RALEIGH, (SGRToday.com) - Nearly one-third of races for state legislative seats have already been decided since there is only candidate running for the office.

Uncontested races mean that13 state senators and 40 state house members were elected at the close of candidate filing.

In congressional races, Democrats are fielding candidates in all 13 seats, even though they hold just three of them now. One surprise candidate is Democratic political consultant Thomas Mills, who filed to run against Republican incumbent Richard Hudson.

Mills told the Raleigh News & Observer he made the move because "none of these guys deserves a pass." Mills lives in the 4th congressional district but state law does not require a candidate to live in the congressional district he hopes to serve.