MultiState Insider

Elections & Campaigns

Supermajorities are an Overlooked Dynamic of the 2020 State Legislative Elections

September 23, 2020 | Bill Kramer

When a political party holds a supermajority of seats in a state legislature, that supermajority has the power to override gubernatorial vetoes as well as approve special measures that require passage beyond a simple majority. Currently, of the 99 state legislative chambers, Republicans hold supermajorities in 30 chambers and Democrats hold supermajorities in 20 chambers. The 2020 state elections could see parties lose supermajorities in some state legislatures and parties gain supermajorities in others. If Democrats are able to secure supermajorities in the Delaware Senate, New Mexico House, and New York Senate, while Republicans retain their current supermajority level, Democrats will inch closer to Republican’s 30 supermajority chambers with 23 of their own. Republicans are also poised to deny Democrats their supermajority in the Oregon Senate, which would diminish any Democratic gains in supermajorities in 2020.