In 2025, all fifty state legislatures will be in session. Montana, Nevada, North Dakota and Texas only meet in odd-numbered years. The 2024 election resulted in only a small change in partisan control in the state capitols. Prior to the election, Republicans controlled both chambers in 28 states and Democrats controlled both chambers in 20 states with Pennsylvania having Republicans in charge of the Senate and Democrats in control of the House (Nebraska has a non-partisan unicameral legislature that in reality is controlled by Republicans).  

In 2025, Republicans will control the same 28 states while Democrats will control 18 with the Republicans now controlling the Michigan House while the Minnesota House will be evenly split between the parties (Alaska is included in the Republican list because they have more Republican legislators in both chambers, but is actually controlled by a bi-partisan coalition).

23 of the Republican controlled states also have Republican Governors forming a trifecta, while 15 states have a Democratic trifecta.  In addition to the 3 states with a divided legislature, 8 others have a Governor of the opposite party that controls the legislature (AZ, KS, KY, NC, NV, VA, VT, and WI).  

There are 7,386 legislators nationwide and the Republicans saw a net gain of 50 legislators after the election in November.  In 2025 there will be 4,090 Republican state legislators, 3,227 Democratic legislators and 69 Independents and representatives from other parties.

Impact on General Dentistry: Organized dentistry will be active in all state legislatures in 2025 advocating to both Democrats and Republicans for policies that improve dentists’ ability to provide oral health care and for public health programs like community water fluoridation.