2016 United States state legislative elections


The 2016 United States state legislative elections were held on November 8, 2016, 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, [2016 United States West Virginia Senate|Senate elections|U.S. Senate elections], [2016 United States Pennsylvania House of Representatives|House of Representatives elections|U.S. House elections], and gubernatorial elections.
Democrats won both chambers in the Nevada Legislature and the New Mexico House of Representatives, while Republicans won the Kentucky House of Representatives for the first time since 1922, the Iowa Senate, and the Minnesota Senate. The Alaska House of Representatives flipped from Republican control to a Democrat-led coalition majority, and the Connecticut State Senate went from Democratic control to tied control. Meanwhile, the New York Senate went from Republican to a Republican-led coalition.
Republicans won a trifecta in [|Kentucky] for the first time ever.

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 5,876 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.

Electoral predictions

News sources predicted Democrats to make mild gains in state legislative control, owing to the historic lows they hit after the 2014 elections and higher predicted turnout among Democratic voters during the concurrent presidential election.
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. 12, 2016		Result
[|Alaska]rowspan=2 SenateR 14–6R 14–6
AlaskaHouse of RepresentativesR 23–16–1Coal. 22–18-
Arizonarowspan=2 SenateR 17–13R 17–13
ArizonaHouse of RepresentativesR 36–24R 35–25-
Arkansasrowspan=2 SenateR 24–11R 26–9
ArkansasHouse of RepresentativesR 64–36R 73–27-
Californiarowspan=2 State SenateD 26–14D 27–13
CaliforniaState AssemblyD 52–28D 55–25-
Coloradorowspan=2 SenateR 18–17R 18–17
ColoradoHouse of RepresentativesD 34–31D 37–28-
Connecticutrowspan=2 State SenateD 21–1518–18
ConnecticutHouse of RepresentativesD 87–64D 80–71-
Delawarerowspan=2 SenateD 12–9D 11–10
DelawareHouse of RepresentativesD 25–16D 25–16-
Floridarowspan=2 SenateR 26–14R 25–15
FloridaHouse of RepresentativesR 81–39R 79–41-
Georgiarowspan=2 State SenateR 38–18R 38–18
GeorgiaHouse of RepresentativesR 119–60–1R 118–62-
Hawaiirowspan=2 SenateD 24–1D 25–0
HawaiiHouse of RepresentativesD 43–8D 45–6-
Idahorowspan=2 SenateR 28–7R 29–6
IdahoHouse of RepresentativesR 56–14R 59–11-
Illinoisrowspan=2 SenateD 39–20D 37–22
IllinoisHouse of RepresentativesD 71–47D 67–51-
Indianarowspan=2 SenateR 40–10R 41–9
IndianaHouse of RepresentativesR 71–29R 70–30-
Iowarowspan=2 SenateD 26–24R 29–20–1
IowaHouse of RepresentativesR 57–43R 59–41-
Kansasrowspan=2 SenateR 32–8R 31–9
KansasHouse of RepresentativesR 97–28R 85–40-
Kentuckyrowspan=2 SenateR 26–12R 27–11
KentuckyHouse of RepresentativesD 54–46R 64–36-
Mainerowspan=2 SenateR 20–15R 18–17
MaineHouse of RepresentativesD 78–68–5D 77–72–2-
Massachusettsrowspan=2 SenateD 34–6D 34–6
MassachusettsHouse of RepresentativesD 125–35D 125–35-
MichiganHouse of RepresentativesR 63–47R 63–47
Minnesotarowspan=2 SenateD 39–28R 34–33
MinnesotaHouse of RepresentativesR 72–62R 77–57-
Missourirowspan=2 SenateR 25–9R 25–9
MissouriHouse of RepresentativesR 117–45–1R 117–46-
Montanarowspan=2 SenateR 29–21R 32–18
MontanaHouse of RepresentativesR 59–41R 59–41-
Nevadarowspan=2 SenateR 11–10D 11–10
NevadaAssemblyR 27–15D 27–15-
New Hampshirerowspan=2 SenateR 14–10R 14–10
New HampshireHouse of RepresentativesR 239–160–1R 227–173-
New Mexicorowspan=2 SenateD 24–18D 26–16
New MexicoHouse of RepresentativesR 37–33D 38–32-
New Yorkrowspan=2 State SenateR 32–31Coal. 39–24
New YorkState AssemblyD 105–43–1–1D 106–43–1-
North Carolinarowspan=2 SenateR 34–16R 35–15
North CarolinaHouse of RepresentativesR 74–46R 74–46-
North Dakotarowspan=2 SenateR 32–15R 38–9
North DakotaHouse of RepresentativesR 71–23R 81–13-
Ohiorowspan=2 SenateR 23–10R 24–9
OhioHouse of RepresentativesR 65–34R 66–33-
Oklahomarowspan=2 SenateR 40–8R 42–6
OklahomaHouse of RepresentativesR 72–29R 75–26-
Oregonrowspan=2 State SenateD 18–12D 17–13
OregonHouse of RepresentativesD 34–26D 35–25-
Pennsylvaniarowspan=2 State SenateR 30–20R 34–16
PennsylvaniaHouse of RepresentativesR 119–84R 121–82-
Rhode Islandrowspan=2 SenateD 32–5–1D 33–5
Rhode IslandHouse of RepresentativesD 63–12D 64–10–1-
South Carolinarowspan=2 SenateR 28–18R 28–18
South CarolinaHouse of RepresentativesR 78–46R 80–44-
South Dakotarowspan=2 SenateR 27–8R 29–6
South DakotaHouse of RepresentativesR 58–12R 60–10-
Tennesseerowspan=2 SenateR 28–5R 28–5
TennesseeHouse of RepresentativesR 73–26R 74–25-
Texasrowspan=2 SenateR 20–11R 20–11
TexasHouse of RepresentativesR 98–52R 95–55-
Utahrowspan=2 State SenateR 24–5R 24–5
UtahHouse of RepresentativesR 63–12R 62–13-
Vermontrowspan=2 SenateD 19–9–2D 21–7–2
VermontHouse of RepresentativesD 85–53–6–6D 85–53–7–7-
[|Washington]rowspan=2 State SenateCoal. 26–23Coal. 25–24
WashingtonHouse of RepresentativesD 50–48D 50–48-
West Virginiarowspan=2 SenateR 18–16R 22–12
West VirginiaHouse of DelegatesR 64–36R 63–37-
Wisconsinrowspan=2 SenateR 19–14R 20–13
WisconsinState AssemblyR 63–36R 64–35-
Wyomingrowspan=2 SenateR 26–4R 27–3
WyomingHouse of RepresentativesR 51–9R 51–9-

