2009 United States House of Representatives elections

Last updated

2009 United States House of Representatives elections
Flag of the United States (Pantone).svg
  2008 March 31, 2009 – November 3, 2009 2010  

5 of the 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives
218 seats needed for a majority
 Majority partyMinority party
  Speaker Nancy Pelosi.jpg John Boehner official portrait.jpg
Leader Nancy Pelosi John Boehner
Party Democratic Republican
Leader sinceJanuary 3, 2003January 3, 2007
Leader's seat California 8th Ohio 8th
Last election257 seats178 seats
Seats won50
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 1Decrease2.svg 1
Popular vote256,360154,344
Percentage49.27%29.66%

 Third party
 
Party Conservative
Last election0 seats
Seats won0
Seat changeSteady2.svg
Popular vote80,885
Percentage15.55%

There were five special elections to the United States House of Representatives in 2009 during the 111th United States Congress.

Contents

One seat has switched parties, from Republican to Democratic, as the result of a special election.

Summary

Elections are listed by date and district.

DistrictIncumbentThis race
MemberPartyFirst electedResultsCandidates
New York 20 Kirsten Gillibrand Democratic 2006 Incumbent resigned January 26, 2009 to become U.S. senator.
New member elected March 31, 2009.
Democratic hold.
Illinois 5 Rahm Emanuel Democratic 2002 Incumbent resigned January 2, 2009 to become White House Chief of Staff.
New member elected April 4, 2009.
Democratic hold.
  • Green check.svgY Mike Quigley (Democratic) 69.25%
  • Rosanna Pulido (Republican) 24.16%
  • Matt Reichel (Green) 6.60%
California 32 Hilda Solis Democratic 2000 Incumbent resigned February 24, 2009, to become U.S. Secretary of Labor.
New member elected July 14, 2009.
Democratic hold.
  • Green check.svgY Judy Chu (Democratic) 61.85%
  • Betty Chu (Republican) 32.96%
  • Christopher Agrella (Libertarian) 5.18%
California 10 Ellen Tauscher Democratic 1996 Incumbent resigned June 26, 2009, to become U.S. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security.
New member elected November 3, 2009.
Democratic hold.
  • Green check.svgY John Garamendi (Democratic) 52.85%
  • David Harmer (Republican) 42.83%
Others
  • Jeremy Cloward (Green) 1.83%
  • Mary McIlroy (Peace and Freedom) 1.34%
  • Jerome Denham (American Independent) 1.15%
New York 23 John M. McHugh Republican 1992 Incumbent resigned September 21, 2009, to become U.S. Secretary of the Army.
New member elected November 3, 2009.
Democratic gain.

New York's 20th congressional district

New York's 20th congressional district New York District 20 109th US Congress.png
New York's 20th congressional district

On January 26, 2009, Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand resigned when appointed to fill Hillary Clinton's U.S. Senate seat. Scott Murphy, a fellow Democrat, won the election held March 31, 2009, defeating Republican Jim Tedisco by fewer than 700 votes. Because of the slim margin, Tedisco did not concede the race until more than three weeks later, when overseas ballots had been counted.

2009 New York's 20th congressional district special election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Scott Murphy70,24043.64
Independence Scott Murphy6,7544.20
Working Families Scott Murphy3,8392.39
Total Scott Murphy 80,833 50.23
Republican Jim Tedisco68,77542.73
Conservative Jim Tedisco11,3327.04
Total Jim Tedisco 80,10749.77
Majority7260.45
Total votes160,940 100.00
Democratic hold

Illinois's 5th congressional district

Illinois's 5th congressional district IL05 109.gif
Illinois's 5th congressional district

On January 2, 2009, Democrat Rahm Emanuel resigned one day before the end of the previous Congress after being named White House Chief of Staff. Democrat Michael Quigley won the election April 7, 2009 election to replace him, handily defeating Republican Rosanna Pulido with better than a two-to-one share of the vote.

2009 Illinois's 5th congressional district special election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mike Quigley 30,561 69.25
Republican Rosanna Pulido10,66224.16
Green Matt Reichel2,9116.60
Majority19,89945.09
Total votes44,134 100.00
Democratic hold

California's 32nd congressional district

California's 32nd congressional district CA-32nd.png
California's 32nd congressional district

On February 24, 2009, Democrat Hilda Solis resigned to become United States Secretary of Labor. Judy Chu, also a Democrat, won the election, defeating Republican Betty Chu by a wide margin. [1]

2009 California's 32nd congressional district special election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Judy Chu 16,194 61.85
Republican Betty Chu8,63032.96
Libertarian Christopher Agrella1,3565.18
Write-in Eleanor Garcia20.01
Majority7,56428.89
Total votes26,182 100.00
Democratic hold

California's 10th congressional district

California's 10th congressional district Ca10 109.png
California's 10th congressional district

On June 26, 2009, Democrat Ellen Tauscher resigned to become Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. Democrat John Garamendi held the seat for the Democrats on November 3, 2009, defeating Republican David Harmer.

2009 California's 10th congressional district special election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic John Garamendi 72,817 52.85
Republican David Harmer59,01742.83
Green Jeremy Cloward2,5151.83
Peace and Freedom Mary McIlroy1,8461.34
American Independent Jerome Denham1,5911.15
Majority13,80010.02
Total votes137,786 100.00
Democratic hold

New York's 23rd congressional district

New York's 23rd congressional district New York District 23 109th US Congress.png
New York's 23rd congressional district

On September 21, 2009, Republican John M. McHugh resigned to become United States Secretary of the Army. [2] On November 3, 2009, Democrat Bill Owens defeated Conservative Doug Hoffman and Republican Dede Scozzafava in a race that garnered considerable press attention. Days before the election, Scozzafava dropped out of the race, then endorsed Owens, the Democrat. [3]

2009 New York's 23rd congressional district special election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Bill Owens66,54843.99
Working Families Bill Owens6,5894.36
Total Bill Owens 73,137 48.35
Conservative Doug Hoffman 69,55345.98
Republican Dede Scozzafava7,2604.80
Independence Dede Scozzafava1,3220.87
Total Dede Scozzafava 8,5825.67
Majority3,5842.37
Total votes151,272 100.00
Democratic gain from Republican

See also

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References

  1. "Democrat claims US House seat in Calif". The Washington Post. July 14, 2009.[ dead link ]
  2. Weiner, Mark (September 16, 2009). "Rep. John McHugh is confirmed as Secretary of the Army". Syracuse Post-Standard. syracuse.com.
  3. "Scozzafava Backs Ownes, Stuns GOP: Lifelong Republican throws support to former Democratic rival". Watertown Daily Times. November 1, 2009. Archived from the original on November 3, 2009. Retrieved November 3, 2009.