2012 United States state legislative elections


The 2012 United States state legislative elections were held on November 6, 2012, for 86 state legislative chambers in 44 states. Across the fifty states, approximately 65 percent of all upper house seats and 85 percent of all lower house seats were up for election. Nine legislative chambers in the five permanently inhabited U.S. territories and the federal district of Washington, D.C. also held elections. The elections took place concurrently with several other federal, state, and local elections, including the presidential election, [2012 United States West Virginia Senate|Senate elections|U.S. Senate elections], [2012 United States Pennsylvania House of Representatives|House of Representatives elections|U.S. House elections], and gubernatorial elections.
13 chambers shifted party control, as Republicans had gained many chambers in the 2010 mid-term elections, and this was seen as a modest rebalancing.
Democrats won the Colorado House of Representatives, Maine Senate, Maine House of Representatives, Minnesota Senate, Minnesota House of Representatives, New Hampshire House of Representatives, and Oregon House of Representatives that was previously tied. Meanwhile, Republicans won the Wisconsin Senate, which was briefly under Democratic control after multiple recall elections earlier in the year, and both chambers of the Arkansas legislature for the first time since 1874. The Alaska Senate went from a Democratic-led coalition to Republican control. The Washington Senate went from Democratic control to a Republican-led coalition, and the New York State Senate went from Republican control to a Republican-led coalition.
Democrats won a trifecta in [|Minnesota] for the first time since 1991.

Summary table

Regularly scheduled elections were held in 86 of the 99 state legislative chambers in the United States. Nationwide, regularly scheduled elections were held for 6,015 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. 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.

Redistricting

The 2012 elections were the first held after redistricting following the 2010 census. All states holding elections in 2012 did so under new maps drawn in accordance with the new census results with the exception of [|Montana] and [|Pennsylvania]. Montana implements its new maps four years after the census as opposed to two, whereas Pennsylvania's Supreme Court rejected the legislative maps drawn by the state's politician redistricting commission, leaving the elections to be held under the lines passed in 2001. 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.

Electoral predictions

Analysts considered both the Democratic and Republican parties to be at approximately equal risk of losing state legislative chambers to the other, owing to the expectation that this would be the first election that was not a wave election since 2004. Although Republicans were expected to win states like Arkansas, which had been trending towards them in recent years, Democrats had the potential to roll back some of the gains Republicans had made in 2010 in more competitive states such as Colorado. Despite the potential for Democratic gains, they were still expected to remain far behind the Republicans in overall chamber control due to the major losses the party suffered in 2010 and 2011.
Ratings are designated as follows:
  • "Tossup": Competitive, no advantage
  • "Lean": Competitive, slight advantage
  • "Likely": Not competitive, but opposition could make significant gains
  • "Safe": Not competitive at all
StateChamberLast
election		Ballotpedia
Nov. 1, 2012		Governing
Oct. 24, 2012		Result
[|Alaska]SenateCoal. 15–5R 13–7
AlaskaHouse of RepresentativesR 24–16R 26–14
ArizonaSenateR 21–9R 17–13
ArizonaHouse of RepresentativesR 40–20R 36–24
ArkansasSenateD 20–15R 21–14
ArkansasHouse of RepresentativesD 55–45R 51–48–1
CaliforniaState SenateD 25–15D 29–11
CaliforniaState AssemblyD 52–28D 56–24
ColoradoSenateD 20–15D 20–15
ColoradoHouse of RepresentativesR 33–32D 37–28
ConnecticutState SenateD 23–13D 22–14
ConnecticutHouse of RepresentativesD 99–52D 98–53
DelawareSenateD 14–7D 13–8
DelawareHouse of RepresentativesD 26–15D 27–14
FloridaSenateR 28–12R 26–14
FloridaHouse of RepresentativesR 81–39R 76–44
GeorgiaState SenateR 35–21R 38–18
GeorgiaHouse of RepresentativesR 108–71–1R 119–60–1
HawaiiSenateD 24–1D 24–1
HawaiiHouse of RepresentativesD 43–8D 44–7
IdahoSenateR 28–7R 29–6
IdahoHouse of RepresentativesR 57–13R 57–13
IllinoisSenateD 35–24D 40–19
IllinoisHouse of RepresentativesD 64–54D 71–47
IndianaSenateR 37–13R 37–13
IndianaHouse of RepresentativesR 60–40R 69–31
IowaSenateD 26–24D 26–24
IowaHouse of RepresentativesR 60–40R 53–47
KansasSenateR 31–9R 32–8
KansasHouse of RepresentativesR 92–33R 92–33
KentuckySenateR 22–15–1R 23–14–1
KentuckyHouse of RepresentativesD 58–42D 55–45
MaineSenateR 20–14–1D 19–15–1
MaineHouse of RepresentativesR 77–73–1D 89–58–4
MassachusettsSenateD 36–4D 36–4
MassachusettsHouse of RepresentativesD 130–30D 131–29
MichiganHouse of RepresentativesR 63–47R 59–51
MinnesotaSenateR 37–30D 39–28
MinnesotaHouse of RepresentativesR 72–62D 73–61
MissouriSenateR 26–8R 24–10
MissouriHouse of RepresentativesR 106–57R 110–53
MontanaSenateR 28–22R 27–23
MontanaHouse of RepresentativesR 68–32R 61–39
NevadaSenateD 11–10D 11–10
NevadaAssemblyD 26–16D 27–15
New HampshireSenateR 19–5R 13–11
New HampshireHouse of RepresentativesR 298–102D 221–179
New MexicoSenateD 27–15D 25–17
New MexicoHouse of RepresentativesD 36–34D 38–32
New YorkState SenateR 32–30Coal. 36–27
New YorkState AssemblyD 99–50–1D 105–44–1
North CarolinaSenateR 31–19R 32–18
North CarolinaHouse of RepresentativesR 67–52–1R 77–43
North DakotaSenateR 35–12R 33–14
North DakotaHouse of RepresentativesR 69–25R 71–23
OhioSenateR 23–10R 23–10
OhioHouse of RepresentativesR 59–40R 60–39
OklahomaSenateR 32–16R 36–12
OklahomaHouse of RepresentativesR 70–31R 72–29
OregonState SenateD 16–14D 16–14
OregonHouse of Representatives30–30D 34–26
PennsylvaniaState SenateR 30–20R 27–23
PennsylvaniaHouse of RepresentativesR 112–91R 111–92
Rhode IslandSenateD 29–8–1D 32–5–1
Rhode IslandHouse of RepresentativesD 65–10D 69–6
South CarolinaSenateR 27–19R 28–18
South CarolinaHouse of RepresentativesR 76–48R 78–46
South DakotaSenateR 30–5R 28–7
South DakotaHouse of RepresentativesR 50–19–1R 53–17
TennesseeSenateR 20–13R 26–7
TennesseeHouse of RepresentativesR 64–34–1R 71–27–1
TexasSenateR 19–12R 19–12
TexasHouse of RepresentativesR 99–51R 95–55
UtahState SenateR 22–7R 24–5
UtahHouse of RepresentativesR 58–17R 61–14
VermontSenateD 21–8–1D 21–7–2
VermontHouse of RepresentativesD 94–48–5–3D 96–45–5–4
[|Washington]State SenateD 27–22Coal. 26–23
WashingtonHouse of RepresentativesD 56–42D 55–43
West VirginiaSenateD 28–6D 25–9
West VirginiaHouse of DelegatesD 65–35D 54–46
WisconsinSenateD 17–16R 18–15
WisconsinState AssemblyR 60–38–1R 60–39
WyomingSenateR 26–4R 26–4
WyomingHouse of RepresentativesR 50–10R 52–8

