2010 United States state legislative elections

The 2010 United States state legislative elections were held on November 2, 2010, halfway through President Barack Obama's first term in office. Elections were held for 88 legislative chambers, with all states but Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia holding elections in at least one house. Kansas and New Mexico held elections for their lower, but not upper houses. Four territorial chambers in three territories and the District of Columbia were up as well.

For related races, see 2010 United States elections.
2010 United States state legislative elections
November 2, 2010
88 legislative chambers in 46 states
  Majority party Minority party Third party
 
Party Republican Democratic Coalition
Chambers before 37 61 1[lower-alpha 1]
Chambers after 57 40 1[lower-alpha 1]
Overall change Increase 20 Decrease 21[lower-alpha 2] Steady
Map of upper house elections:
     Democrats retained control
     Republicans gained control      Republicans retained control
     Coalition retained control
     Non-partisan legislature
     No regularly-scheduled elections
Map of lower house elections:
     Democrats retained control
     Republicans gained control      Republicans retained control
     Split body formed
     Non-partisan legislature
     No regularly-scheduled elections

Republicans scored record gains, gaining at least 680 total seats and taking control of 20 legislative chambers through election, while the Democrats lost 21 chambers.[1][2] The winners of this election cycle were slated to serve in their respective legislatures for either two or four-year terms, depending on state election rules.

Republicans made substantial gains in state legislatures across the nation. Twenty chambers flipped from Democratic to Republican control, giving Republicans full control of eleven state legislatures and control of one chamber in Colorado, Iowa, and New York.1[3] Additionally, Republicans gained enough seats in the Oregon House of Representatives to produce a 30-30 party split, pushing Democrats into a power-sharing agreement that resulted in the election of two "co-speakers" (one from each party) to lead the chamber.[4] Republicans gained a total of 680 seats in state legislative races, breaking the previous record of 628 flipped seats set by Democrats in the post-Watergate elections of 1974.[5]

Six states saw both chambers switch from Democrat to Republican majorities: Alabama (where the Republicans won a majority for the first time since 1874), Maine (for the first time since 1964), Minnesota (for the first time since 1915 in partisan elections and 1973 in non-partisan elections), New Hampshire, North Carolina (for the first time since 1896), and Wisconsin. In addition, by picking up the lower chambers in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Montana[lower-alpha 3] and Pennsylvania, Republicans gained control of both chambers in an additional five states. Further, Republicans picked up one chamber from Democrats in Colorado, Iowa, and New York to split control in those states. They expanded majorities in both chambers in Texas, Florida, and Georgia. The massive Republican victories in legislative races would be widely expected to significantly impact the redrawing of congressional districts for the 2012 election cycle.

Summary table

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.[6] 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.

State Upper House[6] Lower House[6]
Seats up Total  % up Term Seats up Total  % up Term
Alabama 35 35 100 4 105 105 100 4
Alaska 10 20 50 4 40 40 100 2
Arizona 30 30 100 2 60 60 100 2
Arkansas 18 35 51 2/4[lower-alpha 4] 100 100 100 2
California 20 40 50 4 80 80 100 2
Colorado 17 35 49 4 65 65 100 2
Connecticut 36 36 100 2 151 151 100 2
Delaware 10 21 48 2/4[lower-alpha 4] 41 41 100 2
Florida 20 40 50 2/4[lower-alpha 4] 120 120 100 2
Georgia 56 56 100 2 180 180 100 2
Hawaii 12 25 48 2/4[lower-alpha 4] 51 51 100 2
Idaho 35 35 100 2 70 70 100 2
Illinois 39 59 66 2/4[lower-alpha 4] 118 118 100 2
Indiana 25 50 50 4 100 100 100 2
Iowa 25 50 50 4 100 100 100 2
Kansas 0 40 0 4 125 125 100 2
Kentucky 19 38 50 4 100 100 100 2
Louisiana 0 39 0 4 0 105 0 4
Maine 35 35 100 2 151 151 100 2
Maryland 47 47 100 4 141 141 100 4
Massachusetts 40 40 100 2 160 160 100 2
Michigan 38 38 100 4 110 110 100 2
Minnesota 0 67 0 2/4[lower-alpha 4] 134 134 100 2
Mississippi 0 52 0 4 0 122 0 4
Missouri 17 34 50 4 163 163 100 2
Montana 25 50 50 4 100 100 100 2
Nebraska 24[lower-alpha 5] 49[lower-alpha 5] 49[lower-alpha 5] 4 N/A (unicameral)
Nevada 11 21 52 4 42 42 100 2
New Hampshire 24 24 100 2 400 400 100 2
New Jersey 0 40 0 2/4[lower-alpha 4] 0 80 0 2
New Mexico 0 42 100 4 70 70 100 2
New York 63 63 100 2 150 150 100 2
North Carolina 50 50 100 2 120 120 100 2
North Dakota 24 47 51 4 47 94 50 4
Ohio 16 33 52 4 99 99 100 2
Oklahoma 24 48 50 4 101 101 100 2
Oregon 15 30 50 4 60 60 100 2
Pennsylvania 25 50 50 4 203 203 100 2
Rhode Island 38 38 100 2 75 75 100 2
South Carolina 0 46 0 4 124 124 100 2
South Dakota 35 35 100 2 70 70 100 2
Tennessee 17 33 52 4 99 99 100 2
Texas 15 31 48 2/4[lower-alpha 4] 150 150 100 2
Utah 14 29 48 4 75 75 100 2
Vermont 30 30 100 2 150 150 100 2
Virginia 0 40 0 4 0 100 0 2
Washington 25 49 49 4 98 98 100 2
West Virginia 17 34 50 4 100 100 100 2
Wisconsin 17 33 52 4 99 99 100 2
Wyoming 15 30 50 4 60 60 100 2
Total 1106 1972 56 N/A 4958 5411 92 N/A

