Across the nation, there will be dozens of 2020 state legislature special elections.
When there are thousands of legislative seats in the United States, some are bound to come open. These are worth watching if for no other reason than to see shifts on the local level. It is important not to read too much into these results, especially if not much changes, but it may tell us more about what could be happening on the ground in a particular county or state. That is, if the voter turnout dictates that we should care.
Overall standings and seat changes will be tracked below as every state special election is listed here. This list will be updated frequently throughout 2020. Calendar information for state legislative special elections sourced by Ballotpedia. You can also revisit the special election results from 2019, in which the Republicans experienced a modest net gain of seats.
2020 State Legislature Special Elections: Standings and Changes
January 2020 Special Elections
January Monthly Standings: Republican 6 (–), Democratic 3 (–), Other 0 (–)
| January 14, 2020 |
|---|
| Connecticut House District 48 (D): Willimantic, Colchester |
| Democratic Hold (Brian Smith, 49.97%-44.95%) [CT Mirror | CT Sec. of State] |
| January 14, 2020 |
| Connecticut House District 132 (R): Fairfield |
| Republican Hold (Brian Farnen, 50.81%-49.19%) |
| January 14, 2020 |
| Kentucky Senate District 38 (R): Lebanon Junction, Shepherdsville, Louisville |
| Republican Hold (Mike Nemes, 63.60%-36.40%) [WDRB] |
| January 14, 2020 |
| Pennsylvania Senate District 48 (R): Avon, Cornwall, Middletown |
| Republican Hold (David Arnold, 64.70%-35.30%) [PA Dept. of State] |
| January 21, 2020 |
| Connecticut House District 151 (R): Greenwich |
| Republican Hold (Harry Arora, 54.41%-45.59%) [Greenwich Time] |
| January 28, 2020 |
| Georgia House District 171 (R): Bainbridge, Camilla, Baconton |
| Republican Hold (Joe Campbell, 58.27%-33.35%) [GA Sec. of State] |
| January 28, 2020 |
| Texas House District 28 (R): Weston Lakes, Fulshear, Rosenberg |
| Republican Hold (Gary Gates, 58.05%-41.95%) [The Texas Tribune] |
| January 28, 2020 |
| Texas House District 100 (D): Dallas, Mesquite |
| Democratic Hold (Lorraine Birabil, 66.28%-33.72%) [Dallas Morning News] |
| January 28, 2020 |
| Texas House District 148 (D): Houston |
| Democratic Hold (Anna Eastman, 65.47%-34.53%) [KHOU] |
February 2020 Special Elections
February Monthly Standings: Democratic 3 (-1), Republican 2 (+1), Other 0 (–)
| February 4, 2020 |
|---|
| Minnesota House District 30A (R): Big Lake, Elk River |
| Republican Hold (Paul Novotny, 63.44%-36.50%) [KNSI Radio] |
| February 4, 2020 |
| Minnesota House District 60A (D): Minneapolis |
| Democratic Hold (Sydney Jordan, 87.44%-11.49%) [CBS Minnesota] |
| February 25, 2020 |
| Kentucky House District 67 (D): Newport, Bellevue, Cold Spring |
| Democratic Hold (Rachel Roberts, 64.2%-35.8%) [WCPO] |
| February 25, 2020 |
| Kentucky House District 99 (D): Morehead, Vanceburg, Garrison |
| Republican GAIN (Richard White, 56%-44%) [WSAZ] |
| February 25, 2020 |
| Pennsylvania House District 190 (D): West Philadelphia |
| Democratic Hold (Roni Green, 86.3%-13.7%) [Philadelphia Inquirer] |
March 2020 Special Elections
March Monthly Standings: Democratic 6 (+1), Republican 5 (-1), Other 0 (–)
| March 3, 2020 |
|---|
| Arkansas House District 22 (R): Hot Springs Village, Piney |
| Republican Hold (Richard McGrew, 68.4%-31.6%) |
| March 3, 2020 |
| Arkansas House District 34 (D): Little Rock |
| Democratic Hold (Joy Springer, 77.8%-22.2%) |
| March 3, 2020 |
| Georgia Senate District 13 (R): Tifton, Vienna, Arabi, Leesburg |
| Republican Hold (Carden Summers, both candidates GOP in runoff) |
| March 3, 2020 |
| Maine House District 128 (D): Brewer |
| Democratic Hold (Kevin O’Connell, 58%-42%) |
| March 3, 2020 |
| Massachusetts House 32nd Middlesex District (D): Melrose, Wakefield |
| Democratic Hold (Kate Lipper-Garabedian, 82.8%-17.2%) [Melrose Free Press] |
| March 3, 2020 |
| Rhode Island House District 56 (D): Central Falls |
| Democratic Hold (Joshua Giraldo, unopposed) |
| March 10, 2020 |
| Michigan House District 34 (D): Flint |
| Democratic Hold (Cynthia Neeley, 92%-8%) |
| March 10, 2020 |
| New Hampshire House District Merrimack 24 (R): Hooksett, South Hooksett |
| Democratic GAIN (Kathleen Martins, 51%-49%) |
| March 17, 2020 |
| Pennsylvania House District 8 (R): Stoneboro, West Liberty |
| Republican Hold (Tim Bonner, 75%-25%) |
| March 17, 2020 |
| Pennsylvania House District 18 (R): Bensalem, Eddington |
| Republican Hold (KC Tomlinson, 55%-45%) |
| March 17, 2020 |
| Pennsylvania House District 58 (R): Jeannette, Monessen |
| Republican Hold (Eric Davanzo, 53%-41%) |
There were no state special elections in April 2020.
