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2022 United States state legislative elections
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The 2022 United States state legislative elections were held on November 8, 2022, for 88 state legislative chambers in 46 states.[1] Across the fifty states, approximately 56 percent of all upper house seats and 92 percent of all lower house seats were up for election. Additionally, six territorial chambers were up in four territories and the District of Columbia. These midterm elections coincided with other state and local elections, including gubernatorial elections in multiple states.
Prior to the elections, Democrats held 14 trifectas (control of the governor's office and legislative chambers), Republicans held 23 trifectas, and 13 states held a divided government. These were the first elections affected by the 2020 redistricting cycle, which reapportioned state legislatures based on data from the 2020 United States census.
Democrats made unexpected gains in state legislature across the country, flipping four chambers. This was the first midterm election since 1934 in which the party of the incumbent president did not lose any state legislative chambers to the opposition.[2]
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Summary table
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Regularly scheduled elections were held in 88 of the 99 state legislative chambers in the United States; nationwide, regularly scheduled elections were held for 6,064 of the 7,383 legislative seats. Most 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.[3] The chambers that were 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 election years.
Note that this table only covers regularly scheduled elections; additional special elections took place concurrently with these regularly scheduled elections.
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Redistricting
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Democratic control
Republican control
Split or bipartisan control
Independent redistricting commission
The 2022 elections were the first held after redistricting following the 2020 census. All states holding elections in 2022 did so under new maps drawn in accordance with the new census results with the exception of Montana, which implements its new maps four years after the census as opposed to two. In a majority of states, legislative redistricting is controlled by the state legislature, often subject to gubernatorial veto. This allows for widespread gerrymandering, in which the party in power draws legislative boundaries to favor itself. Many states delegate redistricting power to an independent or bipartisan redistricting commission, often with the goal of minimizing or eliminating partisan gerrymandering.[4]
New independent commissions
Four states established independent redistricting commissions via citizen-led ballot initiative prior to the 2020 redistricting cycle: Colorado, Michigan, Utah, and Virginia. The new commission in Michigan, especially, was significant due to its implementing of maps seen as fair, replacing maps seen as heavily gerrymandered to favor Republicans, which had been established as a part of Project REDMAP after the 2010 elections.[5] In Utah, Republican legislators voted in 2020 to strip the state's newly established commission of its power, returning control over redistricting to the Republican-led legislature.[6] In Virginia, the state's commission failed to agree on new legislative maps, leading the Supreme Court of Virginia to appoint a special master to draw its maps for use beginning in the 2023 elections.[7]
Litigation
In a number of states, lawsuits successfully challenged district maps drawn by state legislatures. In Ohio and North Carolina, the states' respective Supreme Courts rejected the legislature's maps as unconstitutional partisan gerrymanders. In North Carolina, a second set of maps was eventually approved by the courts, but in Ohio, the courts continually rejected the new maps until a federal court forced them to let one set stand due to the impending primary election.[8][9] In Minnesota and Wisconsin, redistricting fell to state courts after their legislatures and governors deadlocked.[10] Wisconsin's litigation briefly involved the U.S. Supreme Court over concerns on the application of the Voting Rights Act in the state court's prior decision.[11] The New York Court of Appeals overturned the state's new Senate map, drawn by the Democratic-controlled legislature, calling it an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander.[12] Maps for the State Assembly were not overturned. The new Senate maps drawn by a special master substantially changed the districts drawn in New York City, greatly increasing the number of competitive districts.[13]
Gerrymandering
In Michigan and Pennsylvania, new maps implemented by independent and bipartisan commissions were seen as much fairer compared to the states' previous maps.[5][14] In Wisconsin, however, the court's chosen map was seen as favoring Republicans.[11] All three states were severely affected by partisan gerrymandering during the 2010s due to Project REDMAP.[15] Democrats had not won control of any legislative chambers in those states since 2008 despite winning the statewide popular vote multiple times.[16][17][18] In Republican-led states such as Texas, Florida, and Georgia, Republican legislatures passed maps seen as gerrymandered and uncompetitive, while states such as Nevada did the same in favor of Democrats.[19]
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Election predictions
