Contents
1 Breakdown of 2010 special elections
2 Results
3 January 5, 2010
4 January 12, 2010
5 February 6, 2010
6 April 13, 2010
7 May 1, 2010
8 May 8, 2010
9 May 11, 2010
10 May 18, 2010
11 June 15, 2010
12 June 22, 2010
13 October 2, 2010
14 November 2, 2010
15 December 14, 2010
16 Historical data
17 See also
18 External links
19 Footnotes
Across the nation, special elections are frequently conducted to fill vacancies in state legislatures. Twenty-seven states use special elections to fill legislative vacancies . In two states, Illinois and Indiana , special elections are used in limited circumstances . In 2010, 30 state legislative seats were filled through special elections in 10 states.
Breakdown of 2010 special elections [ edit ]
The reasons for special elections were as follows:
3 due to death
2 due to conflict of interest controversy
2 due to criminal prosecution
2 due to personal reasons
1 due to sexual scandal
7 due to appointment to another office/position
9 due to election to or candidacy for another office
4 due to taking a non-government job
The partisan breakdown for vacancies was as follows:
One Democratic seat and one Republican seat were filled through the cancellation of special elections due to unopposed candidates.
No seat switched party control in the 2010 special elections.
Results [ edit ]
The following candidates won a special election in 2010:
Adam Ravenstahl (D ) Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 20
Alan Seabaugh (R ) Louisiana House of Representatives, District 5
Brian Birdwell (R ) Texas State Senate, District 22
Butch Miller (R ) Georgia State Senate, District 49
Chris Norby (R ) California State Assembly District 72
Cynthia Willard-Lewis (D ) Louisiana State Senate District 2
Dalton Honore (D ) Louisiana House of Representatives District 63
Eric Johnson (Texas) (D ) Texas House of Representatives, District 100
Hardie Davis (D ) Georgia State Senate District 22
Helena Moreno (D ) Louisiana House of Representatives District 93
James Brewster (D ) Pennsylvania State Senate District 45
Jason Carter (D ) Georgia State Senate District 42
John Frullo (R ) Texas House of Representatives, District 84
John Kuempel (R ) Texas House of Representatives, District 44
Karen Peterson (Louisiana) (D ) Louisiana State Senate, District 5
Marcos Devers (D ) Massachusetts House of Representatives, Sixteenth Essex District
Marcia Hahn (R ) Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 138
Marcy Toepel (R ) Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 147
Mark White (R ) Tennessee House of Representatives District 83
Matt Gaetz (R ) U.S. House, Florida, District 1
Mike Gatto (D ) California State Assembly District 43
Phyllis Henderson (R ) South Carolina House of Representatives, District 21
Richard Ross (Massachusetts) (R ) Massachusetts State Senate, Norfolk, Bristol, and Middlesex District
Rick Jasperse (R ) Georgia House of Representatives, District 11
Roxann Robinson (R ) Virginia House of Delegates District 27
Sal DiDomenico (D ) Massachusetts State Senate, Middlesex and Suffolk District
Sam Blakeslee (R ) California State Senate District 15
Tony Wilt (R ) Virginia House of Delegates District 26
Van Taylor (R ) Texas State Senate, District 8
William Emmerson (R ) California State Senate District 23
January 5, 2010 [ edit ]
Georgia [ edit ]
Georgia State Senate District 22
Candidates:[1]
Hardie Davis : 4,456 a
Harold Jones II : 3,681 a
Taylor Bryant : 842
Sandra Scott : 223
The seat was vacant after incumbent Ed Tarver (D) resigned after being appointed as a U.S. Attorney.[2]
Davis and Jones competed in a runoff election on February 2, 2010.