May 2020 Special Elections
May Monthly Standings: Democratic 2 (+2), Republican 1 (-2), Other 0 (–)
| May 12, 2020 |
|---|
| California Senate District 28 (R): Palm Springs, Temecula, Blythe |
| Republican Hold (Melissa Melendez, 55%-45%) |
| May 19, 2020 |
| Massachusetts Senate 2nd Hampden & Hampshire (R): Westfield, Holyoke, Agawam |
| Democratic GAIN (John Velis, 64%-36%) |
| May 19, 2020 |
| Massachusetts Senate Plymouth & Barnstable (R): Plymouth, Falmouth, Sandwich |
| Democratic GAIN (Susan Moran, 55%-45%) |
June 2020 Special Elections
June Monthly Standings: Democratic 3 (+2), Republican 1 (-2), Other 0 (–)
| June 2, 2020 |
|---|
| Massachusetts House 37th Middlesex District (D): Lunenburg, Harvard, Acton |
| Democratic Hold (Dan Sena, 74%-26%) [Lowell Sun] |
| June 2, 2020 |
| Massachusetts House 3rd Bristol District (R): Taunton, Easton |
| Democratic GAIN (Carol Doherty, 57%-43%) [Easton Patch] |
| June 23, 2020 |
| Kentucky Senate District 26 (R): Louisville, Buckner |
| Democratic GAIN (Karen Berg, 57%-43%) |
| June 23, 2020 |
| Mississippi House District 88 (R): Laurel, Ellisville |
| Republican Hold (Robin Robinson, 65%-33%) |
July 2020 Special Elections
July Monthly Standings: Democratic 1 (–), Republican 0 (–), Other 0 (–)
| July 14, 2020 |
|---|
| Texas Senate District 14 (D): Austin, Pflugerville, Bastrop |
| Democratic Hold (Sarah Eckhardt, 49.7%) |
August 2020 Special Elections
August Monthly Standings: Democratic 1 (+1), Republican 1 (-1), Other 0 (–)
| August 11, 2020 |
|---|
| Georgia Senate District 4 (R): Statesboro, Swainsboro, Rincon |
| Republican Hold (Billy Hickman, 59.5%) |
| August 11, 2020 |
| South Carolina House District 115 (R): Charleston, Kiawah Island |
| Democratic GAIN (Spencer Wetmore, 59%-39%) [ABC 4 Charleston] |
November 2020 Special Elections
November Monthly Standings: Democratic 0 (–), Republican 0 (–), Other 0 (–)
| November 3, 2020 |
|---|
| Michigan House District 4 (D): Detroit, Hamtramck |
| Election not yet held |
| November 3, 2020 |
| New Jersey Senate District 25 (R): Bernardsville, Dover, Boonton |
| Election not yet held |
| November 3, 2020 |
| New Jersey General Assembly District 25 (R): Bernardsville, Dover, Boonton |
| Election not yet held |
| November 3, 2020 |
| Oklahoma Senate District 28 (R): Shawnee, Seminole, Chandler |
| Election not yet held |
| November 3, 2020 |
| Oregon Senate District 10 (R): Salem, Monmouth, Aumsville |
| Election not yet held |