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State legislative vacancies, 2023

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2023 State Legislative
Vacancies
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2023 state legislative elections
2023 state legislative special elections
Procedures for filling state legislative vacancies

In 2023, there were 155 state legislative vacancies in 44 states.

The process for filling vacancies varies among the state legislatures. Twenty-five states fill vacancies in the state legislature through special elections. Twenty-one states fill vacancies through appointments, and four states fill vacancies through a hybrid system that uses both appointments and special elections. The most common reasons for a state legislative vacancy include officeholders resigning, dying, leaving for a new job, being elected or appointed to a different office, or receiving a legal conviction.

  • Click here to read more about procedures for filling state legislative vacancies.
  • Click here to read more about 2023's regular state legislative elections.
  • Click here to read more about 2023's special state legislative elections.


The table below details the partisan breakdown for state legislative vacancies in 2023. The number on the left reflects how many vacant seats were originally held by each party, while the number on the right shows how many vacant seats each party held after the special elections and appointments took place.

Partisan breakdown of the vacancies (2023)
Party As of vacancy After vacancy
     Democratic Party
85
87
     Republican Party
68
68
     Independent
2
0
Total 155 155



As of September 13th, 2025, Republicans controlled 55.51% of all state legislative seats nationally, while Democrats held 43.66%. Republicans held a majority in 57 chambers, and Democrats held the majority in 39 chambers. Two chambers (Alaska House and Alaska Senate) were organized under multipartisan, power-sharing coalitions. One chamber (Minnesota House of Representatives) was split evenly between both parties.

Partisan balance of all 7,386 state legislative seats
Legislative chamber Democratic Party Republican Party Grey.png Other Vacant
State senates 833 1,122 5 13
State houses 2,392 2,978 20 23
Total: 3,225

4,100

25

36


Click here for the list of special elections triggered by a state legislative vacancy in 2023.

Current and past vacancies

The table below highlights each instance where a state legislative vacancy triggered a replacement via appointment or special election in 2023. Know of a vacancy that should be covered here? Click here to let us know.

