State legislative special election changes in party control since 2010

State Legislative
Special Elections

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Special Elections analysis
State legislative special election changes in party control since 2010

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State legislative special elections by year
2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 • 2010
State legislative elections by year
2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 • 2010

Current as of Jan. 13, 2021 (updated annually)

In special elections from 2010 to 2020, 104 state legislative seats changed partisan control, or flipped. Democrats flipped 56 seats, Republicans flipped 42 seats, and independent and third-party candidates flipped six seats. See the full list of seats here.

Seventeen seats flipped in 2017, the highest number in any year since 2010. Democrats flipped 14 and Republicans flipped three. The second-highest number of flips was in 2018, where the parties combined for 16 flips (12 Democratic and four Republican). The third-highest was 2015, where Democrats flipped five, Republicans flipped nine, and third-party candidates flipped two for a total of 16. The years with the highest percentage of flipped seats out of all special elections held were, similarly, 2015 (18.0%), 2017 (17.3%), and 2018 (16.2%).

As of 2020, 25 states used special elections to fill vacancies and four other states (Kansas, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Washington) used special elections in some circumstances. To see the procedures for filling vacancies in each state, click here.

The state with the highest number of flips is New Hampshire (11 flips—10 Democratic and one Republican). Massachusetts and Connecticut follow with nine flips each.

On this page, you will find:

* Seats flipped in special elections by year
* Seats flipped in special elections by party
* Seats flipped in special elections by state
* List of seats flipped in special elections

Visit this page to learn more about state legislative special elections in 2021. We will update this page with 2021 data at the end of the year.

## Contents

* 1 Seats flipped in special elections by year
* 2 Seats flipped in special elections by party
* 3 Seats flipped in special elections by state
* 4 List of seats flipped in special elections
* 5 See also
* 6 Footnotes

## Seats flipped in special elections by year[edit]

The table below presents the annual figures for state legislative seats that flipped in special elections since 2010. It includes total special elections, total seats flipped, and the percentage of seats flipped out of all special elections.

Flipped seats in state legislative special elections

Year  |  Total special elections  |  Total flips  |  Percentage
2020 | 59 | 8 | 13.6%
2019 | 77 | 8 | 10.4%
2018 | 99 | 16 | 16.2%
2017 | 98 | 17 | 17.3%
2016 | 65 | 9 | 13.9%
2015 | 89 | 16 | 18.0%
2014 | 40 | 5 | 12.5%
2013 | 84 | 7 | 8.3%
2012 | 46 | 7 | 15.2%
2011 | 95 | 11 | 11.7%
2010 | 30 | 0 | 0.0%
Total | 782 | 104 | 13.3%

## Seats flipped in special elections by party[edit]

The table below presents the partisan figures for state legislative seats that flipped in special elections since 2010. It includes total seats flipped by Democrats, total seats flipped by Republicans, total seats flipped by independent and third-party candidates, and the partisan net change each year.

Flipped seats in state legislative special elections by party

Year  |  Democratic flips  |  Republican flips  |  Other flips  |  Partisan net change
2020 | 7 | 1 | 0 | D+6
2019 | 2 | 5 | 1 | R+2
2018 | 12 | 4 | 0 | D+8
2017 | 14 | 3 | 0 | D+11
2016 | 5 | 2 | 2 | D+2
2015 | 5 | 9 | 2 | R+4
2014 | 1 | 4 | 0 | R+3
2013 | 1 | 6 | 0 | R+5
2012 | 5 | 2 | 0 | D+3
2011 | 4 | 6 | 1 | R+2
2010 | 0 | 0 | 0 | None
Total | 56 (+11 since 2010) | 42 (-16 since 2010) | 6 (+5 since 2010) |

## Seats flipped in special elections by state[edit]

The table below presents the number of state legislative seats flipped in special elections by state since 2010. It includes the total number of flipped seats and the number of seats flipped by Democrats, Republicans, and independents and third-party candidates.

As of 2020, 25 states used special elections to fill vacancies and four other states (Kansas, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Washington) used special elections in some circumstances. To see the procedures for filling vacancies in each state, click here.

