Open seats in the 2012 state legislative elections

2012 Competitiveness Overview

Primary competition (state comparison)

Incumbents with no challenges at all in 2012
Incumbents defeated • Victorious challengers •
Primary competitiveness
Major party challengers (state comparison)
List of candidates with no competition
Open seats (state comparisons)
Impact of term limits on # of open seats
Long-serving senators • Long-serving reps
Chart Comparing 2012 Results
Chart Comparing 2012 Results • Comparisons Between Years
Competitiveness Index • Absolute Index
2012 State Legislative Elections
2012 Competitiveness Tracker
Competitiveness Studies from Other Years
2007 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2013 • 2014

There were 6,015 seats in 44 states with a general election in 2012. We took a look at each of the states to see how many state legislative districts have only challengers seeking election in 2012.

Our main findings:

* In 1,227 (20.4%) of the 6,015 seats up for election in 2012, the incumbent did not run for re-election, either because he or she voluntarily chose not to run again, or because of term limits.
* In 4,783 (79.5%) of the 6,015 seats up for election in 2012, the incumbent ran for re-election.
* There were 1,277 (21.2%) seats up for election in 2012 where an incumbent did not run for that seat.

* In 2012, redistricting often times creates open districts that would have otherwise not been in a non-redistricting year.

## States compared by open seats[edit]

Legend: States with state legislative term limits

State  | Senate at stake  | Open senate  | House at stake  | Open house  | Total open  | % open  | Open seats rank  | Overall competitive rank

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Alaska | 19 | 1 | 40 | 10 | 11  | 18.6%  | 25  | 16
Arizona | 30 | 9 | 60 | 13 | 22  | 24.4%  | 19  | 12
Arkansas | 35 | 11 | 100 | 36 | 47  | 34.8%  | 5  | 29
California | 20 | 9 | 80 | 35 | 44  | 44.0%  | 1  | 1
Colorado | 20 | 10 | 65 | 24 | 33  | 38.8%  | 2  | 11
Connecticut | 36 | 3 | 151 | 22 | 25  | 13.4%  | 34  | 26
Delaware | 21 | 2 | 41 | 8 | 10  | 16.1%  | 31  | 40
Florida | 40 | 14 | 120 | 38 | 52  | 32.5%  | 10  | 21
Georgia | 56 | 1 | 180 | 26 | 27  | 11.4%  | 37  | 43
Hawaii | 25 | 1 | 51 | 7 | 8  | 10.5%  | 40  | 24
Idaho | 35 | 10 | 70 | 25 | 35  | 33.3%  | 7  | 4
Illinois | 59 | 10 | 118 | 21 | 31  | 17.5%  | 28  | 39
Indiana | 25 | 1 | 100 | 20 | 21  | 16.8%  | 30  | 31
Iowa | 26 | 10 | 100 | 23 | 33  | 26.2%  | 14  | 23
Kansas | 40 | 6 | 125 | 44 | 50  | 30.3%  | 11  | 7
Kentucky | 19 | 4 | 100 | 9 | 13  | 10.9%  | 38  | 38
Maine | 35 | 13 | 151 | 52 | 65  | 35.0%  | 3  | 9
Massachusetts | 40 | 3 | 160 | 6 | 9  | 4.5%  | 44  | 44
Michigan | \-  | \-  | 110 | 23 | 23  | 20.9%  | 21  | 2
Minnesota | 67 | 18 | 134 | 33 | 51  | 25.4%  | 16  | 13
Missouri | 17 | 10 | 163 | 49 | 59  | 32.8%  | 9  | 37
Montana | 26 | 12 | 100 | 32 | 44  | 34.9%  | 4  | 10
Nebraska | 26 | 9 | \-  | \-  | 9  | 34.6%  | 6  | 5
Nevada | 12 | 9 | 42 | 9 | 18  | 33.3%  | 8  | 6
New Hampshire | 24 | 9 | 400 | 118 | 127  | 30.0%  | 12  | 3
New Mexico | 42 | 8 | 70 | 13 | 21  | 18.8%  | 24  | 27
New York | 63 | 5 | 150 | 18 | 23  | 10.8%  | 39  | 28
North Carolina | 50 | 10 | 120 | 34 | 45  | 26.5%  | 13  | 17
North Dakota | 25 | 6 | 50 | 13 | 19  | 25.3%  | 17  | 15
Ohio | 17 | 2 | 99 | 14 | 16  | 13.8%  | 33  | 18
Oklahoma | 24 | 8 | 101 | 15 | 23  | 18.4%  | 26  | 36
Oregon | 16 | 3 | 60 | 7 | 10  | 13.2%  | 35  | 30
Pennsylvania | 25 | 4 | 203 | 13 | 17  | 7.5%  | 42  | 41
Rhode Island | 38 | 3 | 75 | 7 | 10  | 8.9%  | 41  | 34
South Carolina | 46 | 7 | 124 | 17 | 24  | 14.1%  | 32  | 42
South Dakota | 35 | 11 | 70 | 16 | 27  | 25.7%  | 15  | 14
Tennessee | 16 | 6 | 99 | 14 | 20  | 17.4%  | 29  | 25
Texas | 31 | 4 | 150 | 30 | 34  | 18.8%  | 23  | 33
Utah | 16 | 3 | 75 | 13 | 16  | 17.6%  | 27  | 8
Vermont | 30 | 4 | 150 | 19 | 23  | 12.8%  | 36  | 32
Washington | 26 | 7 | 98 | 24 | 31  | 25.0%  | 18  | 22
West Virginia | 17 | 3 | 100 | 5 | 8  | 6.8%  | 43  | 20
Wisconsin | 16 | 2 | 99 | 26 | 28  | 24.4%  | 20  | 19
Wyoming | 15 | 1 | 60 | 14 | 15  | 20.0%  | 22  | 35