State summaries

Alaska

Most of the seats of the Alaska Senate and all of the seats of the Alaska House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans won control of the Senate from a Democratic-led coalition, while maintaining control of the Alaska House of Representatives.

Arizona

All of the seats of the Arizona Senate and the Arizona House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans maintained a government trifecta with control of the governorship and both state legislative chambers.

Arkansas

All of the seats of the Arkansas Senate and all of the seats of the Arkansas House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans won control of both chambers for the first time since Reconstruction, thereby ending a government trifecta. The Green Party won one seat in the House because a judge had ordered all votes for the candidate's opponent not be counted, due to a felony conviction for election fraud.

California

Half of the seats of the California State Senate and all of the seats of the California State Assembly were up for election in 2012. Democrats held control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Colorado

Half of the seats of the Colorado Senate and all of the seats of the Colorado House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Democrats held control of the state Senate and won control of the state House, establishing a trifecta.

Connecticut

All of the seats of the Connecticut State Senate and the Connecticut House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Democrats held control of both houses.

Delaware

All of the seats of the Delaware Senate and all of the seats of the Delaware House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Democrats held control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Florida

All of the seats of the Florida Senate and all of the seats of the Florida House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans held control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Georgia

All of the seats of the Georgia State Senate and the Georgia House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans held control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Hawaii

All of the seats of the Hawaii Senate and all of the seats of the Hawaii House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Democrats held control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Idaho

All of the seats of the Idaho Senate and the Idaho House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans held control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Illinois

All of the seats of the Illinois Senate and all of the seats of the Illinois House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Democrats held control of both chambers to maintain a trifecta.

Indiana

Half of the seats of the Indiana Senate and all of the seats of the Indiana House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans held control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Iowa

Half of the seats of the Iowa Senate and all of the seats of the Iowa House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans held control of the state House, and Democrats held control of the state Senate.

Kansas

All of the seats of the Kansas Senate and the Kansas House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans held control of both chambers and maintained a trifecta.

Kentucky

Half of the seats of the Kentucky Senate and all of the seats of the Kentucky House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans held control of the state Senate, and Democrats held control of the state House.