State legislative special election flips by state

State  |  Total flips  |  Democratic flips  |  Republican flips  |  Other flips
Arkansas | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0
California | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0
Connecticut | 9 | 1 | 7 | 1
Florida | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0
Georgia | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0
Kentucky | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0
Louisiana | 7 | 0 | 5 | 2
Maine | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0
Massachusetts | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0
Minnesota | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0
Mississippi | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0
Missouri | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1
New Hampshire | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0
New Jersey | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0
New York | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1
Oklahoma | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0
Oregon | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0
Pennsylvania | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0
South Carolina | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0
Texas | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1
Virginia | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0
Washington | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0
Wisconsin | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0

## List of seats flipped in special elections[edit]

The table below lists all state legislative seats that flipped in a special election since 2010 as well as the results of recent elections for the seat prior to the special election.[1]

State legislative seats that flipped in special elections

State (abbr.)  |  Chamber  |  District  |  Year  |  Party that gained seat  |  Party of incumbent who vacated seat  |  Party of winner in most recent election  |  Party of winner in second most recent election  |  Party of winner in third most recent election
KY | House | Kentucky House of Representatives District 99 | 2020 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic
NH | House | New Hampshire House of Representatives Merrimack 24 District | 2020 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican
MA | Senate | Massachusetts State Senate Second Hampden & Hampshire District | 2020 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican
MA | Senate | Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth & Barnstable District | 2020 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican
MA | House | Massachusetts House of Representatives Third Bristol District | 2020 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican
KY | Senate | Kentucky State Senate District 26 | 2020 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican
SC | House | South Carolina House of Representatives District 115 | 2020 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican
OR | Senate | Oregon State Senate District 10 | 2020 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican
NJ | Senate | New Jersey State Senate District 1  | 2019 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic
MO | House | Missouri House of Representatives District 99 | 2019 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican
PA | Senate | Pennsylvania State Senate District 37 | 2019 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Democratic
LA | House | Louisiana House of Representatives District 62 | 2019 | Independent | Republican | Republican | Republican |
KY | Senate | Kentucky State Senate District 31 | 2019 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic |
CT | House | Connecticut House of Representatives District 99 | 2019 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic
CT | Senate | Connecticut State Senate District 6  | 2019 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic
MN | Senate | Minnesota State Senate District 11 | 2019 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic |
WI | Senate | Wisconsin State Senate District 10 | 2018 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican
MO | House | Missouri House of Representatives District 97 | 2018 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican
FL | House | Florida House of Representatives District 72 | 2018 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican
KY | House | Kentucky House of Representatives District 49 | 2018 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Republican
NH | House | New Hampshire House of Representatives District Belknap 3 | 2018 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican
CT | House | Connecticut House of Representatives District 120 | 2018 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican
NY | House | New York State Assembly District 10 | 2018 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican
PA | House | Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 178 | 2018 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican
MO | Senate | Missouri State Senate District 17 | 2018 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican |
WI | Senate | Wisconsin State Senate District 1 | 2018 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican |
SC | Senate | South Carolina State Senate District 20 | 2018 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican |
TX | House | Texas House of Representatives District 52 | 2018 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican
PA | House | Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 48 | 2018 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic
TX | Senate | Texas State Senate District 19 | 2018 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic |
LA | House | Louisiana House of Representatives District 10 | 2018 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic |
LA | House | Louisiana House of Representatives District 33 | 2018 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic |
LA | House | Louisiana House of Representatives District 42 | 2017 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic |
MS | Senate | Mississippi State Senate District 10 | 2017 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic |
MA | Senate | Massachusetts State Senate Worcester & Middlesex District | 2017 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic
NH | House | New Hampshire House of Representatives District Carroll 6 | 2017 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican
NY | House | New York State Assembly District 9 | 2017 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican
OK | Senate | Oklahoma State Senate District 44 | 2017 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican |
OK | House | Oklahoma House of Representatives District 75 | 2017 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican
NH | House | New Hampshire House of Representatives District Belknap 9 | 2017 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Democratic
OK | House | Oklahoma House of Representatives District 46 | 2017 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican
NH | House | New Hampshire House of Representatives District Rockingham 4 | 2017 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican
FL | Senate | Florida State Senate District 40 | 2017 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican
NH | House | New Hampshire House of Representatives District Hillsborough 15 | 2017 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican
GA | House | Georgia House of Representatives District 117 | 2017 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican
GA | House | Georgia House of Representatives District 119 | 2017 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican
WA | Senate | Washington State Senate District 45 | 2017 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican |
