State legislative elections, 2025

2025 State
Legislative Elections

2026 »

« 2024

2025 elections
Choose a state below:

New Jersey HouseVirginia HouseSubmit

Two of the country's 99 state legislative chambers are holding regularly-scheduled elections in 2025. Elections in those two chambers represent 180 of the country's 7,386 state legislative seats (2.4%).

General elections in New Jersey and Virginia will take place on November 4, 2025.

Off-year elections in Virginia are often studied as a forecast of the broader political trends to expect from the following year's national elections.[1] The New York Times' Neil Vigdor wrote in December 2024, "In recent elections, Virginia has become a vessel for millions of dollars in spending by outside groups, and its open governor’s seat and divided legislature appears likely to continue that trend."[2]

States are also holding special state legislative elections in 2025 to fill vacant seats. Click here for more.

On this page you will find:

* Nationwide partisan balance figures
* State government trifecta statuses
* States holding elections
* Special election information
* Competitiveness data
* Political context

## Contents

* 1 Partisan balance
* 2 Elections by state
* 3 Battleground chambers
* 4 State legislative special elections
* 5 Targeted chambers
* 5.1 DLCC targets
* 5.2 RSLC targets
* 6 Satellite spending
* 7 Historical competitiveness data
* 8 Impact of term limits
* 9 Election dates
* 10 Trifectas
* 11 Political context
* 11.1 Changes in chamber partisan control, 2010 to 2024
* 11.2 Trifectas from 2010 to 2024
* 12 What's on your ballot?
* 13 See also
* 14 Footnotes

## Partisan balance[edit]

See also: Partisan composition of state legislatures

As of April 27th, 2025, Republicans controlled 55.63% of all state legislative seats nationally, while Democrats held 43.66%. Republicans held a majority in 57 chambers, and Democrats held the majority in 39 chambers. Two chambers (Alaska House and Alaska Senate) were organized under multipartisan, power-sharing coalitions. One chamber (Minnesota House of Representatives) was split evenly between both parties.

Partisan balance of all 7,386 state legislative seats

Legislative chamber  |  |  |  Other  | Vacant
State senates | 834  | 1,124  | 5  | 10
State houses | 2,391  | 2,985  | 19  | 18
Total: | 3,225

| 4,109

| 24

| 28

## Elections by state[edit]

The table below highlights each state holding legislative elections in 2025. To learn more about elections in a particular chamber, click the link in the chamber column.

State legislative elections, 2025

State| Chamber| Republican| Democratic| Other| Vacancies| Total
New Jersey| House| 28| 52| 0| 0| 80
Virginia| House| 49| 51| 0| 0| 100

## Battleground chambers[edit]

Ballotpedia is tracking one state legislative battleground chamber in 2025.

The columns in the chart below list the following:

* Seats up in 2025: This is the number of seats that are up for election in 2025.
* Margin: This is the difference in seats between the majority and minority parties.
* Majority share of seats: This is the percentage of the chamber's seats controlled by the majority party.
* Last time party control changed: This is the election where the current majority took control of the chamber.

State legislative battleground chambers, 2025

Chamber  | Offices up in 2025  | Margin  | Majority share of seats  | Last time party control changed
Virginia House of Delegates | All 100 | D+2 | 51% | 2023

## State legislative special elections[edit]

See also: State legislative special elections, 2025

As of April 2025, 53 state legislative special elections have been scheduled for 2025 in 19 states. Between 2011 and 2024, an average of 70 special elections took place each year.

## Targeted chambers[edit]

### DLCC targets[edit]

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee announced they would target the Virginia House in the 2025 elections:[3]

“  | In 2023, the DLCC helped win full legislative control in Virginia by defending the Democratic majority in the state Senate and flipping the House of Delegates blue. This year, the stakes are high as we gear up for the first major electoral test of the Trump 2.0 era. Every seat in the state House is up for reelection and Virginia voters have an opportunity to elect a Democratic trifecta.[4][5] | ”

|
|

### RSLC targets[edit]

As of April 2025, Ballotpedia did not identify any statements from RSLC about targeted chambers in 2025. To notify us of a resource to add, email us.

