2004 United States state legislative elections
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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 Split body formed 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 2, 2004, alongside other elections. 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] Six chambers in three territories and the District of Columbia were up as well.
The 2004 elections created narrow legislative divisions across the country. Both parties flipped seats and chambers across the country, with most Democratic gains coming from the Northeast and West and most Republican gains coming from the South. Over 20 states featured statehouses controlled by fewer than four seats, and nearly 30 states featured divided governments. Both parties took advantage of heavy spending from 527 organizations.[2]
Republicans won control of four chambers from the Democrats. The institution of term limits contributed to the Republican takeover of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, and favorable redistricting aided Republicans in winning the Georgia House of Representatives for the first time ever.[2] Republicans additionally won the Tennessee Senate, for the time since 1870, and the Indiana House of Representatives.[3][4]
Democrats performed better than Republicans overall at the state-legislative level, despite their defeat in the concurrent presidential election, winning control of eight additional chambers. Favorable redistricting enabled the Democratic takeover of the Montana Legislature and their retaking of control of the North Carolina House of Representatives, which was previously tied.[2] Additionally, they took control of the Washington Senate; the Oregon Senate, which was previously tied; both houses of the Colorado General Assembly for the first time since 1963, and the Vermont House of Representatives. The Iowa Senate became tied after previously being controlled by the Republicans prior to the election.[3][4] Democrats' takeover of the Montana House only came after the Montana Supreme Court declared a Democrat a victor in a contested election that evenly split the chamber. This gave Democrats control of the chamber with the help of incoming governor Brian Schweitzer.[5]
The Democrats also regained the title of holding the most legislative seats across the country, winning one more seat than the Republicans.[4]
Summary table
[edit]Regularly-scheduled elections were held in 85 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.[6] 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[6] | Lower House[6] | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seats up | Total | % up | Term | Seats up | Total | % up | Term | |
Alabama | 0 | 35 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 105 | 0 | 4 |
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 | 67 | 0 | 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 | 62 | 62 | 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 | 1280 | 1971 | 65 | N/A | 4595 | 5411 | 85 | N/A |
Maps
[edit]-
Upper house seats by party holding majority in each state
Republican 50–60%60–70%70–80%80–90%Democratic 50–60%60–70%70–80%80–90%Tie 50% -
Lower house seats by party holding majority in each state
Republican 50–60%60–70%70–80%80–90%Democratic 50–60%60–70%70–80%80–90%Tie 50%
State summaries
[edit]Upper houses
[edit]State | Previous UH | Result | Party control |
---|---|---|---|
Alaska | R 12-8 | R 12-8 | Republican 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 | R 18-17 | D 18-17 | Democratic Takeover |
Connecticut | D 21-15 | D 24-12 | Democratic hold |
Delaware | D 13-8 | D 13-8 | Democratic hold |
Florida | R 26-14 | R 24-16 | Republican hold |
Georgia | R 34-22 | R 34-22 | Republican hold |
Hawaii | D 20-5 | D 20-5 | Democratic hold |
Idaho | R 28-7 | R 28-7 | Republican hold |
Illinois | D 32-26-1 | D 31-27-1 | Democratic hold |
Indiana | R 32-18 | R 33-17 | Republican hold |
Iowa | R 29-21 | 25-25 | Split Takeover |
Kansas | R 30-10 | R 30-10 | Republican hold |
Kentucky | R 21-17 | R 21-15-1; 1 vac. | Republican hold |
Maine | D 18-17 | D 18-17 | Democratic Hold |
Massachusetts | D 34-6 | D 34-6 | Democratic hold |
Missouri | R 20-14 | R 23-11 | Republican hold |
Montana | R 29-21 | D 27-23 | Democratic Takeover |
Nebraska | Unicameral and non–partisan Senate with 49 members | ||
Nevada | R 13-8 | R 12-9 | Republican Hold |
New Hampshire | R 18-6 | R 16-8 | Republican Hold |
New Mexico | D 24-18 | D 24-18 | Democratic hold |
New York | R 37-25 | R 35-27 | Republican Hold |
North Carolina | D 28-22 | D 29-21 | Democratic Hold |
North Dakota | R 31-16 | R 30-15 | Republican hold |
Ohio | R 22-11 | R 22-11 | Republican hold |
Oklahoma | D 28-20 | D 26-22 | Democratic Hold |
Oregon | 15-15 | D 17-13 | Democratic Takeover |
Pennsylvania | R 29-21 | R 30-20 | Republican hold |
