2023 Election Preview: High Level Positions
Keep watch for a 2023 local positions post from BallotReady’s database, coming soon
Did you know that in 2023, our research indicates there will be more positions up for election than there were in 2022?
With the 2022 midterms coming to close, and the 2024 presidential election over a year away, many people will deprioritize making a voting plan in 2023. However, critical elections will still take place in 2023 from governor races to local school board. Despite the lack of highly anticipated federal elections, which garner the most media attention and have the highest voter turnout, there are numerous state, local and municipal elections to keep an eye out for that have profound impact on our government.
Historically, turnout in off year election cycles can be as low as 10%. To change that, voters need to remain informed early and often about what is at stake on the ballot this year. In this high level positions post of our 2023 election preview series, we highlight some of the top-of-ballot races up for election this year.
Our 2023 election research is ongoing–sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of the page to stay tuned for updates.
Highlights
At least one special election will be held for the House of Representatives in 2023 to fill a vacancy in Virginia's 4th congressional district. Democrat Donald McEachin died of colorectal cancer on November 28, 2022.
Eight of the country’s ninety-nine state legislative chambers are holding regularly scheduled elections in 2023. These chambers are located in Mississippi, New Jersey, Virginia, and Louisiana. Nationwide, regularly-scheduled elections will be held for 578 of the 7,383 legislative seats.
General elections in Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia will take place on November 7, 2023. General elections in Louisiana will take place on November 18, 2023.
Additionally, several seats in Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mississippi for state executive officials will be voted on in 2023 including gubernatorial seats, lieutenant gubernatorial seats, attorney general seats, and secretary of state seats. There are thirty-six state executive offices up for election across three states in 2023.
GUBERNATORIAL SEATS—Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi
Gubernatorial elections determine the governor of a state. In Kentucky, one-term Democrat Andy Beshear is running for re-election. In 2019, he defeated Republican incumbent Matt Bevin by just over 5,000 votes, or 0.37%, making this the closest gubernatorial election in Kentucky since 1899.
In Louisiana, two-term Democrat John Bel Edwards is term-limited in 2023 and therefore ineligible to seek re-election. In 2019, he won re-election to Republican Eddie Rispone by a margin of 2.6%. Edwards became the first Democratic Governor of Louisiana to win re-election to a second consecutive term in 44 years. It was the closest Louisiana gubernatorial election since 1979.
In Mississippi, one-term Republican Tate Reeves is eligible for re-election. He has not indicated whether he will run for a second term. In 2019, Reeves defeated competitor Jim Hood by a margin of 5.08%, the closest gubernatorial election in Mississippi since 1999.
ATTORNEY GENERAL SEATS—Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi
The Attorney General is a state's chief legal officer, responsible for protecting the public interest of the state and its people. In Kentucky, one-term Republican Daniel Cameron is retiring to run in the 2023 Kentucky gubernatorial election. In Louisiana, two-term Republican Jeff Landry is retiring to run for governor. In Mississippi, one-term Republican Lynn Fitch is eligible to seek re-election, but has not officially announced whether she will do so.
SECRETARY OF STATE SEATS—Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi
The duties of Secretary of State are generally administrative with tasks such as keeping state records, registering businesses, and recording the official acts of the governor. In Kentucky, one-term Republican Michael Adams is running for re-election. In 2019, he defeated Heather French Henry by a margin of 4.6 percent. In Louisiana, two-term incumbent Kyle Ardoin is eligible to seek re-election to a second full term. In 2019, Ardoin defeated Collins-Greenup by a margin of 18%. In Mississippi, one-term incumbent Michael Watson is eligible to seek re-election. He defeated Johnny DuPree in 2019.
STATE TREASURER—Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi
The duties of a state treasurer include issuing and managing the state's debt. In Kentucky, two-term Republican Allison Ball is term-limited and therefore ineligible to seek re-election. She is running for state auditor. In Louisiana, two-term Republican John Schroder is eligible to seek re-election. He has expressed interest in running for governor. In Mississippi, one-term Republican David McRae is eligible to seek re-election.
STATE AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER—Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi
The State agriculture commissioner oversees regulation of various facets of the agriculture industry. In Kentucky, two-term Republican Ryan Quarles is term-limited and therefore ineligible to seek re-election. He is running for governor. In Louisiana, four-term Republican Michael G. Strain is running for re-election. In Mississippi, two-term Republican Andy Gipson is running for re-election.
SUPREME COURT ELECTIONS—Wisconsin, Pennsylvania
Wisconsin will hold Supreme Court Elections in 2023. Wisconsin: Incumbent Justice Patience Roggensack is retiring. The primary will be held on February 21, 2023 and the general election for a new justice will be held on April 4, 2023. The court has had a 4-3 conservative majority since April 2020, and this election will determine ideological control of the court.
Pennsylvania will hold Supreme Court Elections in 2023. Pennsylvania: Justice Max Baer’s seat is on the ballot.
SIGNIFICANT MAYORAL ELECTIONS—Various States
Numerous Mayoral Elections will be held in 2023. Outlined below are significant elections based on city population.
In Chicago, Illinois, mayoral elections will take place on February 28, 2023. Incumbent Lori Lightfoot is running for re-election to a second term in office against a wide field of nine challengers that includes members of the Chicago City Council, Illinois House of Representatives, and U.S. House of Representatives. In 2019, she defeated Toni Preckwinkle in a runoff with 73.7% of the vote.
In San Antonio, Texas, mayoral elections will take place on May 6, 2023. The City Council approved new council district boundaries on June 16, 2022 as part of the redistricting process. The new boundaries will be in effect by January 2023 for the primaries.
In Dallas, Texas, mayoral elections will take place in May 2023. Incumbent mayor Eric Johnson has announced he will seek re-election.
In Jacksonville, Florida, mayoral elections will take place on March 21, 2023. Incumbent mayor Lenny Curry is term limited and ineligible to run for reelection.
In Houston, Texas, mayoral elections will take place on Nov. 7, 2023. Incumbent mayor Sylvester Turner is term-limited, and ineligible to run for reelection.
In Denver, Colorado, elections will take place in April 2023. Incumbent Democratic mayor Michael Hancock is term-limited and cannot seek reelection.
Other mayoral elections where there are ineligible or retiring incumbents include: Evansville, Indiana; Hartford, Connecticut; Jacksonville, Florida; Memphis, Tennessee; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Portland, Maine.