Republican nominee wins Missouri congressional special election
June 4, 2013
Jefferson City, Missouri: Republicans continue to maintain control of the state's 8th District as nominee Jason T. Smith managed to defeat several challengers, including fellow state representative Steve Hodges (D), to win the vacant 8th Congressional District seat in Missouri.[1][2] Smith, a member of the Missouri House of Representatives, was serving as the President Pro Tempore.
There were no special primary elections. Instead, the state party committees selected their nominees.[3] Candidates nominated by the political parties had until March 30, 2013 to file their candidacy with the secretary of state.[4] Polls for the special election opened at 6 a.m. and closed at 7 p.m.[5][5][6]
Smith will succeed Jo Ann Emerson (R), whose resignation ended a 32-year-run of Emerson family representation in Congress. Emerson officially resigned on January 22, 2013 to become president and chief executive officer of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association..[3][5] She had held the seat since 1996, when she won a special election to succeed her late husband, Bill Emerson.[7]
The 8th District spans 30 counties, from the outer St. Louis suburbs south to the Bootheel and west to the Ozarks of south-central Missouri.[7]
Voter turnout for special elections tend to be extraordinarily low, with a lot of variables working against high turnout, like the election’s timing, no incumbent and candidates who were selected by committee.[8]
Smith was considered the favorite as the 8th Congressional District leans Republican and the party was expected to retain control of the seat.[9][10]
| U.S. House, Missouri District 8 Special General Election, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Jason T. Smith |
67.1% | 42,141 | |
| Democratic | Steve Hodges | 27.4% | 17,207 | |
| Libertarian | Bill Slantz | 1.5% | 968 | |
| Constitution | Doug Enyart | 3.6% | 2,265 | |
| Write-in | Robert George | 0.1% | 75 | |
| Write-in | Thomas W. Brown | 0.1% | 85 | |
| Write-in | Wayne Byington | 0% | 25 | |
| Write-in | Theo Brown Sr. | 0% | 0 | |
| Total Votes | 62,766 | |||
| Source: Missouri Division of Elections "2013 Special Election Results" | ||||
See also
|
- Missouri's 8th Congressional District special election, 2013
- Missouri elections, 2013
- United States House of Representatives
- Missouri's 8th Congressional District
- Special elections to the 113th United States Congress (2013-2014)
External links
- Missouri's Election Division
- Upcoming Elections
- Election Results
- Missouri Established Political Parties
Footnotes
- ↑ Politico, "Republican wins Missouri special election" accessed June 4, 2013
- ↑ Missouri Secretary of State elections division, "Special Election 2013" accessed June 4, 2013
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Washington Post, "Missouri Rep. Jo Ann Emerson to resign from House," December 3, 2012
- ↑ Missouri Secretary of State, "Special Election," accessed February 1, 2013
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Daily Journal, "Candidates seek 8th Congressional District seat" accessed June 2, 2013
- ↑ The Hill, "Emerson’s resignation sets off free-for-all in Missouri House race," January 22, 2013
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 KAKE.com, "Missouri Holding Special Election For 8th Congress Seat" accessed June 4, 2013 (dead link)
- ↑ WSIU "MO 8th Election is Tuesday" accessed June 4, 2013
- ↑ Washington Post, "Republicans nominate Jason Smith for Missouri special election," February 9, 2013
- ↑ WGEM "Mo. US House hopefuls cite Obama, Social Security" accessed June 2, 2013
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