State summaries

Alaska

Half of the seats of the Alaska Senate and all of the seats of the Alaska House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. The Alaska legislature was controlled by Republicans. Republicans maintained control of the Senate, while the Alaska House of Representatives flipped to a Democratic-led coalition of Democrats, Republicans, and independents.

Arizona

All of the seats of the Arizona Senate and the Arizona House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Republicans maintained a government trifecta with control of the governorship and both state legislative chambers.

Arkansas

Half of the seats of the Arkansas Senate and all of the seats of the Arkansas House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Republicans held control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

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 2016. 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 2016. Democrats held control of the state House and Republicans maintained control of the state Senate.

Connecticut

All of the seats of the Connecticut State Senate and the Connecticut House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Democrats held control of the state House, while the state Senate went from Democratic to evenly split.

Delaware

Half of the seats of the Delaware Senate and all of the seats of the Delaware House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Democrats held control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Florida

Half of the seats of the Florida Senate and all of the seats of the Florida House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. 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 2016. Republicans held control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Hawaii

Half of the seats of the Hawaii Senate and all of the seats of the Hawaii House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. 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 2016. Republicans held control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Illinois

One-third of the seats of the Illinois Senate and all of the seats of the Illinois House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Democrats held control of both chambers.

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 2016. 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 2016. Republicans held control of the state House, and won the state Senate thereby establishing a government trifecta.

Kansas

All of the seats of the Kansas Senate and the Kansas House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Republicans held control of both chambers.

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 2016. Republicans held control of the state Senate, and won control of the state House for the first time since 1922, thus establishing a Republican trifecta.

Maine

All of the seats of the Maine Senate and the Maine House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Democrats held control of the state House, and Republicans maintained control of the state Senate.

Massachusetts

All of the seats of the Massachusetts Senate and the Massachusetts House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Democrats retained control of both chambers.

Michigan

All of the seats of the Michigan House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. The Michigan Senate did not hold regularly scheduled elections in 2016. 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 2016. Republicans won control of the State Senate, while maintaining control of the state House.

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 2016. 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 2016. 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 2016. 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 2016. Democrats won control of both chambers, ending a government trifecta.

New Hampshire

All of the seats of the New Hampshire Senate and the New Hampshire House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Republicans maintained control of both chambers.

New Mexico

All of the seats of the New Mexico Senate and the New Mexico House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Democrats held control of the state Senate, and won the state House.

New York

All of the seats of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly were up for election in 2016. Democrats held control of the state House, and Republicans lost outright control of the state Senate, requiring the Independent Democratic Conference to continue to caucus with them.

North Carolina

All of the seats of the North Carolina Senate and the North Carolina House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. 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 2016. 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 2016. 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 2016. 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 2016. Democrats retained control of both chambers, maintaining 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 2016. Republicans retained control of both chambers.

Rhode Island

All of the seats of the Rhode Island Senate and the Rhode Island House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Democrats retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

South Carolina

All of the seats of the South Carolina Senate and the South Carolina House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. 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 2016. 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 2016. Republicans retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

Texas

Half of the seats of the Texas Senate and all of the seats of the Texas House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Republicans retained control of both chambers, maintaining a government trifecta.

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 2016. 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 2016. 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 2016. Democrats retained control of the state House, while Republicans maintained coalition control of the state Senate.

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 2016. Republicans 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 2016. Republicans retained control of both chambers.

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 2016. 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 won control of the lower house from Independents.

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 won control of both chambers, from 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.