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85 legislative chambers in 44 states | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Map of upper house elections: Democrats gained control 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 gained control Democrats retained control Republicans gained control Republicans retained control Non-partisan legislature No regularly-scheduled elections |
Elections to state legislatures were held on November 4, 2008, alongside other elections, in which Democrats scored significant gains in a blue wave election. Elections were held for 85 legislative chambers, with all states but Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, Alabama, Maryland, and Virginia holding elections in at least one house. Michigan and Minnesota held elections for their lower, but not upper houses. [1] Seven territorial chambers in four territories and the District of Columbia were up.
The New Hampshire Senate saw the election of the first-ever female majority. This is the first time this has occurred in any chamber of any state legislature in United States history. [2] In New York, the Democrats obtained a trifecta for the first time since 1935, and in Delaware for the first time since 1977. [3]
The Democrats took control of six legislative bodies to the Republicans' four. Democrats took control of the Delaware House of Representatives, for the first time since 1985, the Montana House of Representatives, the Nevada Senate, and the New York State Senate, for the first time since 1966, the Ohio House of Representatives, and the Wisconsin State Assembly. Republicans took control of the Montana Senate; both houses of the Tennessee General Assembly, [4] for the first time since 1870; and the Oklahoma Senate, for the first time in state history. With the Montana Senate and the Montana House of Representatives flipping, this election cycle marked the last time in U.S. history as of 2024 where the upper house and lower house held by different political parties in a state legislature both flipped in the same cycle.
Regularly-scheduled elections were held in 85 of the 99 state legislative chambers in the United States. Nationwide, regularly-scheduled elections were held for 5,948 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. [5] 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.
State | Upper House [5] | Lower House [5] | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seats up | Total | % up | Term | Seats up | Total | % up | Term | |
Alaska | 19 | 20 | 95 | 4 | 40 | 40 | 100 | 2 |
Arizona | 30 | 30 | 100 | 2 | 60 | 60 | 100 | 2 |
Arkansas | 35 | 35 | 100 | 2/4 [c] | 100 | 100 | 100 | 2 |
California | 20 | 40 | 50 | 4 | 80 | 80 | 100 | 2 |
Colorado | 18 | 35 | 51 | 4 | 65 | 65 | 100 | 2 |
Connecticut | 36 | 36 | 100 | 2 | 151 | 151 | 100 | 2 |
Delaware | 21 | 21 | 100 | 2/4 [c] | 41 | 41 | 100 | 2 |
Florida | 40 | 40 | 100 | 2/4 [c] | 120 | 120 | 100 | 2 |
Georgia | 56 | 56 | 100 | 2 | 180 | 180 | 100 | 2 |
Hawaii | 25 | 25 | 100 | 2/4 [c] | 51 | 51 | 100 | 2 |
Idaho | 35 | 35 | 100 | 2 | 70 | 70 | 100 | 2 |
Illinois | 59 | 59 | 100 | 2/4 [c] | 118 | 118 | 100 | 2 |
Indiana | 25 | 50 | 50 | 4 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 2 |
