From Ballotpedia - Reading time: 15 min
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Edited by Joel Williams
This week’s tracker includes a look at a controversial new law in Mississippi.
Last week, Alabama, Mississippi and South Dakota adjourned their legislative sessions. Here is a brief look at issues making headlines across the country:
As of today, April 7, 2014, the following figures represent the cumulative partisan breakdown of the 50 state senates and 49 state houses. In the 50 states, Republicans currently control 51.8% of all seats while Democrats hold 46.5%. All told, Republicans control 57 chambers while Democrats are the majority in 41 chambers. One chambers is nonpartisan.
| Representation in 50 State Legislatures | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Number of | Percentage |
| Democratic state legislators | 3,435 | 46.5% |
| Republican state legislators | 3,830 | 51.8% |
| Independent (and nonpartisan) state legislators | 66 | 0.89% |
| Third party (and non-voting) legislators | 12 | 0.16% |
| Vacancies | 42 | 0.57% |
The partisan composition of state senates refers to which political party holds the majority of seats in the state senate. Altogether, in the 50 state senates, there are 1,972 state senators.
As of April 7, 2014, the breakdown of chamber control by party is as follows:
The partisan composition of state houses refers to which party holds the majority of seats in the state house or the lower level of each state legislature. Altogether, in the 49 state houses, there are 5,411 state representatives.
As of April 7, 2014, the breakdown of chamber control by party is as follows:
As of October 3, 2022, 5,309 state representatives were affiliated with either the Democratic or Republican parties. This total is updated monthly.
| Partisan balance of all 7,383 state legislative seats | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legislative chamber | Vacant | |||||||
| State senates | 858 | 1,098 | 6 | 10 | ||||
| State houses | 2,399 | 2,910 | 31 | 71 | ||||
| Total: | 3,257
|
4,008
|
37
|
81 | ||||
As of October 3, 2022, there were 67 state house vacancies in 21 different states. This total is updated monthly.
| State | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 4 |
| Arizona | 1 |
| Florida | 2 |
| Georgia | 1 |
| Kansas | 1 |
| Maine | 8 |
| Massachusetts | 7 |
| Michigan | 1 |
| Minnesota | 1 |
| Mississippi | 1 |
| Missouri | 8 |
| Nevada | 1 |
| New Hampshire | 19 |
| North Carolina | 1 |
| Oklahoma | 1 |
| Pennsylvania | 1 |
| Tennessee | 1 |
| Texas | 2 |
| Vermont | 1 |
| Virginia | 1 |
| Wisconsin | 4 |
As of October 3, 2022, there were 33 state representatives in 13 states identifying as independents or parties other than Democratic and Republican. This total is updated monthly.
| State | Independents/Minor party |
|---|---|
| Alaska | 3 (Independent), 1 (Nonpartisan) |
| California | 1 (Independent) |
| Louisiana | 3 (Independent) |
| Maine | 2 (Independent), 1 (Independent for Maine Party) |
| Massachusetts | 1 (Independent) |
| Minnesota | 1 (Independent) |
| Mississippi | 3 (Independent) |
| New Hampshire | 1 (Independent) |
| New Mexico | 1 (Independent) |
| New York | 1 (Independence) |
| Tennessee | 2 (Independent) |
| Vermont | 5 (Vermont Progressive Party), 5 (Independent) |
| Wyoming | 1 (Independent), 1 (Libertarian) |
Currently 24 out of 50 state legislatures are meeting in regular session. Two states, Virginia and Wisconsin, are in special session.
The following states have convened their 2014 regular session:[13]
The following states have adjourned their 2014 regular session:[14]
| Snapshot of State Legislatures | |
|---|---|
| There are 7,383 Total State Legislators | |
| Total Democratic state legislators | 3,257 (Expression error: Unexpected < operator.%) |
| Total Republican state legislators | 4,008 (Expression error: Unexpected < operator.%) |
| There are 99 Total State Legislative Chambers | |
| Total Democratic Party-controlled chambers | 41 |
| Total Republican Party-controlled chambers | 57 |
| Total tied or nonpartisan chambers | 1 |
| 2014 Session Information | |
| Total Special Elections | 22 |
| Total Special Sessions | 2 |
The Virginia State Legislature is meeting in special session to try and pass an estimated $96 billion budget for the next two years. The session is not expected to end quickly, as Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) and the Republican-led House disagree over whether the state should accept further Medicaid funding from the federal government. This special session is required as the legislature failed to pass a budget during the yearly regular session. Should no agreement be reached by July 1, Virginia's government could shut down.[15]
Gov. Scott Walker (R) called the legislature into special session on January 22. Walker asked the legislature to find a way to fund $500 million worth of property and income tax cuts.[16]
As of today, April 7, there are four state legislatures currently in recess:[17]
A total of 87 of the 99 chambers will hold state legislative elections on November 4, 2014.
