The Upcoming Election: Understanding U.S. and State Senators, Congresspersons, and Representatives

Who Gets Your Vote and What Do They Do?

Election Season: What’s at Stake?

As the upcoming election approaches, voters across the country are preparing to cast their ballots for a variety of elected officials. While presidential races often attract the most attention, other positions—like state and municipal level officials—hold critical roles in shaping our government and everyday lives. Understanding who these officials are, how they differ from federal level senators, congresspersons, and representatives, and what they do is key to making an informed decision at the polls.

Are you asking yourself: What’s the Difference Between U.S. Federal and State Level Congress, Senate and House Members?

Senators

The Difference Between a U.S. (Federal) Senator and a State Senator

A U.S. Senator works at the federal level and represents their entire state at the federal level in Washington, D.C., and deals with national policy issues. U.S. Senators always have an office in Washington D.C. as well as in their state.

A state senator represents a specific district within their state's legislature and focuses on state-specific issues.

Aspect	U.S. Senator	State Senator
Level of Government	Federal. The U.S. Congress is divided into two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives.	State
Location of Service	U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.	State Capitol in their state's capital city
Constituents	The entire population of their state	Residents of a specific geographic district within their state
Number	Each state has exactly two U.S. Senators	Varies by state; depends on the state's constitution and population distribution
Term Length	Six years	Varies by state; typically two or four years
Key Responsibilities	Writes and votes on federal laws, approves treaties, confirms presidential appointments, and oversees the federal budget	Writes and votes on state laws, works on the state budget, and oversees state agencies
Issue Focus	National concerns like foreign policy, federal taxes, and military spending	State-level issues such as education, transportation, public safety, and local laws

What is the relationship between U.S. and state senators from the same state?

While a U.S. Senator and a state senator from the same state operate in different spheres of government, their relationship is often cooperative and strategic. It can however, be influenced by partisan politics and personal dynamics.

While there is no formal hierarchy, their work can overlap, especially on policy and funding issues that affect their shared constituents.

Representatives

The Difference Between a U.S. (Federal) Congressperson and a State Representative

A U.S. Congressperson and a state representative differ primarily in the level of government they serve and the scope of the laws they create. A Congressperson works at the federal level in Washington, D.C., and a state representative works in their respective state's capital.

Aspect	U.S. Congressperson	State Representative
Level of Government	Serves at the federal level as a member of the U.S. Congress’ House of Representatives. The U.S. Congress is divided into two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives.	Serves at the state level as a member of their state's legislature, which is often called the General Assembly or House of Representatives.
Jurisdiction	Creates and votes on laws that affect the entire United States, covering federal issues such as foreign policy, interstate commerce, and national taxes	Creates and votes on laws that apply only within their specific state, addressing issues like state education policy, healthcare, and state-level taxes
Constituents	House Representatives: Represent a specific congressional district within their state, based on population	Represents a specific district within their state, also based on population
Term Length	House Representatives: Serve two-year terms	Term lengths vary by state, but they are typically two-year or four-year terms
Salary and Job Status	Federal representatives generally earn a higher, full-time salary	In many states, serving as a state representative is a part-time job with a lower salary
Legislative Workload	The U.S. Congress handles fewer bills than state legislatures, often deliberating topics for years due to the size and complexity of federal issues.	State-level issueState legislatures typically introduce and pass a higher volume of bills more quickly than the U.S. Congress, as they address more local and regional issues.s such as education, transportation, public safety, and local laws

Defining a “Congressperson”

The term "congressperson" or "member of Congress" can refer to either a U.S. Senator or a U.S. House of Representatives member, as both serve in the U.S. Congress.
However, in common usage, "congressperson" often specifically refers to a member of the House of Representatives.
A state representative is not part of the U.S. Congress and should not be referred to as a congressperson.

U.S. House of Representatives

The number of U.S. representatives for each state is based on its population, determined by the national census conducted every 10 years.

The total number of voting representatives in the House is capped at 435.
Every state is guaranteed a minimum of one representative, regardless of population.
States with larger populations have more representatives. For example, after the 2020 census, California had 52 representatives, while less populous states like Wyoming and Alaska each had one.
The number of representatives for each state is subject to change based on population shifts recorded in each census.

State Representatives

The number of state representatives varies significantly from one state to another because it is determined by each state's constitution. Across all state legislatures, there are 5,413 state representatives and 1,973 state senators, as of May 2025.

For context, this is different from representation in the U.S. Congress, where the number of U.S. representatives is based on state population and capped at 435 total.

Key takeaways

Varies by state: Each state has its own constitution that specifies the size of its legislature.
Largest vs. smallest: New Hampshire has the largest state House of Representatives, with 400 members, while Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming have the fewest, with one U.S. representative each.
No population-based formula: Unlike the U.S. House of Representatives, there is no federal formula to determine the size of a state's lower legislative chamber.
Total number: As of May 2025, there are 5,413 state representatives across all 50 states.

State legislative variations

Some notable examples illustrate the wide range in the number of state representatives:
California has 80 state representatives in its Assembly.
Texas has 150 state representatives in its House.
South Carolina has 124 state representatives.
Wyoming has 62 state representatives.
Vermont has 150 state representatives.

Why Does This Matter for the Upcoming Election?

When you vote in the upcoming election, you may be choosing one or more office seekers, depending on your state and district. These officials make decisions that affect everything from taxes and healthcare to education and the environment. Understanding the differences between senators, congresspersons, and representatives will help you evaluate the candidates and cast an informed vote for the people who best represent your views and interests.

You may also be deciding on new laws, questions or ballot measures. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with what’s on your ballot before you go vote. You can do that by looking up your sample ballot.

See What’s on My Ballot: Sample Ballot Lookup

Final Thoughts

Elections are about more than just picking a president—they are an opportunity to shape the future of your community and country by choosing the lawmakers who will represent you. Take some time before Election Day to learn about your federal, state, and local district candidates, and make sure your voice is heard!