Iowa | 25 | 50 | 50 | 4 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 2 |
Kansas | 40 | 40 | 100 | 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 | 0 | 47 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 141 | 0 | 4 |
Massachusetts | 40 | 40 | 100 | 2 | 160 | 160 | 100 | 2 |
Michigan | 0 | 38 | 0 | 4 | 110 | 110 | 100 | 2 |
Minnesota | 0 | 0 | 100 | 2/4 [c] | 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 | 25 [d] | 49 [d] | 51 [d] | 4 | N/A (unicameral) | |||
Nevada | 10 | 21 | 48 | 4 | 42 | 42 | 100 | 2 |
New Hampshire | 24 | 24 | 100 | 2 | 400 | 400 | 100 | 2 |
New Jersey | 0 | 40 | 0 | 2/4 [c] | 0 | 80 | 0 | 2 |
New Mexico | 42 | 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 | 23 | 47 | 49 | 4 | 47 | 94 | 50 | 4 |
Ohio | 16 | 33 | 48 | 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 | 46 | 46 | 100 | 4 | 124 | 124 | 100 | 2 |
South Dakota | 35 | 35 | 100 | 2 | 70 | 70 | 100 | 2 |
Tennessee | 16 | 33 | 48 | 4 | 99 | 99 | 100 | 2 |
Texas | 16 | 31 | 52 | 2/4 [c] | 150 | 150 | 100 | 2 |
Utah | 15 | 29 | 52 | 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 | 51 | 4 | 98 | 98 | 100 | 2 |
West Virginia | 17 | 34 | 50 | 4 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 2 |
Wisconsin | 16 | 33 | 48 | 4 | 99 | 99 | 100 | 2 |
Wyoming | 15 | 30 | 50 | 4 | 60 | 60 | 100 | 2 |
Total | 1281 | 1972 | 65 | N/A | 4595 | 5411 | 85 | N/A |
State | Previous UH | Result | Party control |
---|---|---|---|
Alaska | Coal. 15-5 | Coal. 16-4 | Coalition Hold |
Arizona | R 17-13 | R 18-12 | Republican hold |
Arkansas | D 27-8 | D 27-8 | Democratic hold |
California | D 25-15 | D 25-15 | Democratic hold |
Colorado | D 20-15 | D 21-14 | Democratic hold |
Connecticut | D 23-13 | D 24-12 | Democratic hold |
Delaware | D 13-8 | D 16-5 | Democratic hold |
Florida | R 26-14 | R 26-14 | Republican hold |
Georgia | R 34-22 | R 34-22 | Republican hold |
Hawaii | D 20-5 | D 23-2 | Democratic hold |
Idaho | R 28-7 | R 28-7 | Republican hold |
Illinois | D 37-22 | D 37-22 | Democratic hold |
Indiana | R 33-17 | R 33-17 | Republican hold |
Iowa | D 30-20 | D 32-18 | Democratic hold |
Kansas | R 30-10 | R 31-9 | Republican hold |
Kentucky | R 22-15-1 | R 21-16-1 | Republican hold |
Maine | D 28-17 | D 20–15 | Democratic Hold |
Massachusetts | D 35-5 | D 35-5 | Democratic hold |
Missouri | R 21-13 | R 23-11 | Republican hold |
Montana | D 26-24 | R 27-23 | Republican Takeover |
Nebraska | Unicameral and non–partisan Senate with 49 members | ||
Nevada | R 11-10 | D 12-9 | Democratic Takeover |
New Hampshire | D 14-10 | D 14-10 | Democratic Hold |
New Mexico | D 24-18 | D 27-15 | Democratic hold |
New York | R 32-30 | D 32-30 | Democratic takeover |
North Carolina | D 31-19 | D 30-20 | Democratic Hold |
North Dakota | R 26-21 | R 26-21 | Republican hold |
Ohio | R 21-12 | R 21-12 | Republican hold |
Oklahoma | D 24-24 [e] | R 26-22 | Republican Takeover |
Oregon | D 19-11 | D 18-12 | Democratic hold |
Pennsylvania | R 29-21 | R 30-20 | Republican hold |
Rhode Island | D 33–5. | D 33-4-1 | Democratic hold |
South Carolina | R 27-19 | R 27-19 | Republican hold |
South Dakota | R 20-15 | R 21-14 | Republican hold |
Tennessee | 16-16-1 [a] | R 19-14 | Republican Takeover |
