Washington State Legislative Special Elections, 2015

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2015 State Legislative Special Elections
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In 2015, no seats were vacated and filled by special elections in the Washington State Legislature. The following districts filled a remaining term in 2015:

• State House District 9-Position 1: Mary Dye (R) was appointed to the seat on May 8, 2015, to replace Susan Fagan (R), who resigned on May 1. A special election was held to determine who would complete the final year of Fagan's term.

• State House District 30-Position 2: Carol Gregory (D) was appointed to the seat in January 2015 to replace Roger Freeman (D), who died on October 29, 2014. He was re-elected posthumously. A special election was held to determine who would complete the final year of Freeman's term.

Breakdown of 2015 special elections[edit]

In 2015, the reasons prompting state legislative special elections were as follows:

• 38 due to appointment, election or seeking election to another position
• 14 due to a retirement
• 15 due to the incumbent accepting another job
• 1 due to an invalidated 2014 election result
• 1 due to a disqualification in the 2014 elections
• 9 due to a death
• 6 due to legal issues
• 3 due to moving
• 2 due to filling a remaining term

The partisan breakdown for vacancies were as follows:

• 42 Democratic seats
• 46 Republican seats
• 1 Independent seat

Note: This table reflects information for elections that were held and not total vacant seats.

*In 2015, Democrats lost nine seats in special elections, but gained six seats. Republicans lost five seats in special elections, but gained eight seats.
*Although Edwin Gomes won election to the Connecticut State Senate as a Working Families Party candidate, after swearing in he was listed as a Democratic senator.
*Although Diane Richardson won election to the New York State Assembly as a Working Families Party candidate, after swearing in she was listed as a Democratic representative.
*Although Jay Mathis won election to the Mississippi House of Representatives as a Nonpartisan candidate, after swearing in he was listed as a Republican representative.

How vacancies are filled[edit]

If there is a vacancy in the Washington State Legislature, the board of county commissioners where the vacant seat is located has the responsibility to select a replacement. The county central committee of the political party that last held the seat must submit a list of three candidates to the board of county commissioners representing the vacant district. If the vacancy occurs in the office of a joint senator or joint representative, the state central committee is responsible for submitting the list of three candidates. A selection must be made within 60 days after the vacancy occurred. The person appointed will hold the seat until his or her successor is elected at the next general or special election in November.^[1]

See sources: Washington Const. Art. 2, Sec. 15

Special elections[edit]

November 3, 2015[edit]

☑ Washington House of Representatives District 9-Position 1

See also: Washington state legislative special elections, 2015 Kenneth Caylor (D), incumbent Mary Dye (R) and Richard Lathim (R) faced off in the primary on August 4. Under the state's top-two primary system, the top two vote-getters advanced to the general election.[2] Lathim was defeated by Dye in the general election on November 3.[3][4] Mary Dye (R) was appointed to the seat on May 8, 2015, to replace Susan Fagan (R), who resigned on May 1. A special election was held to determine who would complete the final year of Fagan's term.[5] A special election for the position of Washington House of Representatives District 9-Position 1 was called for November 3. A primary election took place on August 4. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was May 15.[2] Washington House of Representatives, District 9-Position 1, Special Election, 2015 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Mary Dye Incumbent 63.3% 16,019      Republican Richard Lathim 36.7% 9,282 Total Votes 25,301 August 4 primary candidates: Kenneth Caylor Mary Dye a Richard Lathim a November 3 general election candidates: Richard Lathim Mary Dye

☑ Washington House of Representatives District 30-Position 2

See also: Washington state legislative special elections, 2015 Incumbent Carol Gregory (D) and Teri Hickel (R) faced off in the primary on August 4.[2] Under the state's top-two primary system, the top two vote-getters advanced to the general election. Gregory was defeated by Hickel in the general election on November 3.[6][7] Carol Gregory (D) was appointed to the seat in January 2015 to replace Roger Freeman (D), who died on October 29, 2014. He was re-elected posthumously. A special election was held to determine who would complete the final year of Freeman's term.[8] A special election for the position of Washington House of Representatives District 30-Position 2 was called for November 3. A primary election took place on August 4. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was May 15.[2] Washington House of Representatives, District 30-Position 2, Special Election, 2015 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Teri Hickel 54.8% 12,652      Democratic Carol Gregory Incumbent 45.2% 10,431 Total Votes 23,083 August 4 primary candidates: Carol Gregory a Teri Hickel a November 3 general election candidates: Carol Gregory Teri Hickel

See also[edit]

• State legislative special elections, 2015
• Washington State Senate elections, 2014
• Washington House of Representatives elections, 2014
• Washington State Senate elections, 2012
• Washington House of Representatives elections, 2012
• Washington State Legislature
• Washington state legislative special elections: 2013

Footnotes[edit]

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