Massachusetts state legislative special elections, 2015
In 2015, three seats were vacated and filled by special elections in the Massachusetts State Legislature. The following districts had a vacancy in 2015:
- State House District First Suffolk District: The seat was vacant following Carlo Basile's (D) resignation on January 7, 2015, in order to serve as chief secretary for Gov. Charlie Baker (R).
- State House Eleventh Worcester District: The seat was vacant following Matthew Beaton's (R) resignation on January 7, 2015, in order to serve as Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs for Gov. Charlie Baker (R).
- State Senate Second Plymouth & Bristol District: The seat was vacant following Thomas Kennedy's (D) death on June 28, 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 Massachusetts General Court, a special election must be conducted to fill the vacant seat. The election must be held on the next regularly scheduled date on the election calendar.[1] Local governments that conduct special elections can receive reimbursement from the state treasurer's office for costs incurred.[2][3]
See sources: Massachusetts Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 54, § 141 and Massachusetts Const. Amend. Art. 24
Special elections
March 31, 2015
☑ Massachusetts House of Representatives First Suffolk District | |
---|---|
Adrian Madaro (D) defeated Joanne T. Pomodoro (I) in the special election on March 31. Madaro defeated four others in a Democratic primary on March 3.[4][5] The seat was vacant following Carlo Basile's (D) resignation on January 7, 2015, in order to serve as chief secretary for Gov. Charlie Baker (R).[6][7] A special election for the position of Massachusetts House of Representatives First Suffolk District was called for March 31. A Democratic primary took place on March 3.[4]
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☑ Massachusetts House of Representatives Eleventh Worcester District | |
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Hannah Kane (R) defeated Jason Palitsch (D) in the special election on March 31.[5] The seat was vacant following Matthew Beaton's (R) resignation on January 7, 2015, in order to serve as the Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs for Gov. Charlie Baker (R).[8][9] A special election for the position of Massachusetts House of Representatives Eleventh Worcester District was called for March 31.
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November 3, 2015
☑ Massachusetts State Senate Second Plymouth & Bristol District | ||||||||||||||||
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A special election for the position of Massachusetts State Senate Second Plymouth & Bristol District was called for November 3. A primary election was held on October 6. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was September 1.[10] The seat was vacant following Thomas Kennedy's (D) death on June 28, 2015.[11] Michael Brady defeated Joseph Lynch in the Democratic primary, while Geoff Diehl was unopposed in the Republican primary.[12] Brady defeated Diehl and independent candidate Anna Raduc in the special election.[13][14]
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See also
- State legislative special elections, 2015
- Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2014
- Massachusetts House of Representatives elections, 2014
- Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2012
- Massachusetts House of Representatives elections, 2012
- Massachusetts State Legislature
- Massachusetts state legislative special elections: 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010
Footnotes
- ↑ Massachusetts General Court, "General Laws," accessed February 12, 2021 (Section Chapter 50, Section 6A)
- ↑ Massachusetts General Court, "General Laws," accessed February 12, 2021 (Section Chapter 3: Section 10A)
- ↑ Massachusetts General Court, "General Laws," accessed February 12, 2021 (Section Chapter 54: Section 141)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Boston Globe, "Voters lift Madaro in E. Boston House primary," March 4, 2015
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2015 State Representative Special General Election-1st Suffolk District," April 16, 2015 Cite error: Invalid
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tag; name "MAResultOne" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ WBZ/AP, "Charlie Baker’s Cabinet Nearly Filled," January 8, 2015
- ↑ CommonWealth, "DeLeo reelected as Speaker," January 7, 2015
- ↑ Worcester Telegram, "Rep. Beaton of Shrewsbury to join Baker administration," November 18, 2014
- ↑ Telegram & Gazette, "Beaton to take state rep. oath, resign," December 30, 2014
- ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Special State Election 2nd Plymouth and Bristol Senatorial District," accessed July 14, 2015
- ↑ MassLive, "State Sen. Tom Kennedy dies at 63 after more than 30 years in Legislature," accessed June 30, 2015
- ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Special State Primary Candidates," accessed September 10, 2015
- ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2015 State Senate Special General Election," accessed November 20, 2015
- ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2015 State Senate Special Democratic Primary," accessed November 20, 2015