Below is a list of special elections to the
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...
. Such elections are called by
state governors to fill vacancies that occur when a member of the
House of Representatives
House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...
dies or resigns before the biennial
general election. Winners of these elections serve the remainder of the term and are usually candidates in the next general election for their districts.
In the United States, these contests are called "special elections." They are sometimes held on the regular
Election Day like regular congressional elections but often they are on different days as determined by local statutes. Despite their name, however, special elections to the U.S. House of Representatives happen often. Furthermore, one published study shows that special elections are explained by the same factors as regular congressional elections.
Special elections to the U.S. House have occurred at least once in all states except Iowa and Idaho. A few special elections for territorial delegates to Congress have also been held.
A 2016 study of special elections to the House of Representatives found "that while candidate characteristics affect special election outcomes, presidential approval is predictive of special election outcomes as well. Furthermore, we find that the effect of presidential approval on special election outcomes has increased in magnitude from 1995 to 2014, with the 2002 midterm representing an important juncture in the nationalization of special elections."
[
]
List of special elections
Summary
In a few instances more than one seat was filled in a single special election
A by-election, also known as a special election in the United States and the Philippines, a bye-election in Ireland, a bypoll in India, or a Zimni election (Urdu: ضمنی انتخاب, supplementary election) in Pakistan, is an election used to f ...
, but each seat is counted separately in the list below.
See also
* List of special elections to the United States Senate
Notes
References
Sources and external links
* ''United States Congressional Elections, 1788-1997: The Official Results'', by Michael J. Dubin (McFarland and Company, 1998)
Vacancies in the current Congress
via clerk.house.gov
via clerk.house.gov
Biographical Directory of the United States Congress 1774 - 2005
Contains complete listing of all Congresses
{{United States House of Representatives elections
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...