The 87 chambers with elections in 2014 are in 46 states. They are:
The Kansas, Minnesota, New Mexico and South Carolina senates also typically hold elections in odd years. However, senators are elected to 4-year terms in those states and those will not be up for election again until 2015.
1090 of the country's 1,972 state senate seats are up for re-election in November 2014, and 4,958 of the country's 5,415 state house seats are up for re-election. Altogether, 6,048 of the country's 7,387 state legislative seats are up for re-election on November 4, 2014.
The state legislative filing deadlines and primary dates are as follows:
Note: Ballot access is a complicated issue. The dates in the table below are primarily for candidates filing for access to the primary. For more detailed information about each state's qualification requirements -- including all relevant ballot access dates for the primary and general election -- click to our detailed pages in the state column.
| 2014 State Legislative Primary Information |
|---|
| State | Filing Deadline | Primary Date | Days from Deadline to Primary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 116 | ||
| Alaska | 78 | ||
| Arizona | 90 | ||
| Arkansas | 78 | ||
| California | 88 | ||
| Colorado | 85 | ||
| Connecticut | 90 | ||
| Delaware | 63 | ||
| Florida | 67 | ||
| Georgia | 74 | ||
| Hawaii | 67 | ||
| Idaho | 78 | ||
| Illinois | 106 | ||
| Indiana | 88 | ||
| Iowa | 81 | ||
| Kansas | 65 | ||
| Kentucky | 112 | ||
| Maine | 85 | ||
| Maryland | 119 | ||
| Massachusetts | 98 | ||
| Michigan | 105 | ||
| Minnesota | 70 | ||
| Missouri | 133 | ||
| Montana | 85 | ||
| Nebraska | 85 | ||
| Nevada | 88 | ||
| New Hampshire | 88 | ||
| New Mexico | 119 | ||
| New York | 61 | ||
| North Carolina | 67 | ||
| North Dakota | 64 | ||
| Ohio | 90 | ||
| Oklahoma | 74 | ||
| Oregon | 70 | ||
| Pennsylvania | 70 | ||
| Rhode Island | 76 | ||
| South Carolina | 72 | ||
| South Dakota | 70 | ||
| Tennessee | 126 | ||
| Texas | 85 | ||
| Utah | 96 | ||
| Vermont | 75 | ||
| Washington | 80 | ||
| West Virginia | 108 | ||
| Wisconsin | 71 | ||
| Wyoming | 81 |
There are two special elections scheduled this week: one each in Florida and Connecticut.
Eric Eisnaugle (R) defeated Shaun Raja (D) in the special election, which took place on April 8.[37][38] Raja was unopposed in the March 11 Democratic primary, while Eisnaugle defeated Stephen Vincent Facella in the March 11 Republican primary.[39][40]
Eisnaugle, a state representative from 2008-2012, chose not to run for re-election in 2012 when redistricting drew him against fellow Rep. Stephen Precourt (R). With Precourt term-limited in 2014, Eisnaugle planned to run for the seat again. Several Republicans, including Speaker Steve Crisafulli (R), backed Eisnaugle. "Eric’s track record of leadership will allow him to serve his Orange County constituents well. It is obvious that his message of job growth and fiscal responsibility resonated with the voters of his district." Crisafulli said.[41]
The seat was vacant following Stephen Precourt's (R) appointment as the head of the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority.[42]
A special election for the position of Florida House of Representatives District 44 was called for April 8, with a primary if necessary on March 11. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 23.[43]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 74.2% | 6,983 | ||
| Democratic | Shaun Raja | 25.8% | 2,429 | |
| Total Votes | 9,412 | |||
April 8 Special election candidates:
Tami Zawistowski (R) defeated Pete Hill (D) in the special election, which took place on April 11.[39][37][44]
The seat was vacant following Elaine O'Brien's (D) death.[45]
A special election for the position of Connecticut House of Representatives District 61 was called for April 11. Candidates were nominated by their party rather than chosen through a primary.[45]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 58% | 1,975 | ||
| Democratic | Pete Hill | 42% | 1,428 | |
| Total Votes | 3,403 | |||
April 11 Special election candidates:
☑ Alabama House of Representatives District 53
Anthony "Alann" Johnson (D) defeated Willie "W.A." Casey (R) in the special election, which took place on April 1.[37][46] Johnson, Arthur D. Shores Lee, Demetrius C. Newton Jr. and Frank Topping faced off in the Democratic primary.[47] As no candidate received more than fifty percent of the vote, the top-two vote-getters - Johnson and Lee - met in the Democratic primary runoff on February 4, which Johnson won.[48] Casey was unopposed in the Republican primary.[39]