Runoff election results:[3]
Hardie Davis : 5,802
Harold Jones II : 4,656
January 12, 2010 [ edit ]
California [ edit ]
California State Assembly District 72
See also: January 12, 2010 elections in California
Candidates:[4]
John MacMurray : 10,622
Chris Norby : 21,406
Jane Rands : 2,100
The seat was vacant after incumbent Michael Duvall (R) resigned following a microphone gaffe in which his descriptions of extramarital affairs to a colleague went public.[5] Orange County Supervisor Chris Norby won in the January 12 runoff.[6]
Tennessee [ edit ]
Tennessee House of Representatives District 83
Candidates:[7]
Guthrie Castle : 1,452
Mark White : 3,236
John Andreuccetti : 110
The seat was vacant after incumbent Brian Kelsey (R) resigned to run for Tennessee State Senate District 31 in a race scheduled for December 1, 2009. Mark White won in the January 12 general election.[8]
February 6, 2010 [ edit ]
Louisiana [ edit ]
Louisiana State Senate District 5
Candidates:[9]
Karen Carter Peterson : 13,509
Irma Muse Dixon : 3,734
The seat was vacant after incumbent Cheryl Gray (D) resigned in order to relocate to Connecticut.[10]
April 13, 2010 [ edit ]
California [ edit ]
California State Assembly District 43
Candidates:[11]
Mike Gatto : 11,954 a
Chahe Keuroghelian: 5,462
Nayiri Nahabedian: 8,358
Sunder Ramani: 11,634 a
Incumbent Paul Krekorian (D) resigned after being elected to the Los Angeles City Council.
Gatto and Ramani competed in a runoff election on June 8.
Runoff election results:[12]
Mike Gatto : 23,733
Sunder Ramani: 16,778
California State Senate District 37
Candidates:[13]
Bill Emmerson : 39,875 a
Russ Bogh: 20,957
David W. Peters: 2,267
Justin Blake: 13,289 a
Arthur Bravo Guerrero: 6,826
Anna Nevenic: 8,076
Matt Monica (American Independent Party): 4,195 a
Incumbent John J. Benoit (R) resigned after being appointed to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors.
Emmerson, Blake and Monica faced off in a runoff election on June 8.[14]
Runoff election results:[15]
Bill Emmerson : 81,655
Justin Blake: 41,243
Matt Monica: 13,965
Florida [ edit ]
Florida House of Representatives District 4
The primary election was held on March 23.
Candidates:[16]
Craig Barker: 5,678
Matt Gaetz : 6,313 a
Bill Garvie: 607
Jerry Melvin: 728
Kabe Woods: 1,529
Jan Fernald a
Gaetz and Fernald faced off in the special election on April 13, 2010.
Runoff election results:[17]
Matt Gaetz : 10,131
Jan Fernald: 5,218
Incumbent Ray Sansom (R), who had been serving as House speaker , resigned prior to a House trial after he was charged with directing tax money towards the construction of a donor's jet hangar.[18]
May 1, 2010 [ edit ]
Louisiana [ edit ]
Louisiana House of Representatives District 63
Candidates:[19]
Ulysses Addison: 1,293 a
Dalton Honore : 1,706 a
Mark Milligan: 1,073
James Slaughter: 141
Dadrius Lanus: 144
Incumbent Avon Honey (D) died on February 12, 2010.[20]
Honore and Addison faced off in a runoff election on May 29, 2010.[21]
Ulysses Addison : 816
Dalton Honore : 1,631
Louisiana House of Representatives District 93
Candidates:[22]
Louis Charbonnet: 498
Rhodesia Jackson Douglas: 41
Thomas Robichaux: 269
Helena Moreno : 643 a
Carlos Hornbrook: 28
James Perry: 890 a
Incumbent Karen Peterson (D) resigned after being elected to Louisiana State Senate District 5 .
Moreno and Perry faced off in a runoff election on May 29, 2010.[23]
Helena Moreno : 1,274
James Perry : 1,011
May 8, 2010 [ edit ]
Candidates:[24]
David Sibley: 13,423
Brian Birdwell : 10,900
Gayle Avant: 3,968
Darren Yancy: 1,560
Incumbent Kip Averitt (R) resigned on March 17, 2010, due to health concerns.[25]
Sibley and Birdwell faced off in a runoff election on June 22.[26]
June 22, 2010 runoff[27]
Brian Birdwell : 14,218
David Sibley: 10,339
CANCELLED [28]
Incumbent Brian McCall (R) resigned to become the chancellor of the Texas State University system.[29]
The special election was canceled when Mabrie Jackson withdrew her name before the election, and Taylor won the seat by default. However, the ballot was already printed, and Jackson received more votes in the election.[30]
CANCELLED
Incumbent Terri Hodge (D) resigned her position as part of a plea deal to admit guilt to fraud and falsifying her income tax return.[31]
The special election was cancelled when Eric Johnson (D) was the only candidate to file for the seat.[32]
May 11, 2010 [ edit ]
Georgia [ edit ]
Candidates:[33]
Jerry Nally : 244
Rick Jasperse : 3,358
Truett Moss: 1,118
Incumbent Tom Graves (R) resigned in order to mount a successful run for Georgia's 14th Congressional District .
