According to Ballotpedia, a nonpartisan site that tracks national, state, and local elections, almost two out of every three candidates for public office in the November 2024 election ran unopposed. Out of 40,646 races, 26,218 (64.5%) were unopposed, making most candidates a sure thing to be elected.
Iowa had the highest percentage of uncontested elections, with 1,614 (85%) of the 1,902 elections covered by Ballotpedia uncontested.
New Jersey and Puerto Rico had no uncontested elections (0%). In New Jersey, all 17 of the elections covered by Ballotpedia were contested, and all 130 elections covered in Puerto Rico were contested.
In Indiana, 62.9% of the 1,599 campaigns were uncontested, and in Vanderburgh County, 11 out of 21 races had only one candidate seeking office without a challenger. Uncontested offices included State Representative, County Commission, Treasurer, Surveyor, Clerk, Schoolboard, and Judge.