## Satellite spending[edit]

See also: Satellite spending

Satellite spending describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[6][7][8]

If available, this section includes links to online resources tracking satellite spending in this election. To notify us of a resource to add, email us.

On Feb. 18, 2025, the Republican State Leadership Committee announced a six-figure Virginia ad campaign, stating:

“  | The RSLC PAC, in coordination with the Virginia House Republican Campaign Committee (HRCC), today launched a new digital ad exposing how Virginia House Democrats are breaking their promises to voters by pursuing an out-of-touch agenda in Richmond this legislative session. The ad will be backed by a six-figure buy on digital platforms throughout the state and highlights how Virginia House Democrats are blocking tax cuts and efforts to lower electric costs, as well as refusing to crack down on dangerous illegal immigrants.[9][5] | ”

|
|

On April 7, 2025, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee announced a seven-figure Virginia ad campaign. DLCC Director Heather Williams said:

“  | Opportunities to move policy and build power aren’t happening in Washington – they’re happening in the statehouses. State legislative races are the most immediate opportunity for Democrats to defend and build sustainable power, and Virginia will be the highest profile, most data-rich election of 2025.[10][5] | ”

|
|

## Historical competitiveness data[edit]

See also: Annual State Legislative Competitiveness Report: Vol. 13, 2023

Ballotpedia began examining the competitiveness of every state legislative race in the country in 2010. Three factors are used in this analysis: seats where the incumbent did not run for re-election, incumbents who ran in contested primaries, and seats contested by both major parties.

The following table details competitiveness data collected from regularly scheduled state legislative elections between 2010 and 2023. Odd-year elections are shown grouped together first followed by even-year elections.

Competitiveness in state legislative elections (2010-2023)

Year  | Total seats  | Open seats  | No major party competition  | Incs. running | Incs. in contested primaries
#  | %  | #  | %  | #  | %
Odd-year elections
2023 | 578 | 138 | 23.9% | 319 | 55.2% | 443 | 115 | 26.0%
2021 | 220 | 13 | 5.9% | 9 | 4.1% | 137 | 24 | 17.5%
2019 | 538 | 105 | 19.5% | 301 | 55.9% | 433 | 125 | 28.9%
2017 | 220 | 20 | 9.1% | 45 | 20.5% | 200 | 32 | 16.0%
2015 | 538 | 79 | 14.7% | 332 | 61.7% | 460 | 107 | 23.3%
2013 | 220 | 15 | 6.8% | 61 | 27.7% | 205 | 24 | 11.7%
2011 | 578 | 98 | 17.0% | 312 | 54.0% | 485 | 104 | 21.4%
Even-year elections
2022 | 6,278 | 1,492 | 23.8% | 2,560 | 40.8% | 4,852 | 1,299 | 26.8%
2020 | 5,875 | 876 | 14.9% | 2,044 | 34.8% | 4,999 | 1,006 | 20.1%
2018 | 6,065 | 1,194 | 19.7% | 2,045 | 33.7% | 4,874 | 1,082 | 22.2%
2016 | 5,916 | 1,032 | 17.4% | 2,508 | 42.4% | 4,887 | 985 | 20.2%
2014 | 6,051 | 1,019 | 16.8% | 2,663 | 44.0% | 5,041 | 983 | 19.5%
2012 | 6,013 | 1,314 | 21.9% | 2,384 | 39.6% | 4,790 | 1,117 | 23.3%
2010 | 6,127 | 1,143 | 18.7% | 2,142 | 35.0% | 4,984 | 995 | 20.0%

## Impact of term limits[edit]

See also: State legislatures with term limits

At the time of the 2025 elections, legislators in New Jersey and Virginia are not subject to term limits.

## Election dates[edit]

The following table details 2025 state legislative filing deadlines and primary dates in each state. The signature filing deadline was the date by which candidates had to file nominating signatures with election officials in order to have their names placed on the ballot.

2025 election dates

State | Filing deadline | Primary election
New Jersey | March 24 | June 10
Virginia | April 3 | June 17

## Trifectas[edit]

See also: State government trifectas

State government trifecta is a term to describe single-party government, when one political party holds the governorship and majorities in both chambers of the state legislature.