Candidates:[33]
Jason Carter : 5,574
Tom Stubbs: 1,953
David Montane: 635
Steve Patrick: 329
Incumbent David Adelman (D) resigned after being appointed as the U.S. ambassador to Singapore.[34]
Candidates:[33]
Butch Miller : 10,771
Jimmy Norman: 1,983
Brandon Givens: 1,130
Incumbent Lee Hawkins (R) resigned in order to mount an unsuccessful run for Georgia's 14th Congressional District .[35] [36]
Massachusetts [ edit ]
Candidates:[37]
Richard Ross : 15,902
Peter Smulowitz: 9,823
Incumbent Scott Brown (R) resigned in order to mount a successful run for the U.S. Senate .
Candidates:[38]
Sal DiDomenico : 3,803
John Cesan: 515
Timothy Flaherty (write-in): 20
E. Denise Simmons (write-in): 6
Incumbent Anthony Galluccio (D) resigned after being sentenced to time in prison for violating his probation.[39]
May 18, 2010 [ edit ]
Pennsylvania [ edit ]
Adam Ravenstahl
Dan Keller
Tim Tuinstra
Mark A. Purcell
Incumbent Don Walko (D) resigned to take a position on a common pleas court.[40]
Marcia Hahn
Cory Miller
Incumbent Craig Dally (R) resigned his seat to be sworn in as a Northhampton county judge. Marcia Hahn defeated Cory Miller in a special election on May 18, 2010.[41]
Marcy Toepel
Bob Dodge
Incumbent Bob Mensch (R) resigned after winning election to Pennsylvania State Senate District 24 .
June 15, 2010 [ edit ]
Massachusetts [ edit ]
Candidates:[42]
Marcos Devers : 1,374
Rafael Gadea: 171
Incumbent William Lantigua (D), who briefly served simultaneously as the mayor of Lawrence, resigned after a controversy in which he sponsored a bill that would have given the city a $35 million bailout.[43] [44]
Virginia [ edit ]
Candidates:[45]
Tony Wilt : 6,239
Kai Degner: 2,840
Carolyn Frank: 392
Incumbent Matt Lohr (R) resigned after being appointed as the Virginia commissioner of agriculture .
Candidates:[46]
Roxann Robinson : 3,429
Kai Degner: 1,295
Incumbent Sam Nixon (R) resigned in order to become the state's Chief Information Officer.[47]
June 22, 2010 [ edit ]
California [ edit ]
Candidates:[48]
Sam Blakeslee : 72,248
John Laird: 61,150
Mark Hinkle: 4,241
Jim Fitzgerald: 8,620
Incumbent Abel Maldonado (R) resigned after being appointed lieutenant governor of California .
