2002 United States state legislative elections

For related races, see 2002 United States elections.

2002 United States state legislative elections

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| <- 2001 | November 5, 2002 | 2003 ->

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91 legislative chambers in 46 states
|  | Majority party  | Minority party  | Third party

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|
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|  |  |
Party  | Republican | Democratic | Coalition
Chambers before  | 49 | 47[a] | 1[c]
Chambers after  | 54 | 42[b] | 0
Overall change  |  5  |  5  |  1

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Map of upper house elections:
Democrats gained control Democrats retained control
Republicans gained control Republicans retained control
Split body formed
Non-partisan legislature
No regularly-scheduled elections

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Map of lower house elections:
Democrats retained control
Republicans gained control Republicans retained control
Split body formed
Non-partisan legislature
No regularly-scheduled elections

The 2002 United States state legislative elections were held on November 5, 2002, halfway through President George W. Bush's first term in office. This was a unique election in which the incumbent Republican party performed surprisingly well for a midterm election. Elections were held for 91 legislative chambers, with all states but Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia holding elections in at least one house. [1] Three territorial chambers in two territories and the District of Columbia were up as well.

Republicans flipped control of six chambers: the Colorado Senate, the Georgia Senate for the first time since 1873, the Missouri House of Representatives for the first time since 1955, the Texas House of Representatives for the first time since 1873, the Washington Senate, and the Wisconsin Senate. Meanwhile, Democrats flipped control of the Illinois Senate. Additionally, the Arizona Senate went from a Democratic-led coalition to Republican control. The Maine Senate went from an evenly divided power-sharing government to a Democratic one. while the Oregon Senate went from Republican to tied.

Republicans had initially won control of the North Carolina House of Representatives by one seat, but Republican Michael P. Decker switched parties to become a Democrat, producing a tied chamber.[2]

Republicans won a trifecta in Texas for the first time since 1873, and in Missouri for the first time since 1923. As a result, Republicans held a majority of state legislative seats for the first time in half a century.[3]

## Summary table[edit]

Regularly-scheduled elections were held in 91 of the 99 state legislative chambers in the United States. Nationwide, regularly-scheduled elections were held for 6,381 of the 7,383 legislative seats. Many legislative chambers held elections for all seats, but some legislative chambers that use staggered elections held elections for only a portion of the total seats in the chamber.[4] The chambers not up for election either hold regularly-scheduled elections in odd-numbered years, or have four-year terms and hold all regularly-scheduled elections in presidential midterm election years.

Note that this table only covers regularly-scheduled elections; additional special elections took place concurrently with these regularly-scheduled elections.

State  | Upper House[4] | Lower House[4]