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Although the 2022 elections were initially expected to be highly Republican-favoring, given the increasing unpopularity of Democratic president Joe Biden, the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June dramatically shifted the national political environment. By the time of the elections, a similar number of Republican- and Democratic-controlled chambers were considered competitive, mostly in states won narrowly by Biden in the 2020 presidential election. Democrats' best chances for gains were seen in states such as Michigan, Arizona, and Pennsylvania, while Republicans' best chances were in Alaska,[a] Maine, Nevada, Colorado, and Oregon. Both chambers of the Minnesota Legislature, one controlled by each party, were seen as highly-competitive. Overall, fewer legislative chambers were seen as competitive compared to previous cycles.[20]
Most election predictors use:
- "Tossup": No advantage
- "Tilt": Advantage that is not quite as strong as "lean"
- "Lean": Slight advantage
- "Likely": Significant, but surmountable, advantage[f]
- "Safe" or "Solid": Near-certain chance of victory
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National results
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The Democrats flipped the Minnesota Senate, the Michigan Senate for the first time since 1984, and the Michigan House of Representatives from Republican control, and they also established a coalition government in the Alaska Senate. Meanwhile, the Alaska House of Representatives switched from a Democratic-led coalition to a Republican-led coalition. Further special elections on February 7, 2023, gave Democrats control of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.[24] Democrats had won control of the chamber in 2022, but vacancies prevented them from seating it until after the special elections.[25]
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Maps
- Partisan control of state governments following the 2022 elections:Democratic trifecta maintainedRepublican trifecta maintainedDemocratic trifecta establishedDivided government establishedDivided government maintainedOfficially non-partisan, unicameral legislature
- Upper house seats by party holding majority in each state
Republican 50–60%60–70%70–80%80–90%90–100%Democratic 50–60%60–70%70–80%80–90%90–100% - Lower house seats by party holding majority in each state
Republican 50–60%60–70%70–80%80–90%90–100%Democratic 50–60%60–70%70–80%80–90% - Net changes to upper house seats after the 2022 elections
+1 Rep seat +2 Rep seats +3–4 Rep seats +7 Rep seats
+1 Dem seat +2 Dem seats +3–4 Dem seats - Net changes to lower house seats after the 2022 elections
+1 Rep seat +2 Rep seats +3–5 Rep seats +6–10 Rep seats
+1 Dem seat +2 Dem seats +3–5 Dem seats +12 Dem seats
+2 Ind seats
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State summaries
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Alabama
All of the seats of the Alabama Legislature were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both chambers.
Alaska
Half of the seats of the Alaska Senate and all of the seats of the Alaska House of Representatives were up for election. The Alaska House of Representatives is controlled by a coalition of Democrats, Republicans, and independents.[26] The Alaska Senate flipped from Republican control to a coalition of Democrats and Republicans.
Arizona
All of the seats of the Arizona Legislature were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both chambers.
Arkansas
All of the seats of the Arkansas House of Representatives and half of the Arkansas Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both chambers.
California
All of the seats of the California House of Representatives and half of the California Senate were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both chambers.
Colorado
All of the seats of the Colorado House of Representatives and half of the Colorado Senate were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both chambers.
Connecticut
All of the seats of the Connecticut Legislature were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both chambers.
Delaware
All of the seats of the Delaware House of Representatives and half of the Delaware Senate were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both chambers.
Florida
All of the seats of the Florida House of Representatives and half of the Florida Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both chambers.
Georgia
All of the seats of the Georgia Legislature were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both chambers.
Hawaii
All of the seats of the Hawaii House of Representatives and half of the Hawaii Senate were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both chambers.
Idaho
All of the seats of the Idaho Legislature were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both chambers.
Illinois
All of the seats of the Illinois House of Representatives and 2/3rds of the Illinois Senate were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both chambers.
Indiana
All of the seats of the Indiana House of Representatives and half of the Indiana Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both chambers.
Iowa
All of the seats of the Iowa House of Representatives and half of the Iowa Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both chambers.
Kansas
All of the seats of the Kansas House of Representatives were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both chambers.
Kentucky
All of the seats of the Kentucky House of Representatives and half of the Kentucky Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both chambers.
Maine
All of the seats of the Maine Legislature were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both chambers.
Maryland
All of the seats of the Maryland Legislature were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both chambers.
Massachusetts
All of the seats of the Massachusetts General Court were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both chambers.
Michigan
All of the seats of the Michigan Legislature were up for election. Democrats won control of both chambers.
Minnesota
All of the seats of the Minnesota Legislature were up for election. Democrats maintained control of the Minnesota House of representatives and won control of the Minnesota Senate.
Missouri
All of the seats of the Missouri House of Representatives and half of the Missouri Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both chambers.
