Four states are holding state legislative primaries on March 3, 2020: Arkansas, California, North Carolina, and Texas. A total of 248 primaries featuring two or more candidates are on the ballot. The general election for these races is scheduled for November 3, 2020.
Arkansas, North Carolina, and Texas hold partisan primaries, while California holds top-two primaries. In a top-two primary, candidates of all partisan affiliations are listed on the same ballot, and the top two vote-getters advance to the general election.
Here is a breakdown of the number of contested primaries by state.
Arkansas State Senate: • Democratic primaries: 2 • Republican primaries: 3
Arkansas State House of Representatives • Democratic primaries: 3 • Republican primaries: 13
California State Senate • 20 primaries
California State Assembly • 76 primaries
North Carolina State Senate • Democratic primaries: 7 • Republican primaries: 7 • Libertarian primaries: 1
North Carolina State House of Representatives • Democratic primaries: 22 • Republican primaries: 23
Texas State Senate • Democratic primaries: 5 • Republican primaries: 1
Texas State House of Representatives • Democratic primaries: 36 • Republican primaries: 29
In Texas, Ballotpedia has identified 10 of the Democratic primaries and 10 of the Republican primaries as battlegrounds. Battlegrounds are elections that Ballotpedia expects to have a meaningful effect on the balance of power in governments or to be particularly competitive or compelling.
Texas and Arkansas have a Republican state government trifecta, while California has a Democratic state government trifecta. A trifecta exists when one political party simultaneously holds the governor’s office and majorities in both state legislative chambers. North Carolina has a divided government, with no political party holding a trifecta.
https://ballotpedia.org/State_legislative_elections,_2020
Additional reading: Arkansas General Assembly California State Legislature General Assembly of North Carolina Texas State Legislature Texas House of Representatives elections, 2020 (March 3 Democratic primaries) Texas House of Representatives elections, 2020 (March 3 Republican primaries)
Learn More
