Delaware state legislative special elections, 2015
In 2015, one seat was vacated and filled by a special election in the Delaware State Legislature. The following district had a vacancy in 2015:
- State House District 18: The seat was vacant following Michael Barbieri's (D) resignation on August 3, 2015.
Breakdown of 2015 special elections
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.
| Partisan Change from Special Elections | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of Vacancy | After Special Election | |
| Democratic Party | 42 | 38* | |
| Republican Party | 46 | 50* | |
| Independent | 1 | 1 | |
| Total | 89 | 89 | |
*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
If there is a vacancy in the Delaware General Assembly, the presiding officer of the house in which the vacancy happens must call for a special election within 10 days of the creation of the vacancy. The election must be called for no less than 30 days but no more than 35 days after the writ for the special election has been issued. The governor may issue a writ if the legislature is not in session.[1]
See sources: Delaware Code Ann. tit. 15, § 7101
Special elections
September 12, 2015
| ☑ Delaware House of Representatives District 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A special election for the position of Delaware House of Representatives District 18 was called for September 12. Candidates were nominated by parties rather than chosen in primaries.[2] The seat was vacant following Michael Barbieri's (D) resignation on August 3, 2015.[3] David Bentz (D) defeated Eileen O'Shaughnessy-Coleman (R) in the special election.[4][2]
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See also
- State legislative special elections, 2015
- Delaware State Senate elections, 2016
- Delaware House of Representatives elections, 2014
- Delaware State Senate elections, 2012
- Delaware House of Representatives elections, 2012
- Delaware State Legislature
Footnotes
- ↑ Delaware Legislature, "Delaware Election Code," accessed May 22, 2014 (Statutes § 7101 and § 7104, Delaware Code)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 delawareonline.com/, "Special election date set for September 12," accessed August 7, 2015
- ↑ delawareonline.com, "Newark Rep. Mike Barbieri resigns for state job," accessed July 14, 2015
- ↑ State of Delaware, "Official Special Election results," accessed September 14, 2015
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