Since none of the candidates received 50 percent of the vote, all four faced off in a runoff election held August 17.[49]
August 17, 2010 runoff results:[50]
Sam Blakeslee : 86,873
John Laird: 79,835
Jim Fitzgerald: 8,937
Mike Hinkle: 3,592
October 2, 2010 [ edit ]
Louisiana [ edit ]
Candidates:[51]
Mike Darnell : 1,888
Ira Thomas : 1,137
Edward Washington III : 236
Cynthia Willard-Lewis : 5,613
The seat became vacant when incumbent Ann Duplessis resigned to take a position in the administration of New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu (D).[52]
Candidates:[53]
Alan Seabaugh : 5,085
Harold Turner : 3,778
The seat became vacant when incumbent Wayne Waddell (R) resigned to become director of the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum.[54]
November 2, 2010 [ edit ]
Pennsylvania [ edit ]
Candidates:[55]
James Brewster : 35,943
Paul Olijar : 26,569
Leonard N. Young : 3,104
The seat became vacant when incumbent Sean Logan (D) resigned in July of 2010 to serve as Vice President of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.[56]
Candidates:[57]
Carol Morgan : 7,095
John Frullo : 15,162
The seat became vacant when incumbent Carl Isett (R) resigned on May 31, 2010. He has previously announced he would not seek re-election in 2010. The special election was held on the same day as the regular election; it appeared twice on the ballot.[58]
December 14, 2010 [ edit ]
South Carolina [ edit ]
A special election was held to replace William Wylie (R), who died of a heart attack in September 2010.[59]
Candidates:[60]
Susan Scarborough Smith : 639
Phyllis Henderson : 1,990
A special election was held to replace Edmund Kuempel (R), who died of a heart attack two days before the general election.[61]
Candidates:[62]
Daniel Rodriguez Andrade : 119
Cheryl Dees Patterson : 690
Ron Avery : 79
Chris Burchell : 73
Gary Inmon : 1,123
John Kuempel : 7,245
Myrna McLeroy : 1,022
Robin R. Walker : 544
Tony Gergely : 62
Jim Fish: 73 - withdrew November 29 [63]
Historical data [ edit ]
State breakdown by year [ edit ]
The table below details how many state legislative special elections were held in a state in a given year. From 2010 to 2023, Georgia held the most state legislative special elections with 79. Pennsylvania held the second-most special elections with 65.
Seats that changed partisan control by year [ edit ]
See also: State legislative special election changes in party control since 2010
Current as of January 10, 2024 (updated annually)
Since 2010, 116 state legislative seats have switched partisan control, or flipped, in special elections. The chart below shows the number of special elections that resulted in partisan changes in each year:
Flipped seats in state legislative special elections
Year
Total special elections
Total flips
Democratic flips
Republican flips
Other flips
2023
53
4
2
2
0
2022
54
2
1
1
0
2021
66
6
3
3
0
2020
59
8
7
1
0
2019
77
8
2
5
1
2018
99
16
12
4
0
2017
98
17
14
3
0
2016
65
9
5
2
2
2015
89
16
5
9
2
2014
40
5
1
4
0
2013
84
7
1
6
0
2012
46
7
5
2
0
2011
95
11
4
6
1
2010
30
0
0
0
0
Total
955
116
62
48
6
Click here to see a list of all state legislative seats that have changed partisan control in special elections since 2010
See also [ edit ]
External links [ edit ]
↑ Georgia Secretary of State , "Official Results of the Tuesday, January 05, 2010 Special Election," January 26, 2010
↑ Morris News Service , "Edward Tarver promises to do 'absolutely the best job,'" December 17, 2009
↑ Georgia Secretary of State , "Official Results of the Tuesday, February 02, 2010 Special Election Runoff," July 12, 2010
↑ California Secretary of State , "Official Canvass," January 12, 2010
↑ Talking Points Memo , "GOP Lawmaker's Graphic Sex-Bragging Caught On Tape," September 9, 2009
↑ Los Angeles Times, "Chris Norby outlines goals as Orange County's new state assemblyman," January 14, 2010
↑ [http://sharetngov.tnsosfiles.com.s3.amazonaws.com/sos/election/results/2010-01/TNHouse83General.pdf "Tennessee Department of State, "Tennessee House District 83 Special Election General - January 12, 2010
↑ Memphis Flyer , "Republican Mark White Easily Wins Special Election Race for State House District 83," January 13, 2010
↑ Louisiana Secretary of State , "Official Results," accessed November 29, 2015
↑ The Times-Picayune , "Cheryl Gray Evans resigns from state Senate; Karen Carter Peterson to run," December 16, 2009
↑ California Secretary of State , "Official Canvass," accessed November 14, 2015
↑ California Secretary of State , "Official Canvass," accessed November 14, 2015
↑ California Secretary of State , "Official Canvass," accessed November 14, 2015
