State Legislative Elections, 2013

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2013 State Legislative Elections
States
New Jersey • Virginia
Other 2013 Election coverage
Primary elections • Statewide elections, 2013 • State legislative special elections, 2013 • State executive official elections, 2013 • 2013 ballot measures

In the 50 states, there are 99 state legislative chambers altogether, and three of the 99 chambers held state legislative elections on November 5, 2013.

The three chambers with elections in 2013 were in two states. They were:

• New Jersey
• Virginia

Louisiana and Mississippi also typically hold elections in odd years. However, legislators are elected to 4-year terms in those states and those are not up for election again until 2015.

A total of 40 of the country's 1,972 state senate seats were up for re-election in November 2013, and 180 of the country's 5,411 state house seats were up for re-election. Altogether, 220 of the country's 7,383 state legislative seats were up for re-election on November 5, 2013.

Partisan Balance of All 99 Chambers Before and After 2013 Elections
	Pre-election				Post-election
Legislative chamber
State senates	20	28	1	1	20	28	1	1
State houses	21	28	0	0	21	28	0	0
Totals:	41	56	1	1	41	56	1	1

Analysis of competitiveness[edit]

See also: 2013 state legislative elections analyzed using a Competitiveness Index

An overview of the degree of competitiveness of the 2013 state legislative elections was conducted that examined three competitiveness factors:

• Incumbents with a primary challenger in the 2013 state legislative elections

15 incumbents faced a primary challenger in 2013.

191 incumbents (92.7%) who ran for re-election in 2013 had no primary challenger.

Since 205 incumbents ran for re-election in 2013, that means that only 7.3% of incumbents faced a primary challenger.

• Major party candidates with major party competition in the November 2013 state legislative elections

58 major party candidates (26.4%) had no major party challenger on November 5.

• Open seats in the 2013 state legislative elections

In 205 (93.2%) of the 220 seats up for election on November 5, the incumbent ran for re-election.

In 15 (6.8%) of the 220 seats up for election on November 5, the incumbent did not run for re-election.

New Jersey[edit]

• New Jersey State Senate elections, 2013
• New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2013

Elections were held in all 40 of New Jersey's senate districts on November 5, 2013.

New Jersey's state senators are elected to four-year terms. New Jersey legislators assume office at noon on the second Tuesday in January following the election.^[1]

As of May 13, 2013, Democratic candidates for the state Legislature had raised $15.5 million and spent $11.4 million, while Republicans had raised $7 million and spent $6.2 million. In the 2011 election cycle, Democrats raised $11.4 million and Republicans raised $6.2 million in the same amount of time.^[2]

The state legislative races in New Jersey also attracted attention from outside groups, including the Washington, D.C., super PAC the Fund for Jobs, Growth and Security. This super PAC with Democratic affiliations and was founded to prevent Governor Chris Christie (R) from governing with Republican majorities and allowing him to advance a conservative agenda in the state.^[3]

Virginia[edit]

Virginia did not hold any state senate elections in 2013.

• Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2013

Virginia's state representatives are elected to two-year terms. Virginia legislators assume office the second Wednesday in January after the election.^[4][5]

Special elections[edit]

Across the nation, special elections are frequently conducted to fill vacancies in state legislatures. 27 states use special elections to fill legislative vacancies. In two states, Illinois and Indiana, special elections are used in limited circumstances. In 2013, 84 state legislative seats were filled through special elections in 23 states.

