2004 United States state legislative 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.

For related races, see 2004 United States elections.
2004 United States state legislative elections
November 2, 2004
85 legislative chambers in 44 states
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Republican Democratic
Chambers before 54[lower-alpha 1] 43[lower-alpha 1]
Chambers after 51[lower-alpha 2] 47
Overall change Decrease 3 Increase 4
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

Republicans won control of four chambers including the Oklahoma House of Representatives for the first since 1922; the Georgia House of Representatives for the first time ever; the Tennessee Senate for the time since 1870; and the Indiana House of Representatives.

Democrats took control of eight legislative chambers including the Washington Senate; the Oregon Senate, which was previously tied; both houses of the Montana legislature; both houses of the Colorado legislature for the first time since 1963; the North Carolina House of Representatives- which was previously tied; and the Vermont House of Representatives. Additionally, the Iowa Senate became tied after previously being controlled by the GOP before the election.[2][3] 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.[4]

The Democrats also regained the title of holding the most legislative seats across the country, winning one more seat than the Republicans.[5] Republicans won a trifecta in Georgia for the first time ever.

Summary table

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[lower-alpha 3] 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[lower-alpha 3] 41 41 100 2
Florida 40 40 100 2/4[lower-alpha 3] 120 120 100 2
Georgia 56 56 100 2 180 180 100 2
Hawaii 25 25 100 2/4[lower-alpha 3] 51 51 100 2
Idaho 35 35 100 2 70 70 100 2
Illinois 59 59 100 2/4[lower-alpha 3] 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[lower-alpha 3] 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[lower-alpha 4] 49[lower-alpha 4] 51[lower-alpha 4] 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[lower-alpha 3] 0 80 0 2
New Mexico 42 42 100 4 70 70 100 2
New York 63 63 100 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[lower-alpha 3] 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 1281 1972 65 N/A 4595 5411 85 N/A

State summaries

Upper houses
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
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[lower-alpha 5] 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

Upper houses
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
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
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
  1. The Oregon Senate and North Carolina House of Representatives were tied prior to the election. Thus, they are not included in this total.
  2. The Iowa Senate became tied. Thus, it is not included in the final total.
  3. The upper houses of Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Texas use a 2-4-4 term length system.
  4. These figures represent the seats of Nebraska's unicameral legislature.
  5. 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
  1. "State legislative elections, 2004".
  2. Tim Storey 2004 Legislative Elections The Council of State Governments
  3. Madigan, Erin; Kelderman, Eric (November 5, 2004). "GOP Loses Ground in Statehouse Control". pew.org. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  4. Robbins, Jim (2004-12-29). "Ruling Puts Democrats in Control in Montana". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  5. Storey, Tim (2005). "2004 legislative elections". Spectrum: The Journal of State Government. 78 (1): 8 – via Gale Academic OneFile.
  6. "2020 Legislative Races by State and Legislative Chamber". National Conference of State Legislatures.
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