Results

Upper houses
State Previous UH Result Party control
Alabama D 20-15 R 22–12, 1 Ind Republican takeover
Alaska Coal. 16-4 10-10 Coalition Hold
Arizona R 18-12 R 21-9 Republican hold
Arkansas D 27-8 D 20-15 Democratic hold
California D 26–14, 2 Vac. D 26–14, 2 Vac. Democratic hold
Colorado D 21-14 D 19-16 Democratic hold
Connecticut D 24-12 D 23-13 Democratic hold
Delaware D 15-6 D 14-7 Democratic hold
Florida R 26–13, 1 Vac. R 28-12 Republican hold
Georgia R 34-22 R 35-21 Republican hold
Hawaii D 23-2 D 24-1 Democratic hold
Idaho R 28-7 R 28-7 Republican hold
Illinois D 37-22 D 34-25 Democratic hold
Indiana R 33-17 R 36-14 Republican hold
Iowa D 32-18 D 27-23 Democratic hold
Kentucky R 20–17, 1 Vac. R 22–15, 1 Vac. Republican hold
Maine D 20-15 R 20–14, 1 Ind. Republican takeover
Maryland D 33-14 D 35-12 Democratic hold
Massachusetts D 35-5 D 36-4 Democratic hold
Michigan R 22-16 R 26-12 Republican hold
Minnesota D 46-21 R 37-30 Republican takeover
Missouri R 23-11 R 22-12 Republican hold
Montana R 27–22, 1 Vac. R 28-22 Republican hold
Nebraska Unicameral and non–partisan Senate with 49 members
Nevada D 12–7, 2 Vac. D 11-10 Democratic hold
New Hampshire D 14-10 R 19-5 Republican takeover
New York D 32–29, 1 Vac. R 32-30 Republican takeover
North Carolina D 30-20 R 30-20 Republican takeover
North Dakota R 26-21 R 35-12 Republican hold
Ohio R 21-12 R 23-10 Republican hold
Oklahoma R 26-22 R 32-16 Republican hold
Oregon D 18-12 D 16-14 Democratic hold
Pennsylvania R 30-20 R 30-20 Republican hold
Rhode Island D 33–4, 1 Ind. D 29–8, 1 Ind. Democratic hold
South Dakota R 21-14 R 30-5 Republican hold
Tennessee R 19-14 R 20-13 Republican hold
Texas R 19-12 R 19-12 Republican hold
Utah R 21-8 R 22-7 Republican hold
Vermont D 22–7, 1 P D 21–8, 1 P Democratic hold
Washington D 31-18 D 27-22 Democratic hold
West Virginia D 26-8 D 27-7 Democratic hold
Wisconsin D 18-15 R 19-14 Republican takeover
Wyoming R 23-7 R 26-4 Republican hold