2023 state legislative vacancies
Date of vacancy Office Legislator Party Reason Vacancy procedure Date filled Successor
December 31, 2023 North Dakota House District 38 Larry Bellew Democratic Resignation Appointment January 26, 2024 JoAnne Rademacher (R)
December 31, 2023 Colorado House District 31 Said Sharbini Democratic Resignation Appointment January 18, 2024 Julia Marvin (D)
December 31, 2023 Arizona House District 8 Athena Salman Democratic Resignation Appointment February 2, 2024 Jevin Hodge (D)
December 21, 2023 West Virginia House District 55 Moore Capito Republican Resignation Appointment January 9, 2024 JB Akers (R)
December 18, 2023 Illinois House District 104 Mike Marron Republican Resignation Appointment December 21, 2023 Brandun Schweizer (R)
December 15, 2023 Kansas House District 49 Brad Boyd Democratic Resignation Appointment December 18, 2023 Nikki McDonald (D)
December 15, 2023 Pennsylvania House District 140 John Galloway Democratic Elected to another office Special election March 18, 2024 Jim Prokopiak (D)
December 11, 2023 Colorado House District 37 Ruby Dickson Democratic Resignation Appointment January 3, 2024 Chad Clifford (D)
December 8, 2023 Illinois House District 82 John Egofske Republican Resignation Appointment December 21, 2023 Nicole La Ha Zwiercan
December 5, 2023 Indiana Senate District 3 Eddie Melton Democratic Resignation Appointment January 3, 2024 David Vinzant (D)
December 4, 2023 Maryland House District 25 Nick Charles Democratic Appointment to another office Appointment December 28, 2023 Denise Roberts (D)
December 3, 2023 Oregon House District 3 Lily Morgan Republican Resignation Appointment December 27, 2023 Dwayne Yunker (R)
December 2, 2023 Connecticut House District 115 Dorinda Keenan Borer Democratic Elected to another office Special Election January 26, 2024 William Heffernan III (D)
December 1, 2023 New Hampshire House District Rockingham 21 Robin Vogt Democratic Resignation Special Election March 27, 2024 Jennifer Mandelbaum (D)
December 1, 2023 Ohio Senate District 30 Frank Hoagland Republican Resignation Appointment December 6, 2023 Brian Chavez (R)
November 29, 2023 Massachusetts House 6th Worcester District Peter Durant Republican Elected to another office Special Election March 27, 2024 John Marsi Jr. (R)
November 22, 2023 Michigan House District 25 Kevin Coleman Democratic Elected to another office Special election April 30, 2024 Peter Herzberg (D)
November 20, 2023 Michigan House District 13 Lori M. Stone Democratic Elected to another office Special election April 30, 2024 Mai Xiong (D)
November 15, 2023 Delaware House District 37 Ruth Briggs King Republican Resignation Special election December 22, 2023 Valerie Jones Giltner (R)
November 15, 2023 Utah House District 15 Brad R. Wilson Republican Resignation Appointment November 15, 2023 Ariel Defay (R)
November 13, 2023 New Hampshire House District Strafford 11 Hoy Menear Democratic Death Special election March 27, 2024 Erik Johnson (D)
November 13, 2023 South Dakota House District 34 Jess Olson Republican Resignation Appointment January 16, 2024 Becky Drury (R)
November 9, 2023 Hawaii House District 10 Troy Hashimoto Democratic Appointment to another office Appointment December 15, 2023 Tyson Miyake
November 7, 2023 Virginia House District 93 Michael Mullin Democratic Resignation Regular election January 10, 2024 Jackie Glass (D)
November 7, 2023 South Carolina House District 109 Deon Tedder Democratic Elected to another office Special election April 2, 2024 Tiffany Spann-Wilder (D)
November 1, 2023 Nebraska Senate District 41 Tom Briese Republican Appointment to another office Appointment November 15, 2023 Fred Meyer (R)
October 31, 2023 Maryland Senate District 25 Melony Griffith Democratic Resignation Appointment December 6, 2023 Nick Charles (D)
October 31, 2023 Hawaii Senate District 5 Gilbert Keith-Agaran Democratic Resignation Appointment November 2, 2023 Troy Hashimoto (D)
October 31, 2023 Maine House District 122 Lois Reckitt Democratic Death Special election March 6, 2024 Matthew Beck (D)
October 30, 2023 Alabama Senate District 9 Clay Scofield Republican Resignation Special election January 10, 2024 Wes Kitchens (R)
October 26, 2023 Nevada Senate District 18 Scott Hammond Republican Appointed to another office General election November 6, 2024 John Steinbeck (R)
October 25, 2023 New Mexico Senate District 27 Stuart Ingle Republican Resignation Appointment January 5, 2024 Greg Nibert (R)
October 25, 2023 New Mexico Senate District 27 Stuart Ingle Republican Resignation Appointment January 5, 2024 Greg Nibert (R)
October 20, 2023 Nevada Assembly District 7 Cameron Miller Democratic Resignation General election November 6, 2024 Tanya Flanagan (D)
October 16, 2023 Indiana Senate District 38 Jon Ford Republican Resignation Appointment November 1, 2023 Greg Goode (R)
October 15, 2023 Utah Senate District 22 Jake Anderegg Republican Resignation Appointment October 24, 2023 Heidi Balderree (R)
October 12, 2023 West Virginia House District 15 Riley Keaton Republican Resignation Appointment November 6, 2023 Erica Moore (R)
