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Rhode Island state legislative special elections, 2016
One seat was vacated in the Rhode Island State Legislature in 2016. The seat in state Senate District 11 was filled through a special election.
Vacancy filled
- State Senate District 11: The seat was vacant following Christopher Ottiano's (R) resignation on October 13, 2015.
Breakdown of 2016 special elections
Across the country in 2016, special elections for state legislative positions were held for a variety of reasons:
- 23 were due to appointment, election, or the seeking of election to another position
- 11 were due to a retirement
- 11 were due to the incumbent accepting another job
- 12 were due to a death
- 4 were due to a conviction
- 3 were due to filling a remaining term
- 1 was due to an expulsion
The partisan breakdown for vacancies were as follows:
- 37 Democratic seats
- 28 Republican seats
Partisan Change from Special Elections | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | As of Vacancy | After Special Election | |
Democratic Party | 37 | 39 | |
Republican Party | 28 | 24 | |
Independent | 0 | 2 | |
Total | 65 | 65 |
Note: The table above reflected information for elections that were held—not total vacant seats.
How vacancies are filled
If there is a vacancy in the Rhode Island General Assembly, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat. The secretary of state must call for an election to be held anywhere from 70 to 90 days after the vacancy occurred. No election can be held if the vacancy happens after the first Monday in February during an election year. The person elected to fill the seat serves for the remainder of the unfilled term.[1]
See sources: Rhode Island Gen. Laws § 17-3-6
Special elections
January 5, 2016
☑ Rhode Island State Senate District 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A special election for the position of Rhode Island State Senate District 11 was called for January 5, 2016. A primary election took place on December 1, 2015. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was October 23, 2015.[2] The seat was vacant following Christopher Ottiano's (R) resignation on October 13, 2015. He resigned to take a job at the Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island.[3] James Arthur Seveney defeated Brett N. Pelletier and Amy G. Rice in the Democratic primary. John A. Pagliarini Jr. defeated Joan B. Chabot and Kenneth Mendonca in the Republican primary. Gregory Steven Blythe ran as an independent candidate.[4][5] Pagliarini defeated Seveney and Blythe in the special election.[6]
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See also
- State legislative special elections, 2016
- State legislative special elections, 2015
- Rhode Island State Senate elections, 2014
- Rhode Island House of Representatives elections, 2014
- Rhode Island State Senate elections, 2012
- Rhode Island House of Representatives elections, 2012
- Rhode Island State Legislature
- Rhode Island state legislative special elections: 2014, 2015
Footnotes
- ↑ Rhode Island General Laws, "Title 17 Elections; Chapter 3 General Assembly Members; § 17-3-6. Vacancy in general assembly — Special elections," accessed February 3, 2023
- ↑ Providence Journal, "Special election schedule set for Ottiano's replacement in R.I. Senate," October 14, 2015
- ↑ Providence Journal, "Republican Sen. Ottiano to resign because of new job," October 13, 2015
- ↑ Rhode Island Government, "Seven declared candidates for Senate District 11 Special Election," accessed October 26, 2015
- ↑ Rhode Island State Board of Elections, "Senate 11 Primary Results," accessed January 22, 2016
- ↑ Rhode Island State Board of Elections, "Senate 11 Special Election Results," accessed January 22, 2016
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