Maine

All of the seats of the Maine Senate and the Maine House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Democrats won control of both houses, ending a Republican trifecta.

Massachusetts

All of the seats of the Massachusetts Senate and the Massachusetts House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Democrats retained control of both chambers to maintain a trifecta.

Michigan

All of the seats of the Michigan House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. The Michigan Senate did not hold regularly scheduled elections in 2012. Republicans maintained control of the chamber.

Minnesota

All of the seats of the Minnesota Senate and the Minnesota House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Democrats won control of both chambers, thereby establishing a trifecta.

Missouri

Half of the seats of the Missouri Senate and all of the seats of the Missouri House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans held control of both chambers.

Montana

Half of the seats of the Montana Senate and all of the seats of the Montana House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans held control of both chambers.

Nebraska

Nebraska is the only U.S. state with a unicameral legislature; half of the seats of the Nebraska Legislature were up for election in 2012. Nebraska is also unique in that its legislature is officially non-partisan and holds non-partisan elections, although the Democratic and Republican parties each endorse legislative candidates.

Nevada

Half of the seats of the Nevada Senate and all of the seats of the Nevada Assembly were up for election in 2012. Democrats maintained control of both chambers.

New Hampshire

All of the seats of the New Hampshire Senate and the New Hampshire House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans maintained control of the state Senate, and Democrats won control of the state House.

New Mexico

All of the seats of the New Mexico Senate and the New Mexico House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Democrats held control of both chambers.

New York

All of the seats of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly were up for election in 2012. Democrats held control of the state House, and Republicans lost control of the state Senate and thus entered into a coalition government with the Independent Democratic Conference.

North Carolina

All of the seats of the North Carolina Senate and the North Carolina House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans retained control of both chambers.

North Dakota

Half of the seats of the North Dakota Senate and the North Dakota House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Ohio

Half of the seats of the Ohio Senate and all of the seats of the Ohio House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Oklahoma

Half of the seats of the Oklahoma Senate and all of the seats of the Oklahoma House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Oregon

Half of the seats of the Oregon State Senate and all of the seats of the Oregon House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Democrats retained control of the state Senate, and ended the tie in the state House, thus establishing a government trifecta.

Pennsylvania

Half of the seats of the Pennsylvania State Senate and all of the seats of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans retained control of both chambers and their government trifecta.

Rhode Island

All of the seats of the Rhode Island Senate and the Rhode Island House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Democrats retained control of both chambers.

South Carolina

All of the seats of the South Carolina Senate and the South Carolina House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

South Dakota

All of the seats of the South Dakota Senate and the South Dakota House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Tennessee

Half of the seats of the Tennessee Senate and all of the seats of the Tennessee House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Texas

All of the seats in the Texas Legislature were up for election in 2012. Republicans retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta, but they lost their supermajority in the House.

Utah

Half of the seats of the Utah State Senate and all of the seats of the Utah House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Vermont

All of the seats of the Vermont Senate and the Vermont House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Democrats retained control of both chambers.

Washington

Half of the seats of the Washington State Senate and all of the seats of the Washington House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Democrats retained control of the state House, while Republicans won control of the state Senate with the help of two Democrats who formed a coalition with them.

West Virginia

Half of the seats of the West Virginia Senate and all of the seats of the West Virginia House of Delegates were up for election in 2012. Democrats retained control of both chambers.

Wisconsin

Half of the seats of the Wisconsin Senate and all of the seats of the Wisconsin State Assembly were up for election in 2012. Republicans retained control of the state Assembly, and won control of the state Senate after having lost control through a series of recall elections earlier in the year, thereby recreating a Republican trifecta.

Wyoming

Half of the seats of the Wyoming Senate and all of the seats of the Wyoming House of Representatives were up for election in 2012. Republicans retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Territorial and federal district summaries

American Samoa

All of the seats of the American Samoa Senate and the American Samoa House of Representatives were up for election. Members of the Senate serve four-year terms, while 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. Republicans maintained control of the upper house, and Independents won control of the lower house.

Puerto Rico

All of the seats of the Senate of Puerto Rico and the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico are up for election. Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives both serve four-year terms. The New Progressive Party lost control of both chambers, to the Popular Democratic Party.

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. Council members serve four-year terms. Democrats retained supermajority control of the council.

Recall elections

Wisconsin

Voters put four state senators up for recall, all Republicans, because of the budget repair bill proposed by Governor Scott Walker and the circumstances surrounding it. Democrats targeted Republicans for voting to significantly limit public employee collective bargaining. The recall elections occurred on June 5, with May 8 being the date of the primary election. These recall elections followed the largest group of recall elections in U.S. history during the previous year, in which Republicans kept control of the Wisconsin Senate. In the June 5, 2012, recall elections, Democrats flipped one seat from Republicans and won a majority in the chamber.