See also: State legislative special elections, 2013

Recalls[edit]

As of December 2013, six recall efforts to oust state legislators have been attempted. Two recall campaigns, both from Colorado, obtained enough signatures prior to their deadlines to initiate an election. Recall elections for Senators Angela Giron and John Morse were held on September 10, 2013. Both legislators were targeted for recall after passing gun control legislation through means that circumvented any possible voter referendum.^[6][7][8]

See also: Political recall efforts

Angela Giron Recall[edit]

See also: Angela Giron recall, Colorado State Senate (2013)

Angela Giron was recalled from her position as Senator for District 3 on September 10. George Rivera (R) was selected to succeed her.^[9]

Shall Angelo Giron be recalled from the office of State Senate, District 3?
Result		Votes	Percentage
Recall		19,355	56.01%
Retain		15,201	43.99%

Candidates nominated to succeed Angela Giron should se be recalled:
Result		Votes	Percentage
George Rivera (R)		19,301	88.16%
Write-in		2,592	11.84%

John Morse Recall[edit]

See also: John Morse recall, Colorado State Senate (2013)

John Morse was recalled from his position as President of the Colorado State Senate and Senator for District 11 on September 10. Bernie Herpin (R) was selected to succeed him.^[10]

Shall John Morse be recalled from the office of State Senate, District 11?
Result		Votes	Percentage
Recall		9,094	50.96%
Retain		8,751	49.04%

Candidates nominated to succeed John Morse should he be recalled:
Result		Votes	Percentage
Bernie Herpin (R)		8,895	83.2%
Write-in		1,796	16.8%

See also[edit]

• State legislative special elections, 2013
• Political recall efforts

Footnotes[edit]

v • e State legislatures Legislatures Alabama (H, S) · Alaska (H, S) · Arizona (H, S) · Arkansas (H, S) · California (A, S) · Colorado (H, S) · Connecticut (H, S) · Delaware (H, S) · Florida (H, S) · Georgia (H, S) · Hawaii (H, S) · Idaho (H, S) · Illinois (H, S) · Indiana (H, S) · Iowa (H, S) · Kansas (H, S) · Kentucky (H, S) · Louisiana (H, S) · Maine (H, S) · Maryland (H, S) · Massachusetts (H, S) · Michigan (H, S) · Minnesota (H, S) · Mississippi (H, S) · Missouri (H, S) · Montana (H, S) · Nebraska · Nevada (A, S) · New Hampshire (H, S) · New Jersey (GA, S) · New Mexico (H, S) · New York (A, S) · North Carolina (H, S) · North Dakota (H, S) · Ohio (H, S) · Oklahoma (H, S) · Oregon (H, S) · Pennsylvania (H, S) · Rhode Island (H, S) · South Carolina (H, S) · South Dakota (H, S) · Tennessee (H, S) · Texas (H, S) · Utah (H, S) · Vermont (H, S) · Virginia (H, S) · Washington (H, S) · West Virginia (H, S) · Wisconsin (A, S) · Wyoming (H, S) 2026 State legislative elections (2026) • State legislative special elections (2026) • Primary dates and filing requirements • 2026 Session Dates 2025 State legislative elections (2025) • State legislative special elections (2025) • Primary dates and filing requirements • 2025 Session Dates 2024 State legislative elections (2024) • State legislative special elections (2024) • Primary dates and filing requirements • 2024 Session Dates 2023 State legislative elections (2023) • State legislative special elections (2023) • Primary dates and filing requirements • 2023 Session Dates Historical elections 2022 •  2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 • 2010 • 2009 • 2008 • 2007 • 2006 • 2005 • 2004 • 2003 • 2002 • 2001 • 2000 Features of state legislatures How vacancies are filled in state legislatures • States with a full-time legislature • State legislatures with term limits • Comparison of state legislative salaries • When state legislators assume office after a general election • Population represented by state legislators • State constitutional articles governing state legislatures • State legislative sessions • Resign-to-run law • State legislature candidate requirements by state • Official names of state legislatures • State legislative chambers that use multi-member districts • Factors Affecting Competitiveness in State Legislative Elections State senates Length of terms of state senators • State senators • Partisan composition of state senates • State senators sorted by year first elected State houses Length of terms of state representatives • State representatives • Partisan composition of state houses • State representatives sorted by year first elected Leadership positions President of the Senate • President Pro Tempore • Senate Majority Leader • Senate Minority Leader • House Majority Leader • House Minority Leader • State Speaker of the House