OK | Senate | Oklahoma State Senate District 37 | 2017 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican |
GA | Senate | Georgia State Senate District 6 | 2017 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican
OK | Senate | Oklahoma State Senate District 34 | 2016 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican |
MN | House | Minnesota House of Representatives District 50B | 2016 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic |
MA  | House | Massachusetts House of Representatives Twelfth Essex District | 2016 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Democratic
KY | House | Kentucky House of Representatives District 62 | 2016 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican |
NH | House | New Hampshire House of Representatives District Rockingham 21 | 2016 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Democratic |
NY | Senate | New York State Senate District 9 | 2016 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican |
TX | House | Texas House of Representatives District 120 | 2016 | Independent | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic |
LA | House | Louisiana House of Representatives District 85 | 2016 | Independent | Republican | Republican | Republican |
CT | House | Connecticut House of Representatives District 90 | 2016 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic |
VA | House | Virginia House of Delegates District 34 | 2015 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican |
CT | Senate | Connecticut State Senate District 23 | 2015 | Working Families | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic |
KY | Senate | Kentucky State Senate District 27 | 2015 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic |
PA | House | Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 170 | 2015 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic
MS | House | Mississippi House of Representatives District 45 | 2015 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic |
NY | House | New York State Assembly District 43 | 2015 | Working Families | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic
GA | House | Georgia House of Representatives District 80 | 2015 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican
PA | House | Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 161 | 2015 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican
OK | House | Oklahoma House of Representatives District 85 | 2015 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican
GA | Senate | Georgia State Senate District 43 | 2015 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic
ME | House | Maine House of Representatives District 19 | 2015 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic |
ME | House | Maine House of Representatives District 23 | 2015 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Republican |
MO | House | Missouri House of Representatives District 29 | 2015 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican
TX | House | Texas House of Representatives District 118 | 2015 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic
PA | Senate | Pennsylvania State Senate District 37 | 2015 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic |
WA | House | Washington House of Representatives District 30b | 2015 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic |
AR | Senate | Arkansas State Senate District 21 | 2014 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic |
VA | House | Virginia House of Delegates District 100 | 2014 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic |
MA  | House | Massachusetts House of Representatives Fourth Hampden District | 2014 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican |
CT | House | Connecticut House of Representatives District 61 | 2014 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic |
VA | Senate | Virginia State Senate District 38 | 2014 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic |
MA  | House | Massachusetts House of Representatives Twelfth Essex District | 2013 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic |
CA | Senate | California State Senate District 16 | 2013 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic |
NH | House | New Hampshire House of Representatives District Sullivan 4 | 2013 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Republican |
CT | House | Connecticut House of Representatives District 53 | 2013 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic
FL | House | Florida House of Representatives District 36 | 2013 | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican |
WA | Senate | Washington State Senate District 26 | 2013 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic |
KY | House | Kentucky House of Representatives District 7 | 2013 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic |
ME | Senate | Maine State Senate District 20 | 2012 | Democratic | Republican | Republican |  |
OK | House | Oklahoma House of Representatives District 1 | 2012 | Democratic | Republican | Republican |  |
NY | House | New York State Assembly District 103 | 2012 | Democratic | Republican | Republican |  |
NY | House | New York State Assembly District 100 | 2012 | Democratic | Republican | Republican |  |
PA | House | Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 169 | 2012 | Democratic | Republican | Republican |  |
KY | House | Kentucky House of Representatives District 2 | 2012 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic |  |
NY | Senate | New York State Senate District 27 | 2012 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic |  |
NH | House | New Hampshire House of Representatives Hillsborough 4 | 2011 | Democratic | Republican | Republican |  |
NH | House | New Hampshire House of Representatives Hillsborough 3 | 2011 | Democratic | Republican | Republican |  |
NH | House | New Hampshire House of Representatives Strafford 3 | 2011 | Democratic | Republican | Republican |  |
WI | House | Wisconsin State Assembly District 94 | 2011 | Democratic | Republican | Republican |  |
LA | Senate | Louisiana State Senate District 22 | 2011 | Republican | Independent | Independent |  |
LA | Senate | Louisiana State Senate District 26 | 2011 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic |  |
MA  | House | Massachusetts House of Representatives Twelfth Bristol District | 2011 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic |  |
CT | Senate | Connecticut State Senate District 13 | 2011 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic |  |
CT | House | Connecticut House of Representatives District 101 | 2011 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic |  |
MA  | House | Massachusetts House of Representatives Sixth Worcester District | 2011 | Republican | Democratic | Democratic |  |
MO | House | Missouri House of Representatives District 83 | 2011 | Independent | Democratic | Democratic |  |

## See also[edit]

* State legislative special elections, 2021
* State legislative special elections, 2020
* State legislative special elections, 2019
* State legislative special elections, 2018
* State legislative special elections, 2017
* State legislative special elections, 2016
* State legislative special elections, 2015
* State legislative special elections, 2014
* State legislative special elections, 2013
* State legislative special elections, 2012
* State legislative special elections, 2011
* State legislative special elections, 2010

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ The electoral history of the seats comes from Ballotpedia data, which generally covers elections after 2009. As a result, seats that flipped in more recent years and those with two-year terms have more historical data than those that occurred closer to 2010 or have four-year terms.

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