Term limits can often affect the competitiveness of a state legislative election because term limits create open seats. Open seats are believed to be more electorally competitive than seats in which an incumbent is running for re-election because incumbents tend to win re-election. A 2015 study by Ballotpedia found that in state legislative elections between 1972 and 2014, the incumbency win rate never fell below 90%, except for 1974 when 88% of incumbents won re-election.

2024 term-limited state senate elections 

79 state senators—27 Democrats, 39 Republicans, and 13 nonpartisan—are term-limited in 2024. Going into the November elections, Democrats have majorities in four of the 14 term-limited state senates. Republicans have majorities in nine of the 14 state senates. Nebraska's state Senate is term-limited and officially nonpartisan.

Three state senates—California, Colorado, and Maine—have more term-limited Democrats than Republicans. Six state senates—Florida, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, and South Dakota—have more term-limited Republicans than Democrats. Two states—Arizona and Nevada—have the same number of term-limited Republicans and Democrats, while Michigan did not have any term-limited senators.

2024 term-limited state house elections

101 state representatives—39 Democrats and 62 Republicans—are term-limited in 2024. Going into the November elections, Democrats have majorities in four of the 13 term-limited state houses. Republicans had majorities in 10 of the 13 state house of representatives.

Four state houses—California, Colorado, Maine and Missouri have more term-limited Democrats than Republicans. Six state houses—Arizona, Florida, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, and South Dakota—have more term-limited Republicans than Democrats. Three states—Arkansas, Michigan, and Nevada—do not have any term-limited representatives.

State senators

There are 42 state senates holding general elections in 2024. In 13 of these states, state senators are term-limited. Louisiana and Michigan are the only states with state senate term limits that do not have a general election in 2024.

79 state senators are term-limited. This represents 27% of the 293 seats up for election in the 13 term-limited state senates with elections on Nov. 5. This includes:

• 27 incumbent Democratic state senators
• 39 incumbent Republican state senators
• 13 nonpartisan state senators

Some of the 79 state senators listed below may resign before their term ends. These officials will still be counted in the total number of term-limited state senators in 2024.

State representatives

There are 43 state houses holding general elections in 2024. In 13 of these states, state representatives are term-limited. Louisiana will not hold state house elections in 2024 and Nebraska does not have a state house. The Arkansas House of Representatives, Michigan House of Representatives, and Nevada State Assembly are up for election in 2024 and have term limits, but no representatives are impacted by term limits in 2024.

101 state representatives are term-limited in 2024. This represents 8% of the 1,261 seats up for election in the 13 term-limited state houses with elections on Nov. 5. This includes:

• 39 incumbent Democratic state representatives
• 62 incumbent Republican state representatives

Some of the 101 state representatives may resign before their term ends. These officials will still be counted in the total number of term-limited state representatives in 2024.

The chart above shows term-limited state legislators by year from 2010 to 2024. Between those years, 2,126 state legislators were term-limited. Republicans had 295 more term-limited legislators than Democrats.

• Democratic legislators term-limited: 875
• Republican legislators term-limited: 1,170
• Nonpartisan legislators term-limited: 81