Texas | R 20-11 | R 19-12 | Republican hold |
Utah | R 21-8 | R 21-8 | Republican hold |
Vermont | D 23-7 | D 23-7 | Democratic hold |
Washington | D 31-18 | D 31-18 | Democratic hold |
West Virginia | D 23-11 | D 26-8 | Democratic hold |
Wisconsin | D 18-15 | D 18-15 | Democratic Hold |
Wyoming | R 23-7 | R 23-7 | Republican hold |
State | Previous LH | Result | Party control |
---|---|---|---|
Alaska | R 23-17 | R 22-18 | Republican hold |
Arizona | R 33-27 | R 36-24 | Republican hold |
Arkansas | D 72-28 | D 71-27-1 | Democratic hold |
California | D 48-32 | D 50-29-1 | Democratic hold |
Colorado | D 39-26 | D 38-27 | Democratic Hold |
Connecticut | D 107-44 | D 114-37 | Democratic hold |
Delaware | R 23-18 | D 24-17 | Democratic Takeover |
Florida | R 77-43 | R 76-44 | Republican hold |
Georgia | R 106-74 | R 105-74-1 | Republican hold |
Hawaii | D 43-8 | D 45-6 | Democratic hold |
Idaho | R 51-19 | R 52-18 | Republican hold |
Illinois | D 67-51 | D 70-48 | Democratic hold |
Indiana | D 51-49 | D 52-48 | Democratic Hold |
Iowa | D 54-46 | D 57-43 | Democratic Hold |
Kansas | R 78-47 | R 77-48 | Republican hold |
Kentucky | D 63-37 | D 65-35 | Democratic hold |
Maine | D 90-59-2 | D 95-55-1 | Democratic Hold |
Massachusetts | D 144-15-1 | D 144-15-1 | Democratic hold |
Michigan | D 58-52 | D 67-43 | Democratic Hold |
Minnesota | D 85-48-1 | D 87-47 | Democratic Hold |
Missouri | R 97-66 | R 92-71 | Republican hold |
Montana | R 50-49-1 | 50-50 [f] | Democratic takeover |
Nebraska | Unicameral and non–partisan Senate with 49 members | ||
Nevada | D 27-15 | D 28-14 | Democratic hold |
New Hampshire | D 239-160-1 | D 225-175 | Democratic Hold |
New Mexico | D 42-28 | D 45-25 | Democratic hold |
New York | D 106-42-1-1 | D 107-41-1-1 | Democratic hold |
North Carolina | D 68-52 | D 68-52 | Democratic Hold |
North Dakota | R 61-33 | R 58-36 | Republican hold |
Ohio | R 53-46 | D 53-46 | Democratic takeover |
Oklahoma | R 57-44 | R 61-40 | Republican hold |
Oregon | D 31-29 | D 36-24 | Democratic Hold |
Pennsylvania | D 102-101 | D 104-99 | Democratic Hold |
Rhode Island | D 60-15 | D 69-6 | Democratic hold |
South Carolina | R 73-51 | R 73-51 | Republican hold |
South Dakota | R 50-20 | R 46-24 | Republican hold |
Tennessee | D 53-46 | R 50-49 | Republican Takeover |
Texas | R 77-71 | R 76-74 | Republican hold |
Utah | R 55-20 | R 53-22 | Republican hold |
Vermont | D 93-49-6-2 | D 95-48-5-2 | Democratic hold |
Washington | D 63-35 | D 62-36 | Democratic hold |
West Virginia | D 72-28 | D 71-29 | Democratic hold |
Wisconsin | R 52-47 | D 52-46-1 | Democratic takeover |
Wyoming | R 43-17 | R 41-19 | Republican hold |
Territory | Previous UH | Result | Party control |
---|---|---|---|
American Samoa | Non–partisan Senate with 18 members | ||
Puerto Rico | PNP 15-11-1 | PNP 22-9 | New Progressive Hold |
Territory | Previous LH | Result | Party control |
---|---|---|---|
American Samoa | Non–partisan House of Representatives with 21 members | ||
Puerto Rico | PNP 32-18-1 | PNP 37-17 | New Progressive Hold |
Territory | Previous | Result | Party control |
---|---|---|---|
Guam | D 8-7 | D 10-5 | Democratic Hold |
US Virgin Islands | D 9-6 | D 10-5 | Democratic Hold |
Washington D.C. | D 11-1-1 | D 11-2 | Democratic Hold |