## See also[edit]

* State legislative elections, 2012
* Impact of term limits on state legislative elections in 2012
* 2012 state legislative elections analyzed using a Competitiveness Index
* Incumbents with no primary challenger in the 2012 state legislative elections
* Major party candidates with major party competition in the November 2012 state legislative elections

v • e

Competitiveness in State Legislative Elections

Background|

A "Competitiveness Index" for capturing competitiveness in state legislative elections • Creating an absolute measure for the "Competitiveness Index" in state legislative elections • Year-by-year comparison of results • Factors Affecting Competitiveness in State Legislative Elections

2024|

Competitiveness Analysis Main Page • Impact of term limits • Open seats • Contested primaries • Incumbents in contested primaries • Major party competition • Incumbents defeated • Unconsted incumbents • Primary statistics

2023|

Competitiveness Analysis Main Page • Impact of term limits • Open seats • Contested primaries • Incumbents in contested primaries • Major party competition • Incumbents defeated • Primary statistics

2022|

Competitiveness Analysis Main Page • Impact of term limits • Open seats • Contested primaries • Incumbents in contested primaries • Major party competition • Incumbents defeated • Primary statistics

2021|

Competitiveness Analysis Main Page • Major party competition • Open seats • Impact of term limits • Incumbents in contested primaries • Primary competitiveness • Incumbents defeated

2020|

Competitiveness Analysis Main Page • Major party candidates with major party opposition • Open seats • Impact of term limits • Incumbents in contested primaries • Primary competitiveness • Incumbents defeated

2019|

Competitiveness Analysis Main Page • Major party candidates with major party opposition • Open seats • Impact of term limits • Primary competitiveness • Incumbents defeated

2018|

Competitiveness Analysis Main Page • Major party candidates with major party opposition • Open seats • Aftermath of the 2016 presidential election

2017|

Primary competitiveness • Open seats • Incumbents with no primary challenger • Major party candidates with major party opposition • Incumbents defeated

2016|

Competitiveness Analysis Main Page • Open Seats • Incumbents with no primary challenger • Major party candidates with major party opposition • Incumbents defeated

2015|

Competitiveness Analysis Main Page • Open Seats • Incumbents with no primary challenger • Major party candidates with major party opposition • States Compared by Competitiveness • Incumbents defeated • Victorious challengers • List of candidates with no primary or general election opposition

2014|

Competitiveness Analysis Main Page • Open Seats • Incumbents with no primary challenger • Major party candidates with major party opposition • States Compared by Competitiveness • Incumbents defeated • Victorious challengers • List of candidates with no primary or general election opposition

2013|

Competitiveness Analysis Main Page • Open Seats • Incumbents with no primary challenger • Major party candidates with major party opposition • States Compared by Competitiveness • Incumbents with no primary or general election opposition • Incumbents defeated • Victorious challengers • List of candidates with no major party opposition

2012|

Competitiveness Analysis Main Page • Open Seats • Incumbents with no primary challenger • Major party candidates with major party opposition • States Compared by Competitiveness • Incumbents with no primary or general election opposition • Incumbents defeated • Victorious challengers • List of candidates with no major party opposition • Impact of term limits

2011|

Competitiveness Analysis Main Page • Open Seats • Incumbents with no primary challenger • Major party candidates with major party opposition • States Compared by Competitiveness • Incumbents with no primary or general election opposition • Incumbents defeated • Victorious challengers • List of candidates with no major party opposition • Impact of term limits

2010|

Competitiveness Analysis Main Page • Open Seats •Incumbents with no primary challenger • Major party candidates with major party opposition • States Compared by Competitiveness • Incumbents with no primary or general election opposition • Incumbents defeated • Victorious challengers • List of candidates with no major party opposition • Impact of term limits

2009|

Competitiveness Analysis Main Page • Open Seats • Incumbents with no primary challenger • Major party candidates with major party opposition

2007|

Competitiveness Analysis Main Page • Open Seats • Incumbents with no primary challenger • Major party candidates with major party opposition

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)

* * *

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, President • Gwen Beattie, Chief Operating Officer

Communications: Alison Graves • Carley Allensworth • Abigail Campbell • Sarah Groat • Nathaniel Harwood • Dillon Redmond • Erica Shumaker
External Relations: Andrew Heath • Hannah Nelson
Operations: Meghann Olshefski • Amanda Herbert • Mandy Morris • Caroline Presnell • Kelly Rindfleisch
Policy: Jimmy McAllister • Molly Byrne • Jon Dunn • Annelise Reinwald • Emma Soukup
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 • Daniel Anderson, Managing Editor • Ryan Byrne, Managing Editor • Cory Eucalitto, Managing Editor • Mandy Gillip, 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 • Ethan Sorell • Janie Valentine • Joel Williams • Samuel Wonacott • Trenton Woodcox • Mercedes Yanora