1. Presidents lose an average of 81 same-party members of the U.S. House during their first term
2. Explore North Dakota elections
3. Explore West Virginia elections

Presidents lose an average of 81 same-party members of the U.S. House during their first term

Presidents from Lyndon Johnson (D) through Donald Trump (R) took office with an average of 241 members of the same political party serving in the U.S. House. An average of 81 same-party members - just about one-third - did not run for re-election at the time of the next presidential election, creating an average U.S. House member attrition rate of 33.4%.

Among presidents since Johnson, President Trump had the highest rate of House attrition at 46.9%. President George W. Bush (R) had the lowest rate of House attrition at 23.4%.

To read more and see full attrition lists, click the link below.

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Explore North Dakota elections

Welcome to week three of our 50 States in 25 Days series! Today, let’s jump in with North Dakota and West Virginia. Here are the states we've highlighted so far, along with a map below summarizing where we are in the series:

• Alabama & Arkansas
• California & Texas
• North Carolina & Mississippi
• Illinois & Ohio
• Nebraska & Oregon
• Montana & New Mexico
• Iowa & South Dakota
• Indiana & Pennsylvania
• Idaho & Maryland
• Nevada & South Carolina

On the ballot in North Dakota

At the federal level, North Dakota voters will elect three presidential electors and one U.S. Representative. The state executive offices up for election are governor, lieutenant governor, state treasurer, state auditor, insurance commissioner, public service commissioner, and superintendent of public instruction. Both chambers of the state legislature are on the ballot, with 23 out of 47 seats up in the state Senate and 47 of the 94 state House districts. One of the five seats on the state supreme court is up for election. Voters will also decide on two statewide ballot measures.

Partisan data

• In 2016, Donald Trump (R) defeated Hillary Clinton (D) 63% to 27% in North Dakota. Lyndon B. Johnson (D) was the last Democrat to win North Dakota in 1964.
• Four of North Dakota’s 53 counties—Benson, Ransom, Sargent, and Steele Counties—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and Donald Trump (R) in 2016.
• Both of North Dakota’s U.S. Senators—John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer—are Republicans.
• A Republican represents the state’s at-large U.S. House district.
• North Dakota’s governor and attorney general are Republicans and its secretary of state is an Independent, meaning it is one of 14 states with a divided government. It has held this status since 2019, when Secretary of State Al Jaeger (I) assumed office.
• Republicans have a 37-10 majority in the state Senate and a 79-15 majority in the state House. Because the governor is a Republican, North Dakota is one of 21 states with a Republican trifecta. It has held this status since 1994, when Republicans won a majority in the state Senate.

Ballot measures

• North Dakota voters will decide two statewide ballot measures on Nov. 3.
• The state legislature referred two constitutional amendments to the ballot. One measure would change the structure of the North Dakota Board of Higher Education. The other would require voter-approved initiated constitutional amendments to be submitted to the legislature for approval. If the legislature does not approve the amendment, it goes to voters for a second time.

Voting

• In North Dakota, all eligible voters can vote by absentee/mail-in ballot.
• Generally, witnesses or notaries are not required to sign absentee/mail-in ballots.
• Absentee/mail-in ballots can be returned in person or by mail. If returned in person, ballots must be received by Nov. 2. If returned by mail, ballots must be postmarked on or before Nov. 2. Click here to check the status of your absentee/mail-in ballot.
• In 2018, mail-in ballots made up 29.0% of the total vote.
• North Dakota requires all voters to present identification at the polls. The identification does not have to include a photo. For more information about North Dakota's voter ID requirements, click here. 
• Early voting opens on Oct. 19 and closes on Nov. 2.
• In North Dakota, polls open between 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and close between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Election Day. North Dakota is in the Central time zone. 
• North Dakota election law states that ballots cannot be counted until after polls close.

Explore West Virginia elections

On the ballot in West Virginia

At the federal level, West Virginia voters will elect five presidential electors, one U.S. Senator, and three U.S. Representatives. The state executive offices up for election are governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state treasurer, state auditor, and agriculture commissioner. Both chambers of the state legislature are on the ballot, with 17 out of 34 seats up in the state Senate and all 100 state House districts.

Partisan balance

• In 2016, Donald Trump (R) defeated Hillary Clinton (D) in West Virginia 69% to 26%. Republicans have won the state in six of the past 10 presidential elections, while Democrats have won four. The last Democratic presidential candidate to win West Virginia was Bill Clinton in 1996.
• West Virginia is one of 16 states without a Pivot County. Pivot Counties voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012, then voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016.
• West Virginia's senior U.S. Senator, Joe Manchin III, is a Democrat. Its junior Senator, Shelley Moore Capito, is a Republican.
• Republicans represent all three of the state’s U.S. House districts.
• West Virginia's governor, attorney general, and secretary of state are Republicans, meaning it is one of 19 states with a Republican triplex. It has held this status since 2017, when Gov. Jim Justice changed his affiliation from Democratic to Republican.
• Republicans hold a 20-14 majority in the state Senate and a 58-41 majority in the state House of Delegates. Since the governor is also a Republican, the state is one of 21 Republican trifectas. It has held this status since 2017.

Ballot measures

There are no statewide 2020 ballot measures in West Virginia.

Voting

• In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Secretary of State Mac Warner (R) announced that all voters "concerned about their health and safety because of COVID-19" would be eligible to vote by absentee/mail-in ballot in the general election.
• West Virginia does not require witnesses or notaries to sign absentee/mail-in ballot documents.
• Absentee/mail-in ballots can be returned in person or by mail. If returned in person, ballots must be received on Nov. 2. If returned by mail, ballots must be postmarked on or before Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 9. Click here to check the status of your absentee/mail-in ballot.
• In 2018, mail-in ballots made up 1.7% of the total vote.
• West Virginia requires all voters to present identification at the polls. Identification does not have to include a photo. For more information about West Virginia's voter ID requirements, click here. 
• Early voting opens on Oct. 21 and closes on Oct. 31.
• In West Virginia, polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. West Virginia is in the Eastern time zone.
• West Virginia election law states that ballots can begin to be counted on Election Day, but does not specify a time.

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