One hundred seventy-three (173) state legislators have switched political parties since 1994, according to analysis by Ballotpedia. Forty-seven (47) state senators and 126 state representatives have switched parties.
State lawmakers who switched from Democrat to Republican: 83
- State senators: 24
- State representatives: 59
State lawmakers who switched from Republican to Democrat: 23
- State senators: 8
- State representatives: 15
As of August 4, 2023, Republicans controlled 54.94% of all state legislative seats nationally, while Democrats held 44.35%. Republicans held a majority in 57 chambers, and Democrats held the majority in 40 chambers. Two chambers (Alaska House and Alaska Senate) were organized under multipartisan, power-sharing coalitions.
The most recent incumbent to change their party affiliation was Mississippi State Rep. Shanda Yates, who left the Democratic Party in January to become an independent.
Additional reading:
- Partisan composition of state houses
- Partisan composition of state senates
- Partisan composition of state legislatures