As of April 27, 2025, there are 23 Republican trifectas, 15 Democratic trifectas, and 12 divided governments where neither party holds trifecta control.

## Political context[edit]

The 2025 cycle is the first election cycle after the 2024 presidential election. Both chambers in New Jersey and the Virginia House held elections in 2023.

### Changes in chamber partisan control, 2010 to 2024[edit]

See also: Partisan composition of state legislatures

From 2010 to 2024, 41 chambers switched control: 21 switched control once, 14 switched control twice, four switched control four times, and two—the Minnesota House of Representatives and New Hampshire House of Representatives—switched control five times. During that same time, there were 58 chambers that did not switch control.

Before the 2010 elections, Democrats controlled 60 of the country's 99 state legislative chambers, Republicans controlled 37, and neither party controlled the remaining two chambers. After the 2024 elections, Democrats controlled 39 chambers and Republicans controlled 57. Multipartisan majorities controlled the Alaska Senate and House, and the Minnesota House was tied.

Most changes in partisan control came from major elections, but some also came through special elections (Louisiana House in 2010; Washington Senate in 2017) and party-switching (Louisiana House in 2010; Mississippi Senate in 2011). In some cases, the party that gained control did not have a numerical majority but instead controlled the chamber through a bipartisan coalition (i.e., Alaska House in 2016). This table does not account for changes in party control or ties in a chamber that lasted for less than one year and were not the result of a regularly scheduled election. An example of this is the brief period of Democratic control in the Virginia State Senate in 2014.[11]

For this chart, a red box indicates that the chamber changed from Democratic to Republican control, and a blue box indicates that the chamber changed from Republican to Democratic control.[12]

Chamber changes in partisan control: 2010-2024

Party changes in 2010 | Party changes in 2011 | Party changes in 2012 | Party changes in 2014 | Party changes in 2016 | Party changes in 2017 | Party changes in 2018 | Party changes in 2019 | Party changes in 2020 | Party changes in 2021 | Party changes in 2022 | Party changes in 2023 | Party changes in 2024
Alabama Senate | Louisiana Senate[13][14] | Alaska Senate | Colorado Senate | Alaska House | Washington Senate | Alaska House[15] | Virginia Senate | New Hampshire Senate | Virginia House | Alaska Senate[16] | Virginia House | Michigan House
Alabama House | Mississippi Senate[17][18] | Arkansas Senate | Maine Senate | Iowa Senate |  | Colorado Senate | Virginia House | New Hampshire House |  | Michigan House |  | Minnesota House[19]
Colorado House | Mississippi House | Arkansas House | Minnesota House | Kentucky House |  | Maine Senate |  |  |  | Michigan Senate |  |
Indiana House | Virginia Senate[20] | Colorado House | Nevada Senate | Minnesota Senate |  | Minnesota House |  |  |  | Minnesota Senate |  |
Iowa House |  | Maine Senate | Nevada House | Nevada Senate |  | New Hampshire House |  |  |  | Pennsylvania House[21] |  |
Louisiana House[22][23] |  | Maine House | New Hampshire House | Nevada House |  | New Hampshire Senate |  |  |  |  |  |
Maine Senate |  | Minnesota Senate | New Mexico House | New Mexico House |  | New York Senate |  |  |  |  |  |
Maine House |  | Minnesota House | West Virginia Senate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Michigan House |  | New Hampshire House | West Virginia House |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Minnesota Senate |  | Oregon House[24] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Minnesota House |  | Washington Senate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Montana House[25] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Hampshire Senate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Hampshire House |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New York Senate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
North Carolina Senate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
North Carolina House |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ohio House |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Oregon House[26] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pennsylvania House |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Wisconsin Senate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Wisconsin House |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total changes: 22 | Total changes: 4 | Total changes: 11 | Total changes: 9 | Total changes: 7 | Total changes: 1 | Total changes: 7 | Total changes: 2 | Total changes: 2 | Total changes: 1 | Total changes: 5 | Total changes: 1 | Total changes: 2

The chart below shows how many chambers each party controlled after the November elections in a given year.