October 10, 2023 Alaska House District 40 Josiah Patkotak Independent Resignation Appointment November 13, 2023 Thomas Baker (R)
October 6, 2023 West Virginia House District 6 Charlie Reynolds Republican Resignation Appointment October 26, 2023 Jeffrey Stephens (R)
October 2, 2023 Ohio House District 32 Bob Young Republican Resignation Appointment April 24, 2024 Jack K. Daniels (R)
October 1, 2023 North Dakota Senate District 34 Doug Larsen Republican Death Appointment October 23, 2023 Justin Gerhardt (R)
September 26, 2023 Indiana Senate District 43 Chip Perfect Republican Resignation Appointment September 28, 2023 Randy Maxwell (R)
September 22, 2023 Virginia Senate District 14 John Cosgrove Republican Appointed to another office Regular election November 7, 2023 Lamont Bagby (D)
September 20, 2023 Indiana Senate District 36 Jack Sandlin Republican Death Appointment November 1, 2023 Cyndi Carrasco (R)
September 20, 2023 New Hampshire House District Coos 1 Troy Merner Republican Resignation Special election January 31, 2024 Sean Durkin (R)
September 19, 2023 Colorado House District 32 Dafna Michaelson Jenet Democratic Appointed to another office Appointment October 13, 2023 Manny Rutinel (D)
September 18, 2023 Virginia House District 58 Rob Bell Republican Resignation Regular election January 10, 2024 Rodney Willett (D)
September 18, 2023 New Hampshire House District Coos 6 William Hatch Democratic Resignation Special election January 31, 2024 Michael Murphy (R)
September 9, 2023 Utah House District 26 Quinn Kotter Republican Resignation Appointment October 10, 2023 Matt MacPherson (R)
September 8, 2023 West Virginia House District 57 Douglas Skaff Jr. Democratic Resignation Appointment November 3, 2023 Hollis Lewis (D)
September 6, 2023 Nevada Assembly District 10 Sabra Newby Democratic Resignation General election November 6, 2024 Venise Karris (D)
September 1, 2023 Virginia House District 22 Kathy Byron Republican Resignation Regular election January 10, 2024 Ian Lovejoy (R)
September 1, 2023 Minnesota House District 52B Ruth Richardson Democratic Resignation Special election January 12, 2024 Bianca Ward Virnig (D)
September 1, 2023 Colorado Senate District 21 Dominick Moreno Democratic Resignation Appointment September 19, 2023 Dafna Michaelson Jenet (D)
September 1, 2023 Oklahoma House District 39 Ryan Martinez Republican Resignation Special election February 21, 2024 Erick Harris (R)
August 31, 2023 Alabama House District 10 David Cole Republican Resignation Special election March 27, 2024 Marilyn Lands (D)
August 30, 2023 West Virginia House District 46 Michael Honaker Republican Appointed to another office Appointment September 15, 2023 Jeff Campbell (R)
August 27, 2023 Mississippi House District 15 Mac Huddleston Republican Death General election January 2, 2024 Beth Luther Waldo (R)
August 23, 2023 Washington House District 23 - Position 2 Drew Hansen Democratic Appointed to another office Appointment September 18, 2023 Greg Nance (D)
August 21, 2023 Louisiana House District 85 Joseph Marino Independent Appointed to another office General election January 8, 2024 Vincent Cox III (R)
August 17, 2023 South Dakota Senate District 35 Jessica Castleberry Republican Resignation Appointment February 15, 2024 Mike Walsh (R)
August 15, 2023 Illinois House District 9 Lakesia Collins Democratic Appointed to another office Appointment September 13, 2023 Yolonda Morris (D)
August 15, 2023 Washington Senate District 23 Christine Rolfes Democratic Appointed to another office Appointment August 23, 2023 Drew Hansen (D)
August 13, 2023 South Carolina Senate District 19 John Scott Democratic Death Special election January 8, 2024 Tameika Isaac Devine (D)
August 4, 2023 Colorado House District 4 Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez Democratic Elected to another office Appointment September 12, 2023 Tim Hernández (D)
August 1, 2023 Illinois Senate District 5 Patricia Van Pelt Democratic Resignation Appointment August 15, 2023 Lakesia Collins (D)
August 1, 2023 Oklahoma Senate District 32 John Montgomery Republican Resignation Special election December 20, 2023 Dusty Deevers (R)
August 1, 2023 New Mexico Senate District 42 Gay Kernan Republican Resignation Appointment September 15, 2023 Steve McCutcheon (R)
July 19, 2023 Pennsylvania House District 21 Sara Innamorato Democratic Resignation Special election October 2, 2023 Lindsay Powell (D)
July 14, 2023 Virginia House District 6 Jeffrey Campbell Republican Appointed to another office Special election September 5, 2023 Jed Arnold (R)
July 14, 2023 New York Assembly District 27 Daniel Rosenthal Democratic Resignation Special election September 14, 2023 Sam Berger (D)
July 14, 2023 Maine House District 50 Sean Paulhus Democratic Appointed to another office Special election November 11, 2023 David Sinclair (D)
July 8, 2023 Indiana House District 67 Randy Frye Republican Resignation Appointment July 17, 2023 Alex Zimmerman (R)
July 6, 2023 New Hampshire House District Hillsborough 3 David Cote Democratic Resignation Special election November 7, 2023 Paige Beauchemin (D)
July 4, 2023 Arizona House District 20 Andres Cano Democratic Resignation Appointment July 31, 2023 Betty Villegas (D)
