State legislative special elections, 2018

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2018 state legislative special elections
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In 2018, 99 state legislative special elections were held in 26 states. Between 2011 and 2017, an average of 74 special elections took place each year.

• Click here for state legislative special election historical data
• Click here for regular state legislative elections in 2018
• Click here for special elections to the U.S. Congress in 2018

Causes and partisan control data

Breakdown of 2018 special elections

In 2018, special elections for state legislative positions were held for the following reasons:

• 58 due to appointment, election, or the seeking of election to another position
• 16 due to a retirement
• 10 due to a resignation related to criminal charges
• 7 due to a resignation related to allegations of sexual misconduct
• 5 due to the death of the incumbent
• 2 due to a resignation to take a private sector job
• 1 due to an election being rerun

Impact of special elections on partisan composition

The partisan breakdown for the special elections was as follows:

• 42 Democratic seats
• 57 Republican seats

The table below details how many seats changed parties as the result of a special election in 2018. The number on the left reflects how many vacant seats were originally held by each party, while the number on the right shows how many vacant seats each party won in the special elections. In elections between 2011 and 2016, either the Democratic Party or Republican Party saw an average net gain of three seats across the country. In 2017, Democrats had a net gain of 11 seats.

Note: This table reflects information for elections that were held and not the total number of vacant seats.

Democrats gained 11 seats in 2017 special elections and eight seats in 2018 special elections. The table below details the results of special elections held in 2017 and 2018 cumulatively.

Flipped seats

In 2018, 16 seats flipped as a result of state legislative special elections. Twelve seats flipped from Republican control to Democratic control. Four seats flipped from Democratic control to Republican control.

In New York, a Democratic candidate running on the Republican ticket won election to Assembly District 142 on April 24. The previous incumbent in that district was a Democrat. Due to the winning candidate's party affiliation, Assembly District 142 was not added to the list of flipped seats in 2018.

Seats flipped from R to D

• Wisconsin State Senate District 10 (January 16)
• Missouri House of Representatives District 97 (February 6)
• Florida House of Representatives District 72 (February 13)
• Kentucky House of Representatives District 49 (February 20)
• New Hampshire House of Representatives District Belknap 3 (February 27)
• Connecticut House of Representatives District 120 (February 27)
• New York State Assembly District 10 (April 24)
• Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 178 (May 15)
• Missouri State Senate District 17 (June 5)
• Wisconsin State Senate District 1 (June 12)
• South Carolina State Senate District 20 (November 6)
• Texas House of Representatives District 52 (November 6)

Seats flipped from D to R

• Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 48 (May 15)
• Texas State Senate District 19 (September 18)
• Louisiana House of Representatives District 10 (November 6)^[1]
• Louisiana House of Representatives District 33 (November 6)

Special elections by date

Noteworthy special elections

Florida House of Representatives District 72

See also: Florida state legislative special elections, 2018

A special election for District 72 in the Florida House of Representatives was held on February 13, 2018. The seat became vacant following Alexandra Miller's (R) resignation.^[4] Democratic candidate Margaret Good won the special election by defeating Republican candidate James Buchanan and Libertarian candidate Alison Foxall.^[5][6][7] Good initially moved on to the special election after defeating Ruta Jouniari in the primary on December 5, 2017.^[8]

In February 2018, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune said of the race, "The House District 72 race is a proxy for the same political battles roiling Washington, D.C., with Trump playing a starring role in attack ads against Buchanan and Good being linked to U.S. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi."^[9]

Election result

General election

Special general election for Florida House of Representatives District 72

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Margaret Good (D)	52.2	23,081
		James Buchanan (R)	44.8	19,816
		Alison Foxall (L)	3.0	1,339

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 44,236
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Minnesota State Senate District 13

See also: Minnesota State Senate District 13 special election, 2018

State Rep. Jeff Howe (R) defeated former Sartell Mayor Joe Perske (D) in the special election for Minnesota State Senate District 13 on November 6, 2018^[10]

State Senate President Michelle Fischbach (R), the incumbent, resigned from office on May 25, 2018, to serve as lieutenant governor of Minnesota. This left a vacancy in the chamber and split partisan control of the state Senate, with 33 Democrats and 33 Republicans.^[11]

Howe's win gave Republicans control of the state Senate and prevented Democrats from winning a trifecta in the state.

Election result

General election

Special general election for Minnesota State Senate District 13

Jeff Howe defeated Joe Perske in the special general election for Minnesota State Senate District 13 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jeff Howe (R)	57.4	21,714
		Joe Perske (D)	42.6	16,108
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	20

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 37,842 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Special Democratic primary for Minnesota State Senate District 13

Joe Perske advanced from the special Democratic primary for Minnesota State Senate District 13 on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Joe Perske

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Special Republican primary for Minnesota State Senate District 13

Jeff Howe advanced from the special Republican primary for Minnesota State Senate District 13 on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Jeff Howe

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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New York State Senate District 37

See also: New York State Senate District 37 special election, 2018

Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer (D) defeated former Rye Councilwoman Julie Killian (R) for the seat formerly held by state Sen. George Latimer (D).