Partisan control of state legislative chambers: 2010-2024

Election | Democratic chambers | Republican chambers | Other
Before 2010 | 60 | 37 | 2
2010 | 38 | 59 | 2
2011 | 35 | 60 | 4
2012 | 41 | 56 | 2
2013 | 41 | 56 | 2
2014 | 30 | 68 | 1
2015 | 30 | 68 | 1
2016 | 31 | 68 | 0
2017 | 32 | 67 | 0
2018 | 37 | 61 | 1
2019 | 39 | 59 | 1
2020 | 37 | 61 | 1
2021 | 36 | 62 | 1
2022 | 40 | 57 | 2
2023 | 41 | 56 | 2
2024 | 39 | 57 | 3

The chart below shows the number of state legislative chambers that changed party control in each election from 1992 to 2024.

The chart below shows the number of state legislative chambers where at least one legislative seat changed party control in each election from 1992 to 2024.

### Trifectas from 2010 to 2024[edit]

See also: State government trifectas

A state government trifecta occurs when one political party controls the primary levers of power in a state: the governor's office, the state Senate, and the state House. From 2010 to 2018, the Republican Party increased its number of trifectas and the Democratic Party saw a decline in its trifectas. Democrats picked up six trifectas in the 2018 elections, and Republicans lost four trifectas. Following the 2021 elections, the Democratic trifecta in Virginia became a split government after Republicans gained control of the state House and governorship. After the 2023 elections, the divided government in Louisiana became a Republican trifecta when Jeff Landry (R) won election as governor. After the 2024 elections, Republicans maintained their trifectas, and two Democratic trifectas became divided governments.

This chart shows the number of trifectas each party held heading into elections from 2010 to 2024, and the number of trifectas following the 2024 elections.

Trifectas by year: 2010-2024

Election | Democratic trifectas | Republican trifectas | States under divided government
Pre-2010 elections | 17 | 10 | 23
Pre-2012 elections | 11 | 22 | 17
Pre-2014 elections | 12 | 24 | 14
Pre-2016 elections | 7 | 23 | 20
Pre-2018 elections | 8 | 26 | 16
Pre-2020 elections | 15 | 21 | 14
Pre-2021 elections | 15 | 23 | 12
Pre-2022 elections | 14 | 23 | 13
Post-2022 elections | 17 | 22 | 11
Pre-2023 elections | 17 | 22 | 11
Post-2023 elections | 17 | 23 | 10
Pre-2024 elections | 17 | 23 | 10
Post-2024 elections | 15 | 23 | 12

## What's on your ballot?[edit]

See also: Sample Ballot Lookup

## See also[edit]

* Signature requirements and deadlines for 2025 state government elections
* Comparing the competitiveness index for state legislative elections
* State legislative special elections, 2025

Other elections

* State executive official elections, 2025
* State supreme court elections, 2025
* United States municipal elections, 2025
* 2025 ballot measures

