2014 United States state legislative elections


Elections to state legislatures were held in 46 U.S. states in 2014 with a total of 6,049 seats up for election. Six territorial chambers were up in four territories and the District of Columbia.
Prior to the general election, Republicans regained control of the Virginia Senate after winning a decisive August special election. They had lost control at the start of the year due to the election of Democratic lieutenant governor Ralph Northam.
In the general election, Republicans initially gained control of nine legislative chambers: both chambers of the Nevada Legislature, the Minnesota House of Representatives, the New Hampshire House of Representatives, the New Mexico House of Representatives for the first time since 1955, the West Virginia House of Delegates, the Colorado Senate, the Maine Senate, and the New York Senate, which was previously under a Republican-led coalition. This increased the total number of Republican-controlled state houses from 58 to 67. The day after the election, Republicans, who achieved a 17–17 tie in the West Virginia Senate, gained control of that chamber as well thanks to the defection of State Senator Daniel Hall, thus increasing their total gains to ten, for a final total of 68 state houses won. This allowed Republicans win control of either chamber of the West Virginia legislature for the first time since 1933.
The election left the Republicans in control of the highest amount of state legislatures in the party's history since 1928, and it also left the Democratic Party in control of the smallest number of state legislatures since 1860. This election marks the last time Democrats won control of a state legislative chamber in a deeply Republican state.

Summary table

Regularly scheduled elections were held in 87 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. 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.

Electoral predictions

Predictors considered Democrats to be vulnerable to significant losses in legislative control, owing to the six-year itch of the presidency of Democrat Barack Obama. Most of the legislative chambers considered competitive were held by Democrats.
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
StatePVIChamberLast
election		Governing
Oct. 20, 2014		Result
Alabamarowspan=2 SenateR 22–12–1R 26–8–1
AlabamaHouse of RepresentativesR 62–43R 72–33-
Alaskarowspan=2 SenateR 13–7R 14–6
AlaskaHouse of RepresentativesR 26–14R 23–16–1-
Arizonarowspan=2 SenateR 17–13R 17–13
ArizonaHouse of RepresentativesR 36–24R 38–22-
Arkansasrowspan=2 SenateR 21–14R 24–11
ArkansasHouse of RepresentativesR 51–48–1R 64–36-
Californiarowspan=2 State SenateD 29–11D 26–14
CaliforniaState AssemblyD 56–24D 52–28-
Coloradorowspan=2 SenateD 20–15R 18–17
ColoradoHouse of RepresentativesD 37–28D 34–31-
Connecticutrowspan=2 State SenateD 22–14D 21–15
ConnecticutHouse of RepresentativesD 98–53D 87–64-
Delawarerowspan=2 SenateD 13–8D 12–9
DelawareHouse of RepresentativesD 27–14D 25–16-
Floridarowspan=2 SenateR 26–14R 26–14
FloridaHouse of RepresentativesR 76–44R 81–39-
Georgiarowspan=2 State SenateR 38–18R 38–18
GeorgiaHouse of RepresentativesR 119–60–1R 119–60–1-
Hawaiirowspan=2 SenateD 24–1D 24–1
HawaiiHouse of RepresentativesD 44–7D 43–8-
Idahorowspan=2 SenateR 29–6R 28–7
IdahoHouse of RepresentativesR 57–13R 56–14-
Illinoisrowspan=2 SenateD 40–19D 39–20
IllinoisHouse of RepresentativesD 71–47D 71–47-
Indianarowspan=2 SenateR 37–13R 40–10
IndianaHouse of RepresentativesR 69–31R 71–29-
Iowarowspan=2 SenateD 26–24D 26–24
IowaHouse of RepresentativesR 53–47R 57–43-
KansasHouse of RepresentativesR 92–33R 97–28
Kentuckyrowspan=2 SenateR 23–14–1R 26–12
KentuckyHouse of RepresentativesD 55–45D 54–46-
Mainerowspan=2 SenateD 19–15–1R 20–15
MaineHouse of RepresentativesD 89–58–4D 78–68–5-
Marylandrowspan=2 SenateD 35–12D 33–14
MarylandHouse of RepresentativesD 98–43D 91–50-
Massachusettsrowspan=2 SenateD 36–4D 34–6
MassachusettsHouse of RepresentativesD 131–29D 125–35-
Michiganrowspan=2 SenateR 26–12R 27–11
MichiganHouse of RepresentativesR 59–51R 63–47-
MinnesotaHouse of RepresentativesD 73–61R 72–62
Missourirowspan=2 SenateR 24–10R 25–9
MissouriHouse of RepresentativesR 110–53R 117–45–1-
Montanarowspan=2 SenateR 27–23R 29–21
MontanaHouse of RepresentativesR 61–39R 59–41-
Nevadarowspan=2 SenateD 11–10R 11–10
NevadaAssemblyD 27–15R 27–15-
New Hampshirerowspan=2 SenateR 13–11R 14–10
New HampshireHouse of RepresentativesD 221–179R 239–160–1-
New MexicoHouse of RepresentativesD 38–32R 37–33
New Yorkrowspan=2 State SenateCoal. 36–27R 32–31
New YorkState AssemblyD 105–44–1D 105–43–1–1-
North Carolinarowspan=2 SenateR 32–18R 34–16
North CarolinaHouse of RepresentativesR 77–43R 74–46-
North Dakotarowspan=2 SenateR 33–14R 32–15
North DakotaHouse of RepresentativesR 71–23R 71–23-
Ohiorowspan=2 SenateR 23–10R 23–10
OhioHouse of RepresentativesR 60–39R 65–34-
Oklahomarowspan=2 SenateR 36–12R 40–8
OklahomaHouse of RepresentativesR 72–29R 72–29-
Oregonrowspan=2 State SenateD 16–14D 18–12
OregonHouse of RepresentativesD 34–26D 34–26-
Pennsylvaniarowspan=2 State SenateR 27–23R 30–20
PennsylvaniaHouse of RepresentativesR 111–92R 119–84-
Rhode Islandrowspan=2 SenateD 32–5–1D 32–5–1
Rhode IslandHouse of RepresentativesD 69–6D 63–12-
South CarolinaHouse of RepresentativesR 78–46R 78–46
South Dakotarowspan=2 SenateR 28–7R 27–8
South DakotaHouse of RepresentativesR 53–17R 58–12-
Tennesseerowspan=2 SenateR 26–7R 28–5
TennesseeHouse of RepresentativesR 71–27–1R 73–26-
Texasrowspan=2 SenateR 19–12R 20–11
TexasHouse of RepresentativesR 95–55R 98–52-
Utahrowspan=2 State SenateR 24–5R 24–5
UtahHouse of RepresentativesR 61–14R 63–12-
Vermontrowspan=2 SenateD 21–7–2D 19–9–2
VermontHouse of RepresentativesD 96–45–5–4D 85–53–6–6-
[|Washington]rowspan=2 State SenateCoal. 26–23Coal. 26–23
WashingtonHouse of RepresentativesD 55–43D 50–48-
[|West Virginia]rowspan=2 SenateD 25–9R 18–16
West VirginiaHouse of DelegatesD 54–46R 64–36-
Wisconsinrowspan=2 SenateR 18–15R 19–14
WisconsinState AssemblyR 60–39R 63–36-
Wyomingrowspan=2 SenateR 26–4R 26–4
WyomingHouse of RepresentativesR 52–8R 51–9-

