State Legislatures, In General
There are 7,386 total legislative seats in the nation’s 50 states, with 99 state legislative chambers. These legislatures break down as follows:
Total legislators = 7,386
Total Democrats = 3,225 (44%)
Total Republicans = 4,030 (55%)
Other parties/vacant = 131 (1%)
Total senate seats = 1,973 (27%)
Total Democrats = 826 (42%)
Total Republicans = 1,084 (55%)
Other parties/vacant = 63 (3%)
Total house seats = 5,413 (73%)
Total Democrats = 2,399 (44%)
Total Republicans = 2,946 (54%)
Other parties/vacant = 68 (2%)
Party control of chambers = 99
Total Democrats = 39 (40%)
Total Republicans = 58 (59%)
Split = 1 (2%) (Minnesota House)
Control of state legislatures = 49
Total Democrats = 18 (37%)
Total Republicans = 28 (57%)
Split = 4 (6%) (Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania)
Control of state government (“trifecta”) = 49
Total Democrats = 15 (30%)
Total Republicans = 23 (47%)
Split = 11 (22%) (Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania)
The five most Republican states are Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming. The five most Democratic states are California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Rhode Island. Interestingly, the five most solidly controlled states in the country, meaning those with the fewest members of the opposition party, are all Republican states.
The 2026 State Legislative Elections
In 2026, 88 chambers in 43 states hold regular legislative elections. There are 6,139 on the regular, general election ballot. That’s 83% of all legislative seats. Only seven states do not have legislative elections this year: Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Control is in play for about 14 of the 88 chambers in 7 states, and most of these are Republican-controlled:
- Alaska Senate. This body is split 11R – 9D. A bipartisan power-sharing arrangement is in effect.
- Alaska House. Split 21R – 14D – 5I. A predominantly Democratic, 21-member coalition assumed control of the chamber following the election.
- Arizona Senate. Split 17R – 14 D.
- Arizona House. Split 33R – 27D.
- Michigan Senate. Split 58R – 52D.
- Michigan House. Split 76R – 72D.
- Minnesota Senate. Split 34D – 33R
- Minnesota House. Split 67D – 67.
- New Hampshire Senate. Split 16R – 8D.
- New Hampshire House. Split 212R – 169D – 18V.
- Pennsylvania Senate. Split 27R – 23D.
- Pennsylvania House. Split 102D – 100R – 1V.
- Wisconsin Senate. Split 18R – 15D.
- Wisconsin Assembly. Split 54R – 45D.
The Center for Politics at the University of Virginia breaks down the competitive chambers as follows:
- Leans Democratic: Maine House, New Hampshire House, Wisconsin Senate.
- Toss-Up: Arizona Senate, Arizona House, Michigan Senate, Michigan House, Minnesota Senate, Minnesota House, Pennsylvania Senate, Wisconsin Assembly.
- Leans Bipartisan: Alaska Senate, Alaska House.
- Leans Republican: New Hampshire Senate, Georgia House.
States where Democrats can assume control of both houses of the legislature and the governor’s office (“trifecta”):
- Minnesota
- Nevada
- Pennsylvania
States where Republicans can assume control of both houses of the legislature and the governor’s office (“trifecta”):
- Kansas
States where either party can assume control of both houses of the legislature and the governor’s office (“trifecta”):
- Arizona
- Michigan
- Wisconsin
Trifectas at risk:
- Georgia
- Maine
- New Hampshire
- Texas
A historical view
The Republican Party has dominated states for years, but that control is a recent phenomenon. So is how few splits there are. As Americans continue to move to the political poles, so do their legislatures. From 2000 to 2010, Democrats held between 16 and 27 chambers, while Republicans held between 14 and 18. During this period, the number of divided legislatures was between 8 and 15. Since 2010, what was a wide gulf in favor of Republican chamber control has slowly and steadily been clawed back by Democrats.