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ Politico, "Virginia is the bellwether to watch next week," November 11, 2023
2. ↑ New York Times, December 2, 2024
3. ↑ NBC News, "Democrats unveil state legislative map for the next election cycle, with eyes on opposing Trump's agenda and redistricting," February 11, 2025
4. ↑ DLCC, "DLCC Priority," accessed March 19, 2025
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
6. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed December 12, 2021
7. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed December 12, 2021
8. ↑ National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," December 12, 2021
9. ↑ Republican State Leadership Committee, "NEW AD: RSLC PAC and Virginia House Republican Campaign Committee Launch Six-Figure Digital Ad Highlighting Broken Promises of Virginia House Democrats," February 18, 2025
10. ↑ Virginia Mercury, "DLCC pours money into Virginia races, citing ‘All eyes on 2025,’" April 7, 2025
11. ↑ The Washington Post, "Virginia Republicans snatched control of the state Senate, ended budget-Medicaid impasse," June 9, 2014
12. ↑ 2015 and 2013 are not included because no chambers changed those years.
13. ↑ The chamber first changed from Democratic to Republican control in a February 2011 special election. Republicans increased their majority to 24-15 in the 2011 elections.
14. ↑ Fox News, "GOP Candidate Wins Lousiana [sic] Senate Special Election, Shifting Majority," February 20, 2011
15. ↑ Chamber went from being controlled by a Democratic-led bipartisan coalition to being led by a coalition with power split between the parties.
16. ↑ Chamber went from a Republican majority to a bipartisan governing coalition.
17. ↑ The chamber changed partisan control prior to the 2011 elections due to Democrats switching to the Republican Party and special election wins by Republicans. Republicans increased their majority in the 2011 elections to 31-21.
18. ↑ The Washington Post, "Southern Democrats in dire straits; 2011 looms large," January 11, 2011
19. ↑ Chamber went from a Democratic majority to a 67-67 tie.
20. ↑ In the 2011 elections, the chamber changed from a 22-18 Democratic advantage to a 20-20 tie. Republicans effectively controlled the chamber because Lieutenant Gov. Bill Bolling (R) could cast tie-breaking votes.
21. ↑ Democrats won a majority of seats, but did not have a majority when the legislative session began due to vacancies created during the interim.
22. ↑ This chamber did not hold elections in 2010. It switched partisan control in December 2010 when Democrat Noble Ellington changed his party affiliation to Republican. In the regularly-scheduled 2011 elections, Republicans increased their majority to 58-45.
23. ↑ Nola.com, "Louisiana Republicans take first House majority since Reconstruction with latest party switch," December 17, 2010
24. ↑ In this election, the Oregon House changed from a 30-30 tie to a 34-26 Democratic advantage.
25. ↑ This chamber went from a 50-50 tie to a 68-32 Republican advantage in the 2010 elections.
26. ↑ This chamber went from a 36-24 Democratic advantage to a 30-30 tie in the 2010 elections.

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)

* * *

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

v • e

Ballotpedia

About|

Overview • What people are saying • Support Ballotpedia • Contact • Contribute • Job opportunities

* * *

Executive: Leslie Graves, Founder and CEO • Gwen Beattie, Chief Operating Officer

Communications: Alison Graves • Carley Allensworth • Abigail Campbell • Sarah Groat • Nathaniel Harwood • Dillon Redmond • Erica Shumaker
External Relations: Ashley Fleming • Thomas Mardik • Hannah Nelson
Operations: Meghann Olshefski • Amanda Herbert • Mandy Morris • Caroline Presnell • Kelly Rindfleisch
Policy: Michael Leland • Jon Dunn • Amy Handlin • Jimmy McAllister • Annelise Reinwald • Emma Soukup • Mina Vogel
Content Strategy: Josh Altic
Tech: Matt Latourelle • Ryan Burch • Kirsten Corrao • Beth Dellea • Travis Eden • Tate Kamish • Margaret Kearney • Eric Lotto • Joseph Sanchez • Mary Susmitha

Contributors: Scott Rasmussen

* * *

Editorial Content|

Geoff Pallay, Director of Editorial Content and Editor-in-Chief • Ken Carbullido, Vice President of Election Product and Technology Strategy • Norm Leahy, Senior Editor • Daniel Anderson, Managing Editor • Ryan Byrne, Managing Editor • Cory Eucalitto, Managing Editor • Mandy McConnell, Managing Editor • Doug Kronaizl, Local Elections Project Manager • Jaclyn Beran • Marielle Bricker • Joseph Brusgard • Emma Burlingame • Kelly Coyle • Thomas Ellis • Frank Festa • Nicole Fisher • Brianna Hosea • Joseph Greaney • Thomas Grobben • Jaime Healy-Plotkin • Tyler King • Glorie Martinez • Nathan Maxwell • Ellie Mikus • Jackie Mitchell • Ellen Morrissey • Mackenzie Murphy • Kaley Platek • Samantha Post • Adam Powell • Ethan Rice • Spencer Richardson • Victoria Rose • Briana Ryan • Myj Saintyl • Maddy Salucka • Maddie Sinclair Johnson • Abbey Smith • Alexis Thacker • Janie Valentine • Joel Williams • Samuel Wonacott • Trenton Woodcox