Rhode Island | D 32-6 | D 33-5 | Democratic hold |
South Carolina | R 26-20 | R 26-20 | Republican hold |
South Dakota | R 26-9 | R 25-10 | Republican hold |
Tennessee | D 18-15 | R 17-16 | Republican Takeover |
Texas | R 19-12 | R 19-12 | Republican hold |
Utah | R 22-7 | R 21-8 | Republican hold |
Vermont | D 19-11 | D 21-9 | Democratic hold |
Washington | R 25-24 | D 26-23 | Democratic Takeover |
West Virginia | D 24-10 | D 21-13 | Democratic hold |
Wisconsin | R 18-15 | R 19-14 | Republican Hold |
Wyoming | R 20-10 | R 23-7 | Republican hold |
Lower houses
[edit]State | Previous LH | Result | Party control |
---|---|---|---|
Alaska | R 27-13 | R 26-14 | Republican hold |
Arizona | R 39-21 | R 38-22 | Republican hold |
Arkansas | D 70-30 | D 72-28 | Democratic hold |
California | D 48-32 | D 48-32 | Democratic hold |
Colorado | R 37-28 | D 35-30 | Democratic Takeover |
Connecticut | D 94-57 | D 99-52 | Democratic hold |
Delaware | R 29-12 | R 26-15 | Republican Hold |
Florida | R 81-39 | R 84-36 | Republican hold |
Georgia | D 105-74-1 | R 99-80-1 | Republican Takeover |
Hawaii | D 36-15 | D 41-10 | Democratic hold |
Idaho | R 54-16 | R 57-13 | Republican hold |
Illinois | D 66-52 | D 66-53 | Democratic hold |
Indiana | D 51-49 | R 52-48 | Republican Takeover |
Iowa | R 54-46 | R 51-49 | Republican Hold |
Kansas | R 80-45 | R 83-42 | Republican hold |
Kentucky | D 65-35 | D 57-43 | Democratic hold |
Maine | D 80-67-3-1 | D 76-73-1-1 | Democratic Hold |
Massachusetts | D 131-28-1 | D 137-23 | Democratic hold |
Michigan | R 62-48 | R 58-52 | Republican Hold |
Minnesota | R 81-53 | R 68-66 | Republican Hold |
Missouri | R 90-73 | R 97-66 | Republican hold |
Montana | R 53-47 | 50-50[e] | Democratic takeover |
Nebraska | Unicameral and non–partisan Senate with 49 members | ||
Nevada | D 23-19 | D 26-16 | Democratic hold |
New Hampshire | R 278-122 | R 249-151 | Republican Hold |
New Mexico | D 43-27 | D 42-28 | Democratic hold |
New York | D 102-48 | D 104-46 | Democratic hold |
North Carolina | 60-60 | D 63-57 | Democratic Takeover |
North Dakota | R 66-28 | R 67-27 | Republican hold |
Ohio | R 62-37 | R 61-38 | Republican Hold |
Oklahoma | D 53-48 | R 57-44 | Republican Takeover |
Oregon | R 35-25 | R 33-27 | Republican Hold |
Pennsylvania | R 110-93 | R 110-93 | Republican Hold |
Rhode Island | D 63-11-1 | D 59-16 | Democratic hold |
South Carolina | R 73-51 | R 74-50 | Republican hold |
South Dakota | R 51-29 | R 50-20 | Republican hold |
Tennessee | D 54-45 | D 53-46 | Democratic Hold |
Texas | R 88-62 | R 86-64 | Republican hold |
Utah | R 56-19 | R 56-19 | Republican hold |
Vermont | R 83-60-6-1 | D 93-49-6-2 | Democratic Takeover |
Washington | D 50-48 | D 52-46 | Democratic hold |
West Virginia | D 68-32 | D 68-32 | Democratic hold |
Wisconsin | R 58-41 | R 60-39 | Republican Hold |
Wyoming | R 45-15 | R 46-14 | Republican hold |
Territorial and federal district summaries
[edit]Upper houses
[edit]Territory | Previous UH | Result | Party control |
---|---|---|---|
American Samoa | Non–partisan Senate with 18 members | ||
Puerto Rico | PPD 19-8-1 | PNP 15-11-1 | New Progressive Takeover |
Lower houses
[edit]Territory | Previous LH | Result | Party control |
---|---|---|---|
American Samoa | Non–partisan House of Representatives with 21 members | ||
Puerto Rico | PPD 29-21-1 | PNP 32-18-1 | New Progressive Takeover |
Unicameral
[edit]Territory | Previous | Result | Party control |
---|---|---|---|
Guam | D 9-6 | R 9-6 | Republican Takeover |
Washington D.C. | D 11-1-1 | D 11-1-1 | Democratic Hold |
Notes
[edit]- ^ a b The Oregon Senate and North Carolina House of Representatives were tied prior to the election. Thus, they are not included in this total.
- ^ The Iowa Senate became tied. Thus, it is not included in the final total.
- ^ a b c d e f g h The upper houses of Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Texas use a 2-4-4 term length system.
- ^ a b c These figures represent the seats of Nebraska's unicameral legislature.
- ^ 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
[edit]- ^ "State legislative elections, 2004".
- ^ a b c Prah, Pamela M. (November 15, 2007). "2004 elections set up year of legislative stalemate". stateline.org. Archived from the original on November 7, 2008. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
- ^ a b Madigan, Erin; Kelderman, Eric (November 5, 2004). "GOP Loses Ground in Statehouse Control". pew.org. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
- ^ a b c Storey, Tim (2005). "2004 legislative elections". Spectrum: The Journal of State Government. 78 (1): 8 – via Gale Academic OneFile.
- ^ Robbins, Jim (2004-12-29). "Ruling Puts Democrats in Control in Montana". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
- ^ a b c "2020 Legislative Races by State and Legislative Chamber". National Conference of State Legislatures.