State Legislative Tracker: Iowa special election in November could trump general elections
September 19, 2011
Edited by Geoff Pallay
This week's tracker features a preview of a uniquely compelling special election in Iowa in November.
Sessions
So far this year, 43 out of 50 state legislatures have officially adjourned their regular session. However, several special sessions remain on tap for the rest of the year.[1] This week, no states are scheduled to adjourn their 2011 regular session.
Regular sessions
The following 7 states remain in regular legislative sessions:
- * Wisconsin is convened in an ongoing special session, but is still in regular session. It held a one-day session on September 13 and although no upcoming meetings are scheduled, it is still technically in special session.
- ** New Jersey and Pennsylvania are in recess until September 26. New Hampshire is in recess until October 12.
- Click here to see a chart of each state's 2011 session information.
Special sessions
Special sessions have been and are expected to be a widespread occurrence in the state legislatures in 2011, in particular due to the necessity of states to conduct the redistricting of state legislative and congressional districts. This week New Mexico, North Carolina and Wisconsin continue special sessions.
Last week the Missouri Legislature adjourned a special session with plans to once again meet this Wednesday (September 21).
So far this year, there have been 30 special sessions in 21 states.
State Legislative Tracker: A glance at state legislatures | |||
---|---|---|---|
Number of special elections this year | 84 | ||
Number of special sessions this year | 30 | ||
Number of states that held special sessions this year | 21 | ||
Number of seats up for general election this year | 578 |
The following states have special sessions scheduled:
- Maine: To begin on September 27 to conduct redistricting
- Utah: To begin on October 3 to conduct redistricting
- Rhode Island: October 2011 to discuss pensions issues
- Maryland: To begin on October 17 to conduct redistricting
- South Dakota: To begin on October 24 to conduct redistricting
- North Dakota: To begin on November 7 to conduct redistricting
In recess
As of September 19, 18 states' sessions are currently in mid-term recess:
|
|
Elections
- See also: State legislative elections, 2011
A total of 578 seats will be up for general election in state legislatures in 2011.
In this year's 2011 election cycle, one legislative primary remains in Louisiana on October 22, 2011. New Jersey held statewide primaries on June 7, 2011, Mississippi held statewide primaries on August 2, and Virginia held primaries on August 23.
The signature filing deadline for candidates in Louisiana was Tuesday, September 8. A total of 39 state senate and 105 state house seats will be up for election in 2011. Louisiana uses a blanket primary system. Because Louisiana uses a blanket primary system, a candidate can be declared the overall winner of the seat by garnering 50 percent +1 of the vote in the primary on October 22, 2011. However, if no candidate reaches this threshold, then a general election will take place on November 19, 2011.
Elections spotlight
- See also: State legislative elections
Currently, the Democratic Party holds a majority in the Iowa State Senate by a 26-24 margin. Republicans nearly won back control of the Senate during the 2010 elections -- prior to November 2, 2010, Democrats held a 32-16 (with 2 vacancies) lead in the chamber.
There are 25 seats up for election again in 2012, setting the stage for a tight race for control of the chamber.
But in less than two months, partisan control of the Senate will already be up-for-grabs when a special election is held to fill a recently vacated seat previously held by Democratic Senator Swati Dandekar. Earlier this month, Republican Governor of Iowa Terry Branstad (R) appointed Dandekar to a position on the Iowa Utilities Board. This appointment now leaves the Senate at a 25-24 (1 vacancy) breakdown. If the GOP wins the special election, it create a 25-25 tie.
According to the Des Moines Register, there are more registered Republicans in the district.[4] Dandekar narrowly won election in 2008 during a strong Democratic campaign.
Iowa State Senate District 18 General Election, 2008 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Democratic | ![]() |
54.3% | 20,667 | |
Republican | Joe Childers | 45.7% | 17,367 | |
Total Votes | 38,034 |
The special election on November 8 could ultimately be a more closely-monitored contest than any of the 578 other seats up for election that night.
Special elections
There are three states holding special elections tomorrow, New Hampshire (Republican seat), Massachusetts (Democratic seat) and Georgia (Republican seat):
New Hampshire House, Hillsborough 3
Robert Huxley (R) resigned in early May, citing personal and financial reasons. Since only two candidates have filed, no primary was necessary.[5][6]
Massachusetts House District 12th Bristol
Stephen Canessa (D) resigned on June 24 to take a job as a legislative liaison for SouthCoast Health System. A special election primary was held on August 23, 2011.[7][8]
- General election candidates:
Roger Brunelle Jr.
Keiko Orrall
Georgia House District 43
Former representative Bobby Franklin (R) passed away in late-July 2011.[9] The election is a nonpartisan special election. Party affiliation will be listed, but all candidates will appear on the same ballot. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, a runoff election will be held on October 18, 2011.[10]
Looking ahead
Upcoming special elections include:
- September 27: South Carolina District 100
- October 11: Oklahoma Senate District 43
- October 18: Massachusetts House District 3rd Berkshire
- October 18: Minnesota Senate Districts 46, 61
Footnotes
- ↑ StateScape, Session updates, accessed Sept. 19, 2011
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 StateScape, Session schedules, accessed September 19, 2011
- ↑ The Sacramento Bee, California Democrats, backed by business, roll out last-minute proposal on regulations, Sept. 2, 2011 (dead link)
- ↑ Des Moines Register, "UPDATE: Senator resigns, leaving slim Democratic majority in jeopardy; special election Nov. 8," September 16, 2011
- ↑ Ledger-Transcript, "Election to fill seat of GOP Rep. Huxley," May 3, 2011
- ↑ New Hampshire Elections Division," accessed May 26, 2011 (dead link)
- ↑ SouthCoastToday.com, Suburbs dominate race for Canessa seat, July 28, 2011
- ↑ Taunton Daily Gazettee, "Orral, Brunelle victorious in primary election for Canessa's state representative seat," August 24, 2011
- ↑ Marietta Daily Journal Online, "Cobb Rep. Bobby Franklin found dead in home," July 26, 2011
- ↑ Secretary of State News, "Secretary Kemp Announces the Close of Qualifying for the Special Election in State House District 43," August 17, 2011