Question of the Month

Question of the Month - January 2005

What is the partisan composition of the 16 SLC member state Legislatures?

Following elections in 11 of the 16 SLC states for state legislative seats (Alabama, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi and Virginia did not have regular elections for legislators in November), Democrats controlled 17 legislative chambers in the region, with Republicans controlling 15. This continues a trend toward increased Republican control of state legislatures in the region. Democrats control both chambers of the legislature in seven states (Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, and West Virginia). Republicans control both chambers in six states (Florida, Georgia, Missouri, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia). Republicans and Democrats each hold the majority in one chamber of three states (Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Tennessee). The table below illustrates state partisan composition.

Partisan Makeup of State Legislative Chambers, 2005

State	House				Senate
State	Total	Democrats	Republicans	Ind	Total	Democrats	Republicans	Ind
Alabama	105	63	42		35	25	10
Arkansas	100	75	28		35	27	8
Florida	120	36	84		40	14	26
Georgia	180	81	99		56	22	34
Kentucky*	100	57	43		38	15	22
Louisiana*	105	68	36	1	39	15	24
Maryland	141	98	43		47	33	14
Mississippi	122	75	47		52	28	24
Missouri	163	66	97		34	11	23
North Carolina	120	63	57		50	29	21
Oklahoma	101	44	57		48	26	22
South Carolina	124	50	74		46	20	26
Tennessee	99	53	46		33	16	17
Texas	150	63	87		31	12	19
Virginia	100	38	60	2	40	16	24
West Virginia	100	68	32		34	21	13

Sources: The Council of State Governments, state legislative offices and state Web sites, SLC state newspapers, NCSL. Current as of January 10, 2005

Note: There remains one undecided seat in the Kentucky Senate and the Louisiana House as of January 10, 2005. Majority party is in bold.