Lower houses
State Previous LH Result Party control
Alabama D 60-45 R 62-43 Republican takeover
Alaska R 22-18 R 23-17 Republican hold
Arizona R 36-24 R 40-20 Republican hold
Arkansas D 72-28 D 54-46 Democratic hold
California D 50–29, 1 Ind D 51-29 Democratic hold
Colorado D 37–27, 1 Ind R 33-32 Republican takeover
Connecticut D 114-37 D 97-54 Democratic hold
Delaware D 24-17 D 26-15 Democratic hold
Florida R 76-44 R 81-39 Republican hold
Georgia R 103–73, 1 Ind. R 111–68, 1 Ind. Republican hold
Hawaii D 45-6 D 43-8 Democratic hold
Idaho R 52-18 R 57-13 Republican hold
Illinois D 70-48 D 64-54 Democratic hold
Indiana D 52-48 R 60-40 Republican takeover
Iowa D 56-44 R 58-42 Republican takeover
Kansas R 77-48 R 92-33 Republican hold
Kentucky D 65-35 D 58-42 Democratic hold
Maine D 94–55, 1 Ind. R 77–72, 1 Ind. Republican takeover
Maryland D 104-37 D 98-43 Democratic hold
Massachusetts D 142–15, 2 Vac. D 130-30 Democratic hold
Michigan D 65–42, 2 Vac. R 63-47 Republican takeover
Minnesota D 87-47 R 72-62 Republican takeover
Missouri R 88–74, 1 Vac. R 105-58 Republican hold
Montana D 50-50 [lower-alpha 6] R 67-33 Republican takeover
Nebraska Unicameral and non–partisan Senate with 49 members
Nevada D 28-14 D 26-16 Democratic hold
New Hampshire D 216–174, 10 Vac. R 298-102 Republican takeover
New Mexico D 45-25 D 36-34 Democratic hold
New York D 105–42, 2 I, 1 Vac D 99–50, 1, I Vac. Democratic hold
North Carolina D 68-52 R 67–52, 1 Ind. Republican takeover
North Dakota R 58-36 R 69-25 Republican hold
Ohio D 53-46 R 58-41 Republican takeover
Oklahoma R 62-39 R 69-32 Republican hold
Oregon D 36-24 30-30 Split
Pennsylvania D 104–92, 1 Vac. R 112-91 Republican takeover
Rhode Island D 69-6 D 66-9 Democratic hold
South Carolina R 73-51 R 75–48, 1 Vac. Republican hold
South Dakota R 46-24 R 50–19, 1 Ind. Republican hold
Tennessee R 51-48 R 68-31 Republican hold
Texas R 76–73, 1 Vac. R 98–51, 1 Vac. Republican hold
Utah R 53-22 R 59-16 Republican hold
Vermont D 94–48, 5 P, 3 Ind. D 93–48, 5 P, 3 Ind. Democratic hold
Washington D 61-37 D 55-43 Democratic hold
West Virginia D 71-29 D 65-35 Democratic hold
Wisconsin D 50–45, 2 Ind., 2 Vac. R 60–38, 1 Ind. Republican takeover
Wyoming R 41-19 R 51-9 Republican hold

Results

Lower houses
Territory Previous LH Result Party control
American Samoa Non–partisan House of Representatives with 21 members

Unicameral
Territory Previous Result Party control
Guam D 9-6 D 9-6 Democratic Hold
US Virgin Islands D 10-5 D 10-5 Democratic Hold
Washington D.C. D 11-2 D 11-2 Democratic Hold

Total
State government trifectas after the 2010 gubernatorial and state legislative elections
     Democrats gained control
     Democrats retained control
     Split government formed
     Split government maintained
     Republicans retained control
     Republicans gained control
Summary of the November 2010 state legislature election results
Political Party
 Previous total
 New total
 Net change
 % of Seats
Republican 3,2823,890+68052.7%
Democratic 4,0223,342-68045.3%
Independent 5660+40.008%
Progressive 6600.0008%
Independence 21-10.0001%

Notes
  1. The Alaska Senate was controlled by a coalition of Democrats and Republicans. The minority caucus consists of Republicans who were not part of the majority coalition.
  2. The Oregon House of Representatives was tied in the 2011-2013 session. This is not included in the total.
  3. Prior to the 2010 election, the 100 seats in the Montana House of Representatives were evenly split between Democrats and Republicans, but the Democratic Party controlled the chamber by virtue of holding the governor's office.
  4. The upper houses of Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Texas use a 2-4-4 term length system.
  5. These figures represent the seats of Nebraska's unicameral legislature.
  6. Prior to the 2010 election, the 100 seats in the Montana House of Representatives were evenly split between Democrats and Republicans, but the Democratic Party controlled the chamber by virtue of holding the governor's office.

References
  1. Memoli, Michael A. (November 3, 2010). "State legislative gains give Republicans unprecedented clout to remake districts - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  2. Balz, Dan (November 14, 2010). "The Republican takeover in the states". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  3. Storey, Tim. "GOP Makes Historic State Legislative Gains in 2010". Rasmussen Reports. Rasmussen Report, LLC. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  4. Cole, Michelle (Jan 11, 2011). "Oregon House makes history by electing two co-speakers". The Oregonian. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  5. "Devastation: GOP Picks Up 680 State Leg. Seats". November 4, 2010. Archived from the original on October 28, 2012. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  6. "2018 Legislative Races by State and Legislative Chamber". National Conference of State Legislatures.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.