What does a state senator do?

Lawmakers, also called senators, serve four-year terms and can only serve two consecutive terms before having to sit out for four years. Elections are nonpartisan, meaning the top two vote-getters in a district advance from the primary to the general election, regardless of party affiliation. Party affiliation is not listed on the ballot. 

Regular legislative sessions begin in early January and last either 90 or 60 days. The governor can call lawmakers back for a special session, as happened earlier this year to address property taxes. 

Lawmakers are paid $12,000 per year, plus expenses.  

What’s the big deal?

In short: Voters will decide how far lawmakers can advance a more conservative agenda. While the Legislature is officially nonpartisan, lawmakers regularly split along party lines on some of the most contentious issues. Those bills routinely face a filibuster, which can prevent a bill from passing. It takes 33 votes to defeat a filibuster. 

Currently there are 33 registered Republicans in the Legislature, though one of those was, until April, a registered Democrat who aligned more with conservative lawmakers on social issues. Over the past two years, the makeup of the Legislature allowed lawmakers to pass a slew of conservative initiatives that failed in previous sessions, including permitless concealed carry of weapons and private school vouchers. They also passed a 12-week abortion ban that also prohibits gender-affirming surgery for minors.

However, other conservative initiatives — including a school obscenity bill and a bill restricting bathroom access and sports participation for transgender K-12 students — narrowly failed to garner enough support earlier this year.

The outcome of the legislative races could embolden or stymie conservatives and their agenda.