Post-2024 Election Update

There are 7,386 total legislative seats in 50 states across 99 legislative houses. Nebraska is nonpartisan and unicameral. Given Nebraska’s status, it is not included in the totals below, which represent data from 49 states and 98 chambers.

In 2024, there were elections in 85 state legislative chambers in 44 states. In this cycle, voters decided on 5,807 of the 7,386 state legislative seats (79%). 

In 2024, the gains the Republicans made at the top of the ticket often translated into success down ballot. Bill Kramer, vice president and counsel of MultiState wrote that “Republicans appear to have translated their good night at the top of the ticket to state legislative races as well,” a comment made in a post-election analysis.

Democrats broke the GOP supermajority in the North Carolina and made clear gains in Wisconsin, following the State Supreme Court tossing out politically gerrymandered maps. But, the Democrats could not capitalize on their 2022 successes.

One of the bigger surprises was in Vermont where the Republicans cracked the Democrats super majority.

According to unofficial results from the secretary of state’s office, the Minnesota House appears headed for a split chamber with Republicans and Democrats both having 67 seats each. The last time that body was split was in 1979 and a power-sharing system was in place.

In the Pennsylvania House, the Democrats will hold a razor-thin, one-seat edge.

Both houses in Arizona are on the watch list. On November 9, a news outlet reported that “the balance of power in the Arizona State Legislature is coming down to the wire with five races yet to be called in the State Senate and 13 undecided winners in the State House. As of Saturday, Nov. 9, the Associated Press called 25 of the 30 State Senate seats with Republicans in the lead 14-11 over the Democrats…In the House of Representatives, the AP has called 45 of the 60 available seats with the Republicans in the lead 25-23.”

In the Maine House, Democrats may be looking at a two-seat majority, or the chance that some form of coalition control will come into play. In the Senate, the Democrats may also cling to a narrow majority.

Flip Alert:

• Michigan House: From D to R
• Minnesota House: From D to Tie

Pending:

• Arizona Senate – Too close to call
• Arizona House of Representatives – Too close to call
• Maine Senate – Too close to call
• Maine House of Representatives – Too close to call

Going in to 2024, Democrats controlled 41 legislative chambers, while the Republicans controlled 57 chambers. Democrats control 19 state legislatures, Republicans held 29, and one state, Minnesota, was split. State control (also known as the trifecta) had Democrats in control of 16 states, Republicans, 23, and 10 states were split.

There were 13 competitive chambers in the 2024 election cycle, eight controlled by Republicans and five controlled by Democrats.

In 2022, the Democrats flipped both chambers of the Michigan legislature. They also flipped the Minnesota Senate and the Pennsylvania House.

The most competitive Republican-held chambers were:

• Alaska Senate (11 R, 9 D)
• Alaska House of Representatives (22 R, 13 D, 5 other)
• Arizona Senate (16R, 14D)
• Arizona House of Representatives (31 R, 29 D)
• New Hampshire Senate (14 R, 10 D)
• New Hampshire House of Representatives (201 R, 194 D)
• Pennsylvania Senate (28 R, 22 D)
• Wisconsin Assembly (64 R, 35 D)

The most competitive Democratic-held chambers were:

• Maine House of Representatives (79 D, 67 R, 3V)
• Michigan House of Representatives (56 D, 54 R)
• Minnesota Senate (33 D, 33 R, 1V). Note the vacancy is in a DFL-dominated district.
• Minnesota House of Representatives (68 D, 64 R)
• Pennsylvania House of Representatives (102 D, 100 R)

PRE-ELECTION INFORATION

Current legislative partisan information:

• Total legislative seats: 7,386
  • Republican-held: 4,023 (54%)
  • Democratic-held: 3,257 (44%)
  • Other/vacant: 106 (1%)
• Legislative chambers: 98*
  • Republican-held: 58 (59%)
  • Democratic-held: 39 (40%)
  • Split: 1 (1%) (Minnesota)
• State legislatures: 49*
  • Republican-held: 29 (59%)
  • Democratic-held: 19 (39%)
  • Split: 1 (2%) (Minnesota)
• State control: 49 (legislature + governor)*
  • Republican-held: 23 (47%)
  • Democratic-held: 16 (33%)
  • Split: 10 (20%) (AZ, KS, KY, MN, NV, NC, PA, WI, VT, VA)

State legislative elections 2024*

• States with legislative elections = 45
• Chambers with legislative elections = 85
• Seats up in regularly scheduled elections = 5,807 (79%)

Trivia

• The last time Democrats had a majority of state legislative seats nationwide = pre-election 2010 (24 chambers flipped from D to R).
• Republicans’ high watermark = 66 chambers in 2016.
• New Hampshire is among the flippiest states in the Union, with changes in majorities in six of the last eight elections.

* Not including Nebraska.