The race was originally thought to be critical in deciding the partisan control of the New York State Senate. However, after state Sen. Simcha Felder (D) announced on election day that he would continue caucusing with Republicans regardless of the outcome, the GOP was set to remain in control.

With wins in District 37 and District 32, Democrats would have had a 32-31 working majority if Felder would have joined the Democratic caucus. Before announcing his continued alliance with Republicans, he signaled that he was open to joining the Democrats and giving them control of the chamber if Mayer won.^[12]

Election result

General election

Special general election for New York State Senate District 37

Shelley Mayer defeated Julie Killian in the special general election for New York State Senate District 37 on April 24, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Shelley Mayer (D)	57.6	28,358
		Julie Killian (R)	42.4	20,876
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	28

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 49,262
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Wisconsin State Senate District 1

See also: Wisconsin state legislative special elections, 2018

A special election for the position of Wisconsin State Senate District 1 took place on June 12, 2018. The filing deadline for this election was April 17, 2018. A primary election was held on May 15, 2018.^[13]

The seat became vacant following Frank Lasee's (R) resignation on December 29, 2017, to serve as the administrator for the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Worker's Compensation Division.^[14]

Election result

General election

Special general election for Wisconsin State Senate District 1

Caleb Frostman defeated André Jacque in the special general election for Wisconsin State Senate District 1 on June 12, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Caleb Frostman (D)	51.4	14,606
		André Jacque (R)	48.5	13,801
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	20

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 28,427
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Special Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 1

Caleb Frostman advanced from the special Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 1 on May 15, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Caleb Frostman

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Special Republican primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 1

André Jacque defeated Alex Renard in the special Republican primary for Wisconsin State Senate District 1 on May 15, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		André Jacque	52.0	4,369
		Alex Renard	48.0	4,039

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 8,408
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Historical data

State breakdown by year

The table below details how many state legislative special elections were held in a state in a given year. From 2010 to 2023, Georgia held the most state legislative special elections with 79. Pennsylvania held the second-most special elections with 65.

Partisan breakdown by year

The average number of special elections per even year between 2011 and 2023 (2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022) was 61, while the average per odd year was 80. The most special elections in a single year during that same time frame was 99, which happened in 2018.

The table below details how many state legislative seats changed parties as the result of a special election between 2011 and 2023. The numbers on the left side of the table reflect how many vacant seats were originally held by each party, while the numbers on the right side of the table show how many vacant seats each party won in special elections.

State legislative special election vacancies and results, 2011-2023
Year	Total elections held	Vacancies before elections			Seats held after elections			Net change
		Democrats	Republicans	Minor party	Democrats	Republicans	Minor party
2023	53	33	20	0	33	20	0	-
2022	54	36	18	0	36	18	0	-
2021	66	33	33	0	33	33	0	-
2020	59	21	38	0	27	32	0	+6 D, -6 R
2019	77	39	38	0	36	40	1	-3 D, +2 R, +1 I
2018	99	42	57	0	50	49	0	+8 D, -8 R
2017	98	45	53	0	56	42	0	+11 D, -11 R
2016*	65	37	28	0	39	24	2	+2 D, -4 R
2015*	89	42	46	1	38	50	1	-4 D, +4 R
2014	40	22	18	0	19	21	0	-3 D, +3 R
2013	84	51	33	0	48	36	0	-3 D, +3 R
2012	46	23	23	0	25	21	0	+2 D, -2 R
2011*	95	49	45	1	46	48	1	-3 D, +3 R
Averages	71	36	35	N/A	37	35	N/A	N/A
*Please see the year-specific pages for information regarding minor-party candidates.

Seats that changed partisan control by year

See also: State legislative special election changes in party control since 2010

Current as of January 10, 2024 (updated annually)
Since 2010, 116 state legislative seats have switched partisan control, or flipped, in special elections. The chart below shows the number of special elections that resulted in partisan changes in each year:

Days between vacancies and elections by year

The following table tracks the gap between when state legislative vacancies occurred and special elections were held from 2012 through July 12, 2024:

Past voter turnout

In 2017, Ballotpedia identified noteworthy state legislative special elections in Delaware, Connecticut, Georgia, New Hampshire, Florida, and Washington. The chart below shows the percent of registered electors who cast votes in the 2017 noteworthy special elections and the 2018 Wisconsin State Senate District 10 election:^{[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]}

See also

Footnotes

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