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Seats up  | Total  | % up  | Term  | Seats up  | Total  | % up  | Term
Alabama | 35  | 35  | 35  | 4  | 105  | 105  | 105  | 4
Alaska | 19  | 20  | 95  | 4  | 40  | 40  | 100  | 2
Arizona | 30  | 30  | 100  | 2  | 60  | 60  | 100  | 2
Arkansas | 35  | 35  | 100  | 2/4[d] | 100  | 100  | 100  | 2
California | 20  | 40  | 50  | 4  | 80  | 80  | 100  | 2
Colorado | 18  | 35  | 51  | 4  | 65  | 65  | 100  | 2
Connecticut | 36  | 36  | 100  | 2  | 151  | 151  | 100  | 2
Delaware | 21  | 21  | 100  | 2/4[d] | 41  | 41  | 100  | 2
Florida | 40  | 40  | 100  | 2/4[d] | 120  | 120  | 100  | 2
Georgia | 56  | 56  | 100  | 2  | 180  | 180  | 100  | 2
Hawaii | 25  | 25  | 100  | 2/4[d] | 51  | 51  | 100  | 2
Idaho | 35  | 35  | 100  | 2  | 70  | 70  | 100  | 2
Illinois | 59  | 59  | 100  | 2/4[d] | 118  | 118  | 100  | 2
Indiana | 25  | 50  | 50  | 4  | 100  | 100  | 100  | 2
Iowa | 25  | 50  | 50  | 4  | 100  | 100  | 100  | 2
Kansas | 0  | 40  | 0  | 4  | 125  | 125  | 100  | 2
Kentucky | 19  | 38  | 50  | 4  | 100  | 100  | 100  | 2
Louisiana | 0  | 39  | 0  | 4  | 0  | 105  | 0  | 4
Maine | 35  | 35  | 100  | 2  | 151  | 151  | 100  | 2
Maryland | 47  | 47  | 47  | 4  | 141  | 141  | 141  | 4
Massachusetts | 40  | 40  | 100  | 2  | 160  | 160  | 100  | 2
Michigan | 38  | 38  | 100  | 4  | 110  | 110  | 100  | 2
Minnesota | 67  | 67  | 100  | 2/4[d] | 134  | 134  | 100  | 2
Mississippi | 0  | 52  | 0  | 4  | 0  | 122  | 0  | 4
Missouri | 17  | 34  | 50  | 4  | 163  | 163  | 100  | 2
Montana | 25  | 50  | 50  | 4  | 100  | 100  | 100  | 2
Nebraska | 25[e] | 49[e] | 51[e] | 4  | N/A (unicameral)
Nevada | 10  | 21  | 48  | 4  | 42  | 42  | 100  | 2
New Hampshire | 24  | 24  | 100  | 2  | 400  | 400  | 100  | 2
New Jersey | 0  | 40  | 0  | 2/4[d] | 0  | 80  | 0  | 2
New Mexico | 0  | 42  | 0  | 4  | 70  | 70  | 100  | 2
New York | 63  | 63  | 100  | 2  | 150  | 150  | 100  | 2
North Carolina | 50  | 50  | 100  | 2  | 120  | 120  | 100  | 2
North Dakota | 23  | 47  | 49  | 4  | 47  | 94  | 50  | 4
Ohio | 16  | 33  | 48  | 4  | 99  | 99  | 100  | 2
Oklahoma | 24  | 48  | 50  | 4  | 101  | 101  | 100  | 2
Oregon | 15  | 30  | 50  | 4  | 60  | 60  | 100  | 2
Pennsylvania | 25  | 50  | 50  | 4  | 203  | 203  | 100  | 2
Rhode Island | 38  | 38  | 100  | 2  | 75  | 75  | 100  | 2
South Carolina | 46  | 46  | 100  | 4  | 124  | 124  | 100  | 2
South Dakota | 35  | 35  | 100  | 2  | 70  | 70  | 100  | 2
Tennessee | 16  | 33  | 48  | 4  | 99  | 99  | 100  | 2
Texas | 16  | 31  | 52  | 2/4[d] | 150  | 150  | 100  | 2
Utah | 15  | 29  | 52  | 4  | 75  | 75  | 100  | 2
Vermont | 30  | 30  | 100  | 2  | 150  | 150  | 100  | 2
Virginia | 0  | 40  | 0  | 4  | 0  | 100  | 0  | 2
Washington | 25  | 49  | 51  | 4  | 98  | 98  | 100  | 2
West Virginia | 17  | 34  | 50  | 4  | 100  | 100  | 100  | 2
Wisconsin | 16  | 33  | 48  | 4  | 99  | 99  | 100  | 2
Wyoming | 15  | 30  | 50  | 4  | 60  | 60  | 100  | 2
Total  | 1281  | 1972  | 65  | N/A  | 4595  | 5411  | 85  | N/A

## State summaries[edit]

### Upper houses[edit]

State  | Previous UH  | Result  | Party control

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Alabama | D 24-11  | D 25-10  | Democratic Hold
Alaska | R 14-6  | R 12-8  | Republican Hold
Arizona | Coal. 18-12  | R 17-13  | Republican Takeover
Arkansas | D 27-8  | D 27-8  | Democratic hold
California | D 26-14  | D 25-15  | Democratic hold
Colorado | D 18-17  | R 18-17  | Republican Takeover
Connecticut | D 21-15  | D 21-15  | Democratic hold
Delaware | D 13-8  | D 13-8  | Democratic hold
Florida | R 25-15  | R 26-14  | Republican hold
Georgia | D 32-24  | R 30-26  | Republican Takeover
Hawaii | D 22-3  | D 20-5  | Democratic hold
Idaho | R 32-3  | R 28-7  | Republican hold
Illinois | R 32-27  | D 32-26-1  | Democratic Takeover
Indiana | R 32-18  | R 32-18  | Republican hold
Iowa | R 30-20  | R 29-21  | Republican hold
Kentucky | R 20-18  | R 21-17  | Republican hold
Maine | 17-17-1  | D 18-17  | Democratic Takeover
Maryland | D 34-13  | D 33-14  | Democratic hold
Massachusetts | D 34-6  | D 34-6  | Democratic hold
Michigan | R 23-15  | R 22-16  | Republican hold
Minnesota | D 39-27-1  | D 35-31-1  | Democratic Hold
Missouri | R 18-16  | R 20-14  | Republican hold
Montana | R 31-19  | R 29-21  | Republican hold
Nebraska | Unicameral and non–partisan Senate with 49 members
Nevada | R 12-9  | R 13-8  | Republican hold
New Hampshire | R 13-11  | R 18-6  | Republican Hold
New York | R 36-25  | R 37-25  | Republican Hold
North Carolina | D 28-22  | D 28-22  | Democratic Hold
North Dakota | R 32-17  | R 31-16  | Republican hold
Ohio | R 21-12  | R 22-11  | Republican hold
Oklahoma | D 30-18  | D 28-20  | Democratic hold
Oregon | R 16-14  | 15-15  | Split Takeover
Pennsylvania | R 30-20  | R 29-21  | Republican hold
Rhode Island | D 44-6  | D 32-6  | Democratic hold
South Carolina | R 25-21  | R 26-20  | Republican hold
South Dakota | R 24-11  | R 26-9  | Republican hold
Tennessee | D 18-15  | D 18-15  | Democratic hold
Texas | R 16-15  | R 19-12  | Republican hold
Utah | R 20-9  | R 21-8  | Republican hold
Vermont | D 16-14  | D 19-11  | Democratic hold
Washington | D 25-24  | R 25-24  | Republican Takeover
West Virginia | D 28-6  | D 24-10  | Democratic hold
Wisconsin | D 18-15  | R 18-15  | Republican takeover
Wyoming | R 20-10  | R 20-10  | Republican hold