↑ Los Angeles Times, "Runoffs to be held June 8 for 2 California legislative seats," April 14, 2010
↑ California Secretary of State , "Official Canvass," accessed November 14, 2015
↑ Florida Department of State , "Official Results," accessed November 14, 2015
↑ Florida Department of State , "Official Results," accessed November 14, 2015
↑ Palm Beach Post , "Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom resigns," February 22, 2010
↑ Louisiana Secretary of State , "Official Results," accessed November 14, 2015
↑ Times-Picayune, "State Representative Avon Honey dead at 62," February 12, 2010
↑ Louisiana Secretary of State , "Official Results," accessed November 29, 2015
↑ Louisiana Secretary of State , "Official Results," accessed November 14, 2015
↑ Louisiana Secretary of State , "Official Results," accessed November 29, 2015
↑ Texas Secretary of State , "2010 May Special Election," accessed November 21, 2015
↑ The Statesman, "Averitt to leave state Senate," March 8, 2010
↑ KXXV, "Runoff election necessary in District 22 State Senate seat," May 8, 2010
↑ Texas Secretary of State , "Special Runoff Election State Senate District 22," accessed November 21, 2015
↑ Texas Tribune, "HD-66 Special Election Set," April 5, 2010
↑ News 8 Austin, "On the Agenda: Brian McCall resigns from Texas House," April 5, 2010
↑ CBS 11, "Taylor Gets Fewer Votes, Wins Election Anyway," May 10, 2010
↑ Star-Telegram , "Dallas state legislator pleads guilty, agrees to resign seat," February 3, 2010
↑ Dallas Voice, "How to lose an election and still win it," May 11, 2010
↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 Georgia Secretary of State , "Official Results of the Tuesday, May 11, 2010 Special Election," May 18, 2010
↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Ambassador Adelman officially resigns, Senate Dems to elect new Whip," March 22, 2010
↑ Access North GA, "Hawkins resigns from state senate to run for Congress," March 23, 2010
↑ The Boston Globe , "Ga. Rep. Graves wins GOP nod in bid for full term," August 10, 2010
↑ Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth , "Search Elections," accessed November 21, 2015
↑ Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth , "Search Elections," accessed November 21, 2015
↑ My FOX Boston, "Senator Anthony Galluccio resigns," January 6, 2010
↑ PA House Democratic Caucus, "Walko arranging for constituent service during transition," December 9, 2010
↑ Pennsylvania Department of State , "2010 Special Election 138th Legislative District," accessed July 17, 2019
↑ Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth , "Search Election," accessed November 21, 2015
↑ WBZ TV, "Lawrence Mayor Under Fire As Lawmakers Eye Bailout," February 8, 2010
↑ Boston Globe, "Lawrence mayor to step down from state rep seat," February 12, 2010
↑ Virginia State Board of Elections , "2010 June Special - HOD 26 Official Results," accessed November 21, 2015
↑ Virginia State Board of Elections , "2010 June Special - HOD 27 Official Results," accessed November 21, 2015
↑ Government Technology , "Virginia Rep. Samuel A. Nixon Named State CIO, Replacing George Coulter," March 24, 2010
↑ California Secretary of State , "Official Canvass," accessed November 21, 2015
↑ Santa Maria Times, "It's official: 15th District runoff will took place in August," June 25, 2010
↑ California Secretary of State , "Official Canvass," accessed November 21, 2015
↑ Louisiana Secretary of State , "Official Results," accessed November 29, 2015
↑ The Times-Picayune , "Cynthia Willard-Lewis elected to Louisiana Senate, and other New Orleans election results," October 2, 2010
↑ Louisiana Secretary of State , "Official Results," accessed November 29, 2015
↑ Friends of Louisiana State Exhibit Museum
↑ Pennsylvania Department of State , "2010 Special Election 45th Senatorial District," accessed July 17, 2019
↑ Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "State Sen. Logan quitting position to join UPMC as VP," July 30, 2010
↑ Texas Secretary of State , "Special Election State Representative District 84 - 11/2/2010," accessed July 17, 2019
↑ KCBD , "State Representative Carl Isett resigns early," June 20, 2010
↑ Greenville Online, "Filing for Rep. Bill Wylie's seat begins Sept. 21," September 15, 2010
↑ South Carolina State Election Commission , "State House District 21 Special Election," accessed November 29, 2015
↑ AP Texas News, "Perry calls special election to fill House seat," November 9, 2010
↑ Texas Secretary of State , "Special Election State Representative, District 44," December 14, 2010
↑ Seguin Gazette, "Fish bows out of running for District 44 seat," November 30, 2010
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