
Elections & Campaigns
Post-Election Analysis: Expected Red Wave Turns Blue
November 9, 2022 | Bill Kramer
Track 2022 state legislative elections, with analysis from our experts and a downloadable quick reference resource.
Last Updated November 17, 2022
Currently, Democrats have flipped both chambers of the Michigan Legislature, the Minnesota Senate, and the Pennsylvania House. Democrats are poised to gain at least 4 state legislative chambers, but we could see that total increase or decrease depending on who gains the majority in the uncalled New Hampshire House.
A total of 7,383 lawmakers make up 99 legislative chambers in the 50 state legislatures. These range from the 49-seat unicameral legislature in Nebraska to New Hampshire’s 400-seat house. Collectively, these legislators introduce nearly a quarter of a million bills per session, turning some 30,000 into new state laws.
Currently, Republicans control 30 state legislatures and Democrats control 17 state legislatures. Legislative control occurs when the same party controls both chambers of the legislatures in states with two chambers. A split legislature is one in which different political parties control the senate and the house — this is the case in three states.
On November 8, 2022, 6,166 legislative seats in 46 states are up for election. That’s 84 percent of all state lawmakers (and special elections for vacant seats will increase that number). Of the 99 state legislative chambers, 88 will hold elections in 2022. Of the 46 states with legislative elections in 2022, 16 are controlled by Democrats, 28 are controlled by Republicans, and two are split government. Only four states don’t have any legislative elections (house or senate) in 2022 — Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia.
State Senate Elections in 2022
Senators in 43 states are up for election in 2022. The entire membership of 20 state senate chambers are up for election, while only a portion of the senate is up for election in the remaining 23 state senate chambers. Forecasts provided by cnalysis.
State House Elections in 2022
House lawmakers in 45 states are up for election in November. The entire lower chamber is up for election in 44 of the state house chambers, while only 66 of 94 seats of the North Dakota House of Representatives is up for election this year.
Visit our 2022 State Elections Toolkit for additional information on all of the state executive and legislative seats up for election this year, handy downloadable resources, and analysis of the potential impact on the partisan makeup of state governments.