### Lower houses[edit]

State  | Previous LH  | Result  | Party control

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Alabama | D 67-38  | D 63-42  | Democratic Hold
Alaska | R 27-13  | R 27-13  | Republican hold
Arizona | R 36-24  | R 39-21  | Republican hold
Arkansas | D 72-28  | D 70-30  | Democratic hold
California | D 50-30  | D 48-32  | Democratic hold
Colorado | R 38-27  | R 37-28  | Republican Hold
Connecticut | D 100-51  | D 94-57  | Democratic hold
Delaware | R 26-15  | R 29-12  | Republican hold
Florida | R 77-43  | R 81-39  | Republican hold
Georgia | D 105-74-1  | D 107-72-1  | Democratic hold
Hawaii | D 32-19  | D 36-15  | Democratic hold
Idaho | R 61-9  | R 54-16  | Republican hold
Illinois | D 62-56  | D 66-52  | Democratic hold
Indiana | D 53-47  | D 51-49  | Democratic Hold
Iowa | R 56-44  | R 54-46  | Republican Hold
Kansas | R 79-46  | R 80-45  | Republican hold
Kentucky | D 64-36  | D 65-35  | Democratic hold
Maine | D 88-62-1  | D 80-67-3-1  | Democratic Hold
Maryland | D 106-35  | D 98-43  | Democratic hold
Massachusetts | D 137-23  | D 135-23-1  | Democratic hold
Michigan | R 59-51  | R 62-48  | Republican Hold
Minnesota | R 70-64  | R 81-53  | Republican Hold
Missouri | D 84-78  | R 90-73  | Republican Takeover
Montana | R 58-42  | R 53-47  | Republican Hold
Nebraska | Unicameral and non–partisan Senate with 49 members
Nevada | D 27-15  | D 23-19  | Democratic hold
New Hampshire | R 256-144  | R 278-122  | Republican Hold
New Mexico | D 42-28  | D 43-27  | Democratic hold
New York | D 98-52  | D 102-48  | Democratic hold
North Carolina | D 62-58  | 60-60  | Split Takeover
North Dakota | R 69-29  | R 66-28  | Republican hold
Ohio | R 60-39  | R 62-37  | Republican Hold
Oklahoma | D 53-48  | D 53-48  | Democratic hold
Oregon | R 32-27-1  | R 35-35  | Republican Hold
Pennsylvania | R 104-99  | R 110-93  | Republican Hold
Rhode Island | D 85-15  | D 63-11-1  | Democratic hold
South Carolina | R 71-53  | R 73-51  | Republican hold
South Dakota | R 50-20  | R 49-21  | Republican hold
Tennessee | D 58-41  | D 54-45  | Democratic hold
Texas | D 78-72  | R 88-62  | Republican Takeover
Utah | R 51-24  | R 56-19  | Republican hold
Vermont | R 83-62-4-1  | R 82-63-4-1  | Republican hold
Washington | D 50-48  | D 52-46  | Democratic hold
West Virginia | D 75-25  | D 68-32  | Democratic hold
Wisconsin | R 56-43  | R 58-41  | Republican Hold
Wyoming | R 46-14  | R 45-15  | Republican hold

## Territorial and federal district summaries[edit]

### Lower houses[edit]

Territory  | Previous LH  | Result  | Party control

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American Samoa | Non–partisan House of Representatives with 21 members

### Unicameral[edit]

Territory  | Previous  | Result  | Party control

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Guam | R 8-7  | D 9-6  | Democratic Takeover
Washington D.C. | D 11-2  | D 11-2  | Democratic Hold

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ The New Jersey Senate and Maine Senate were tied, and they were controlled by a power-sharing agreement between Democrats and Republicans.
2. ^ The Oregon Senate, North Carolina House of Representatives, and New Jersey Senate were tied, and they were controlled by a power-sharing agreement between Democrats and Republicans. Thus, they are not included in the final total.
3. ^ The Arizona Senate was controlled by a coalition of Democrats and Republicans. The minority caucus consists of Republicans who were not part of the majority coalition.
4. ^ a b c d e f g h The upper houses of Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Texas use a 2-4-4 term length system.
5. ^ a b c These figures represent the seats of Nebraska's unicameral legislature.