State Summaries

Alabama

All of the seats of the Alabama Legislature were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.

Alaska

All of the seats of the Alaska House of Representatives and half of the Alaska Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.

Arizona

All of the seats of the Arizona Legislature were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative 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 state legislative 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 state legislative chambers.

Colorado

All of the seats of the Colorado House of Representatives and half of the Colorado Senate were up for election. Republicans won control of the Senate and Democrats maintained control of the House of Representatives.

Connecticut

All of the seats of the Connecticut Legislature were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both state legislative 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 state legislative 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 state legislative chambers.

Georgia

All of the seats of the Georgia Legislature were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative 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 state legislative chambers.

Idaho

All of the seats of the Idaho Legislature were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.

Illinois

All of the seats of the Illinois House of Representatives and one third of the Illinois Senate were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both state legislative 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 state legislative 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 the House of Representatives and Democrats maintained control of the Senate.

Kansas

All of the seats of the Kansas House of Representatives. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative 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 the Senate and Democrats maintained control of the House of Representatives.

Maine

All of the seats of the Maine Legislature were up for election. Republicans won control of the Senate and Democrats maintained control of the House of Representatives.

Maryland

All of the seats of the Maryland Legislature were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both state legislative chambers.

Massachusetts

All of the seats of the Massachusetts Legislature were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both state legislative chambers.

Michigan

All of the seats of the Michigan Legislature were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.

Minnesota

All of the seats of the Minnesota House of Representatives were up for election. Republicans won control of the House of Representatives.

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 state legislative 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 state legislative 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 2014. 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. Republicans maintained control.

Nevada

All of the seats of the Nevada House of Representatives and half of the Nevada Senate were up for election. Republicans won control of both state legislative chambers.

New Hampshire

All of the seats of the New Hampshire House of Representatives and half of the New Hampshire Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of the Senate and won control of the House of Representatives.

New Mexico

All of the seats of the New Mexico House of Representatives. Republicans won control of the chamber.

New York

All of the seats of the New York Legislature were up for election. Republicans replaced a Republican-led coalition in the Senate, and Democrats maintained control of the Assembly.

North Carolina

All of the seats of the North Carolina House of Representatives and half of the North Carolina Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.

North Dakota

All of the seats of the North Dakota House of Representatives and half of the North Dakota Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative 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 state legislative 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 state legislative 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 state legislative chambers.

Pennsylvania

All of the seats of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and half of the Pennsylvania Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.

Rhode Island

All of the seats of the Rhode Island Legislature were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both state legislative chambers.

South Carolina

All of the seats of the South Carolina House of Representatives were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative chambers.

South Dakota

All of the seats of the South Dakota Legislature were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative 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 state legislative chambers.

Texas

All of the seats of the Texas House of Representatives and half of the Texas Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative 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 state legislative chambers.

Vermont

All of the seats of the Vermont Legislature were up for election. Democrats maintained control of both state legislative chambers.

Washington

All of the seats of the Washington House of Representatives and half of the Washington Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained coalition control of the Senate and Democrats maintained control of the House of Representatives.

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 initially won control of the House of Delegates and tied the Senate, but the defection of Democratic senator Daniel Hall the day after the election gave Republicans control of the chamber.

Wisconsin

All of the seats of the Wisconsin Assembly and half of the Wisconsin Senate were up for election. Republicans maintained control of both state legislative 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 state legislative chambers.

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.

Special elections

Virginia

Although Democrats briefly gained control of the Virginia Senate due to the election of Democratic lieutenant governor Ralph Northam, Republicans gained control back in an August special election.