The seat was vacant following Demetrius Newton's (D) death on September 11, 2013.[49]
A special election for the position of Alabama House of Representatives District 53 was initially called for January 28, with a primary on December 3, 2013. Because a runoff on January 28, 2014, was required, the special election was scheduled to take place on March 25 instead. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was October 10, 2013.[49] Due to inclement weather, the runoff was pushed back a week to February 4. The special election instead took place on April 1.[50]
April 1 Special election candidates:
☑ Massachusetts State Senate Fifth Middlesex District
Jason M. Lewis (D) defeated Monica C. Medeiros (R) in the special election, which took place on April 1.[37][51] Lewis defeated Christopher G. Fallon and Anthony V. Guardia in the Democratic primary, while Medeiros was unopposed in the Republican primary.[39][52]
The seat was vacant following Katherine Clark's (D) election to Massachusetts' Fifth Congressional District.
A special election for the position of Massachusetts State Senate Fifth Middlesex District was called for April 1, with a primary on March 4. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 28.[53]
☑ Massachusetts State Senate Fifth Middlesex District
Jason M. Lewis (D) defeated Monica C. Medeiros (R) in the special election, which took place on April 1.[37][54] Lewis defeated Christopher G. Fallon and Anthony V. Guardia in the Democratic primary, while Medeiros was unopposed in the Republican primary.[39][55]
The seat was vacant following Katherine Clark's (D) election to Massachusetts' Fifth Congressional District.
A special election for the position of Massachusetts State Senate Fifth Middlesex District was called for April 1, with a primary on March 4. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 28.[56]
☑ Massachusetts House of Representatives Fourth Hampden District
John C. Velis (D) defeated Dan Allie (R) in the special election, which took place on April 1. Velis was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Allie was unopposed in the Republican primary.[39][37][57]
The seat was vacant following Donald F. Humason, Jr.'s (R) election to the Massachusetts State Senate.[58]
A special election for the position of Massachusetts House of Representatives Fourth Hampden District was called for April 1, with a primary on March 4. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 28.[58]
☑ Massachusetts House of Representatives Second Suffolk District
Daniel Joseph Ryan defeated Roy A. Avellaneda and Christopher Remmes in the Democratic primary[59] and was unopposed in the special election, which took place on April 1.[39][37][60]
The seat was vacant following Eugene O'Flaherty's (D) appointment as Boston's corporation counsel.[49]
A special election for the position of Massachusetts House of Representatives Second Suffolk District was called for April 1, with a primary on March 4. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 28.[49]
☑ Massachusetts House of Representatives Thirteenth Suffolk District
Daniel J. Hunt defeated Liam P. Curran, Gene I. Gorman, Paul L. Mccann, Jr. and John K. O’Toole in the Democratic primary[61] and was unopposed in the special election, which took place on April 1.[39][37][62]
The seat was vacant following Martin Walsh's (D) election as Mayor of Boston.[63]
A special election for the position of Massachusetts House of Representatives Thirteenth Suffolk District was called for April 1, with a primary on March 4. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 28.[37]
☑ Massachusetts House of Representatives Sixteenth Suffolk District
RoseLee Vincent (D) defeated Todd B. Taylor (R) in the special election, which took place on April 1.[37][64] Vincent defeated Joshua D. Monahan and Linda S. Rosa in the Democratic primary, while Taylor was unopposed in the Republican primary.[39][65]
The seat was vacant following Kathi-Anne Reinstein's (D) resignation to become the Government Affairs Manager for the Boston Beer Company.[49]
A special election for the position of Massachusetts House of Representatives Sixteenth Suffolk District was called for April 1, with a primary on March 4. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 28.[49]
Upcoming special elections include:
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