## References[edit]

1. ^ "State legislative elections, 2002". Ballotpedia.
2. ^ "Decker Switches to Democrats, Making House Even Split". WRAL.com. 2003-01-25. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
3. ^ Storey, Tim. The Book of the States 2005. The Council of State Governments. Retrieved 2010-01-01 "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2010-01-09. Retrieved 2010-01-01.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
4. ^ a b c "2020 Legislative Races by State and Legislative Chamber". National Conference of State Legislatures.

* v
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(2001 ←)  2002 United States elections (→ 2003)

U.S.
Senate|

* Alabama
* Alaska
* Arkansas
* Colorado
* Delaware
* District of Columbia (shadow)
* Georgia
* Idaho
* Illinois
* Iowa
* Kansas
* Kentucky
* Louisiana
* Maine
* Massachusetts
* Michigan
* Minnesota
* Mississippi
* Missouri (special)
* Montana
* Nebraska
* New Hampshire
* New Jersey
* New Mexico
* North Carolina
* Oklahoma
* Oregon
* Rhode Island
* South Carolina
* South Dakota
* Tennessee
* Texas
* Virginia
* West Virginia
* Wyoming

U.S.
House|

* Alabama
* Alaska
* Arizona
* Arkansas
* California
* Colorado
* Connecticut
* Delaware
* District of Columbia
* delegate
* shadow
* Florida
* Georgia
* Hawaii
* 2nd sp
* Idaho
* Illinois
* Indiana
* Iowa
* Kansas
* Kentucky
* Louisiana
* Maine
* Maryland
* Massachusetts
* Michigan
* Minnesota
* Mississippi
* Missouri
* Montana
* Nebraska
* Nevada
* New Hampshire
* New Jersey
* New Mexico
* New York
* North Carolina
* North Dakota
* Ohio
* Oklahoma
* 1st sp
* Oregon
* Pennsylvania
* Rhode Island
* South Carolina
* South Dakota
* Tennessee
* Texas
* Utah
* Vermont
* Virginia
* Washington
* West Virginia
* Wisconsin
* Wyoming

Governors|

* Alabama
* Alaska
* Arizona
* Arkansas
* California
* Lt. Gov
* Colorado
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* District of Columbia
* Florida
* Georgia
* Hawaii
* Idaho
* Illinois
* Iowa
* Kansas
* Maine
* Maryland
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* Michigan
* Minnesota
* Nebraska
* Nevada
* New Hampshire
* New Mexico
* New York
* Ohio
* Oklahoma
* Oregon
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* Lt. Gov
* Rhode Island
* South Carolina
* South Dakota
* Tennessee
* Texas
* Vermont
* Wisconsin
* Wyoming

State Attorneys General|

* California
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State
legislatures|

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* Assembly
* Senate
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* House
* Senate
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* House
* Senate
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* House
* Senate
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* House
* Senate
* Pennsylvania
* House
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* House

Mayors|

* Anaheim, CA
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* Irvine, CA
* Long Beach, CA
* New Orleans, LA
* Oakland, CA
* Providence, RI
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* Tulsa, OK
* Washington, DC

States
generally|

* Alabama
* Alaska
* Arizona
* Arkansas
* California
* Colorado
* Connecticut
* Delaware
* Florida
* Georgia
* Hawaii
* Idaho
* Illinois
* Indiana
* Iowa
* Kansas
* Kentucky
* Louisiana
* Maine
* Maryland
* Massachusetts
* Michigan
* Minnesota
* Mississippi
* Missouri
* Montana
* Nebraska
* Nevada
* New Hampshire
* New Jersey
* New Mexico
* New York
* North Carolina
* North Dakota
* Ohio
* Oklahoma
* Oregon
* Pennsylvania
* Rhode Island
* South Carolina
* South Dakota
* Tennessee
* Texas
* Utah
* Vermont
* Virginia
* Washington
* West Virginia
* Wisconsin
* Wyoming

* v
* t
* e

Legislatures of the United States

United States Congress|

* United States House of Representatives
* United States Senate

State 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)

Other legislatures|

* District of Columbia
* American Samoa (H, S)
* Guam
* Northern Mariana Islands (H, S)
* Puerto Rico (H, S)
* U.S. Virgin Islands

Legislative elections|

* 2000
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* 2013
* 2014
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* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

List of U.S. state legislators
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*[CA]: California
*[TX]: Texas
*[LA]: Louisiana
*[OK]: Oklahoma