representatives who were term-limited in 2014 were:
Democrats (2):
Republicans (6):
Montana
The Montana House of Representatives has been a term-limited state house since Montana voters approved CI-64 in 1992. C-64 created Section 8 of Article IV of the Montana Constitution, which says that Montana State Representatives cannot serve 8 or more years in any 16-year period.
There are 100 members of the Montana House of Representatives. In 2014, seven of them who were current members, three Democrats and four Republicans, were ineligible to run again in November.
In addition to the seven Montana state representatives who left office because of term limits, seven Montana state senators were also termed-out.
The state representatives who were term-limited in 2014 were:
Democrats (3):
Republicans (4):
Nevada
- See also: Nevada State Assembly elections, 2014
2010 was the first year that some Nevada State Representatives were ineligible to run for office because of the term limits law first passed in 1994.
Nevada voters approved Question 9A in 1996. Question 9A was a second vote on a term limits amendment first approved in 1994. Alone among the states with ballot initiatives, Nevada voters must approve a proposed constitutional amendment twice before it goes into the Nevada Constitution. The 1994 and 1996 votes cumulatively led to Paragraph 2 of Section 3 of Article 4 of the Nevada Constitution, which says, "No person may be elected or appointed as a member of the Assembly who has served in that Office, or at the expiration of his current term if he is so serving will have served, 12 years or more, from any district of this State."
There are 42 members of the Nevada State Assembly. In 2014, two of them who were current members, William Horne (D) and Thomas Grady (R), were ineligible to run again in November.
In addition to the two Nevada state representatives who left office because of term limits, one Nevada state senator was also termed-out.
Ohio
The Ohio House of Representatives has been a term-limited state house since Ohio voters approved Ballot Issue 4, an initiated constitutional amendment, in 1992. This amendment became part of Section 2 of Article II of the Ohio Constitution and limits the amount of time that an Ohio State Representative can stay in office to four 2-year terms, saying, "No person shall hold the office of State Representative for a period longer than four successive terms of two years. Terms shall be considered successive unless separated by a period of four or more years."
There are 99 members of the Ohio House of Representatives. In 2014, 18 of them who were current members, 11 Democrats and seven Republicans, were ineligible to run again in November.
In addition to the 18 Ohio state representatives who left office because of term limits, four Ohio state senators were also termed-out.
The state representatives who were term-limited in 2014 were:
Democrats (11):
- Armond Budish
- Barbara Boyd, Ohio Representative
- Bob Hagan
- Dale Mallory
- Matt Lundy
- Michael Foley
- Ron Gerberry
- Sandra Williams
- Tom Letson
- Tracy Heard
- Vernon Sykes
Republicans (7):
- Matt Huffman
- Lynn Wachtmann
- John Adams (Ohio)
- Jay Hottinger
- Gerald Stebelton
- Ross McGregor
- William Batchelder
Oklahoma
The Oklahoma House of Representatives has been a term-limited house of representatives since Oklahoma voters approved State Question 632 in 1990, as an initiated constitutional amendment. This amendment became part of Section 17A of Article V of the Oklahoma Constitution and limits the amount of time that an Oklahoma State Representative can serve to a cumulative total of 12 years in either or both chambers of the Oklahoma State Legislature.
There are 101 members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. In 2014, seven of them who were current members, two Democrats and five Republicans, were ineligible to run again in November.
In addition to the seven Oklahoma state representatives who left office because of term limits, four Oklahoma state senators were also termed-out.
The state representatives who were term-limited in 2014 were:
Democrats (2):
Republicans (5):
South Dakota
The South Dakota House of Representatives has been a term-limited house of representatives since South Dakota voters approved Ballot Issue A in 1992, an initiated constitutional amendment. This amendment became part of Section 6 of Article III of the South Dakota Constitution and limits the amount of time that a South Dakota Representative can stay in office to no more than four consecutive 2-year terms.
The South Dakota State Legislature has tried on more than one occasion, each time unsuccessfully, to persuade the state's voters to repeal term limits. The most recent such failed attempt was when Amendment J lost in 2008 by 75-25%.
There are 70 members of the South Dakota House of Representatives. In 2014, six of them who were current members, all Republicans, were ineligible to run again in November.
In addition to the six South Dakota state representatives who left office because of term limits, two South Dakota state senators were also termed-out.
The state representatives who were term-limited in 2014 were:
Democrats (0):
None
Republican (6):
See also
- State legislatures with term limits
- Impact of term limits on state senate elections in 2014
- Impact of term limits on state legislative elections in 2014
Footnotes