Montana
All of the seats of the Montana House of Representatives and half of the Montana Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both chambers.
Nebraska
All of the seats of the Nebraska Legislature were up for election. Republicans maintained control of the officially non-partisan chamber.
Nevada
All of the seats of the Nevada House of Representatives and half of the Nevada Senate were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both chambers.
New Hampshire
All of the seats of the New Hampshire General Court were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both chambers.
New Mexico
All of the seats of the New Mexico House of Representatives were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both chambers.
New York
All of the seats of the New York Legislature were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both chambers.
North Carolina
All of the seats of the North Carolina Legislature were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both chambers.
North Dakota
Half of both chambers of the North Dakota Legislature were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both chambers.
Ohio
All of the seats of the Ohio House of Representatives and half of the Ohio Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both chambers.
Oklahoma
All of the seats of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and half of the Oklahoma Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both chambers.
Oregon
All of the seats of the Oregon House of Representatives and half of the Oregon Senate were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both chambers.
Pennsylvania
All of the seats of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and half of the Pennsylvania Senate were up for election. Democrats won control of the House of Representatives, while Republicans maintained control of the Senate.
Rhode Island
All of the seats of the Rhode Island Legislature were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both chambers.
South Carolina
All of the seats of the California House of Representatives were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both chambers.
South Dakota
All of the seats of the South Dakota Legislature were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both chambers.
Tennessee
All of the seats of the Tennessee House of Representatives and half of the Tennessee Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both chambers.
Texas
All of the seats of the Texas Legislature were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both chambers.
Utah
All of the seats of the Utah House of Representatives and half of the Utah Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both chambers.
Vermont
All of the seats of the Vermont Legislature were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both chambers.
Washington
All of the seats of the Washington House of Representatives and half of the Washington Senate were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both chambers.
West Virginia
All of the seats of the West Virginia House of Delegates and half of the West Virginia Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both chambers.
Wisconsin
All of the seats of the Wisconsin Assembly and half of the Wisconsin Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both chambers.
Wyoming
All of the seats of the Wyoming House of Representatives and half of the Wyoming Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both chambers.
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Territorial and federal district summaries
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American Samoa
All of the seats of the American Samoa House of Representatives were up for election. Members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms. Gubernatorial and legislative elections are conducted on a nonpartisan basis in American Samoa.
Guam
All of the seats of the unicameral Legislature of Guam were up for election. All members of the legislature serve a two-year term. Democrats retained control of the legislature.
Northern Mariana Islands
A portion of the seats of the Northern Mariana Islands Senate, and all of the seats of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives, were up for election. Members of the senate serve either four-year terms, while members of the house serve two-year terms. A coalition of Independents and Democrats replaced the Republican-controlled Senate and Democratic-controlled House.
U.S. Virgin Islands
All of the seats of the unicameral Legislature of the Virgin Islands were up for election. All members of the legislature serve a two-year term. Democrats retained control of the legislature.
Washington, D.C.

The Council of the District of Columbia serves as the legislative branch of the federal district of Washington, D.C. Half of the council seats are up for election in 2022. Council members serve four-year terms. Democrats retained supermajority control of the council.
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Special elections
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Various states held special elections for legislative districts throughout the year.[30]
Alabama
Arkansas
California
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Massachusetts
Michigan
Mississippi
Montana
Nebraska
New Jersey
New York
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Texas
Virginia
Washington
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Notes
- The Alaska House of Representatives prior to the 2022 elections was controlled by a coalition of 15 Democrats, 2 Republicans, and 4 Independents.
- The Alaska House of Representatives following the 2022 elections is controlled by a coalition of 19 Republicans, 2 Democrats, and 2 Independents.
- The Alaska Senate prior to the 2022 elections was controlled by 13 Republicans and 1 Democrat who caucused with them. The Alaska Senate following the 2022 elections is controlled by a grand coalition of 9 Democrats and 8 Republicans.
- Sabato's Crystal Ball additionally uses the "Likely" characterization to indicate chambers where a shift in control is unlikely, but the minority party could make significant gains and/or break a legislative supermajority.
- Counts seats in the officially nonpartisan Nebraska legislature towards the party that endorsed each candidate
- Consists of two Republican representatives (Sara Rasmussen and David Eastman) who are not members of the Republican caucus.
- McKean died nine days before the general election. His successor as minority leader, Rod Pelton, did not assume the position until after the general election.
References
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