July 1, 2023 New Mexico House District 25 Christine Trujillo Democratic Resignation Appointment August 17, 2023 Cristina Parajón (D)
June 30, 2023 Florida House District 35 Fred Hawkins Republican Resignation Special election January 16, 2024 Tom Keen (D)
June 30, 2023 Alabama House District 16 Kyle South Republican Resignation Special election January 10, 2024 Bryan Brinyark (R)
June 16, 2023 Florida House District 118 Juan Fernandez-Barquin Republican Resignation Special election December 5, 2023 Mike Redondo (R)
June 13, 2023 Arizona Senate District 2 Steve Kaiser Republican Resignation Appointment July 23, 2023 Shawnna Bolick (R)
June 4, 2023 Massachusetts Senate Worcester & Hampshire District Anne Gobi Democratic Appointed to another office Special election November 7, 2023 Peter Durant (R)
June 4, 2023 Tennessee House District 51 Bill Beck Democratic Death Special election October 4, 2023 Aftyn Behn (D)
May 31, 2023 Illinois Senate District 20 Cristina Pacione-Zayas Democratic Resignation Appointment July 10, 2023 Natalie Toro (D)
May 24, 2023 Alabama House District 55 Fred Plump Democratic Resignation Special election October 25, 2023 Travis Hendrix (D)
May 19, 2023 West Virginia House District 4 Erikka Storch Republican Resignation Appointment June 7, 2023 Diana Winzenreid (R)
May 15, 2023 Maryland House District 41 Tony Bridges Democratic Resignation Appointment June 22, 2023 Malcolm Ruff (D)
May 15, 2023 Illinois House District 5 Lamont Robinson Jr. Democratic Elected to another office Appointment May 15, 2023 Kimberly Neely Dubuclet (D)
May 13, 2023 Kentucky House District 93 Lamin Swann Democratic Death Special election November 7, 2023 Adrielle Camuel (D)
May 8, 2023 Arizona House District 26 Flavio Bravo Democratic Appointed to another office Appointment June 7, 2023 Quanta Crews (D)
May 11, 2023 South Carolina Senate District 42 Marlon Kimpson Democratic Appointed to another office Special election November 7, 2023 Deon Tedder (D)
May 8, 2023 Texas House District 2 Bryan Slaton Republican Resignation Special election February 14, 2024 Jill Dutton (R)
May 3, 2023 Wisconsin Assembly District 24 Daniel Knodl Republican Elected to another office Special election August 7, 2023 Paul Melotik (R)
May 1, 2023 Maryland House District 17 Kumar Barve Democratic Appointed to another office Appointment June 15, 2023 Ryan Spiegel (D)
May 1, 2023 Indiana House District 31 Ann Vermilion Republican Resignation Appointment May 31, 2023 Lori Goss-Reaves (R)
April 25, 2023 New Hampshire House District Rockingham 1 Benjamin T. Bartlett IV Republican Resignation Special election October 4, 2023 Hal Rafter (D)
April 24, 2023 Virginia House District 84 Glenn Davis Republican Resignation Regular election January 10, 2024 Nadarius Clark (D)
April 20, 2023 Tennessee House District 3 Scotty Campbell Republican Resignation Special election May 23, 2023 Timothy Hill (R)
April 17, 2023 West Virginia House District 81 Danielle Walker Democratic Resignation Appointment May 5, 2023 Anitra Hamilton (D)
April 17, 2023 Missouri House District 78 Rasheen Aldridge Democratic Resignation Regular election November 5, 2024 Marty Joe Murray (D)
April 15, 2023 Maryland House District 25 Darryl Barnes Democratic Resignation Appointment May 31, 2023 Kent Roberson (D)
April 15, 2023 Rhode Island Senate District 1 Maryellen Goodwin Democratic Death Special election December 8, 2023 Jake Bissaillon (D)
April 13, 2023 Arizona Senate District 26 Raquel Terán Democratic Resignation Appointment May 8, 2023 Flavio Bravo (D)
April 2, 2023 Mississippi House District 27 Kenneth Walker Democratic Resignation Regular election January 2, 2024 Kenji Holloway (D)
April 12, 2023 Arizona House District 13 Liz Harris Republican Removed from office Appointment May 5, 2023 Julie Willoughby (R)
April 11, 2023 Virginia House District 74 Lamont Bagby Democratic Elected to another office Regular election January 10, 2024 Mike Cherry (R)
April 6, 2023 Tennessee House District 86 Justin Pearson Democratic Removed from office Special election April 12, 2023 Justin Pearson (D)
April 6, 2023 Tennessee House District 52 Justin Jones Democratic Removed from office Special election April 10, 2023 Justin Jones (D)
April 5, 2023 Nebraska Senate District 25 Suzanne Geist Republican Resignation Appointment April 11, 2023 Carolyn Bosn (R)
April 4, 2023 New Hampshire House District Grafton 16 Joshua Adjutant Democratic Resignation Special election September 6, 2023 David Fracht (D)
April 3, 2023 Virginia House District 83 Tim Anderson Republican Resignation Regular election January 10, 2024 H. Otto Wachsmann Jr. (R)
March 21, 2023 Maryland House District 39 Kirill Reznik Democratic Resignation Appointment May 2, 2023 Greg Wims (D)
March 21, 2023 Virginia House District 79 Nadarius Clark Democratic Resignation Regular election January 10, 2024 Rae Cousins (D)
March 21, 2023 New Jersey House District 28 Ralph Caputo Democratic Resignation Appointment May 25, 2023 Jackie Yustein (D)
March 16, 2023 Pennsylvania House District 163 Michael Zabel Democratic Resignation Special election June 5, 2023 Heather Boyd (D)
March 8, 2023 Georgia House District 68 Tish Naghise Democratic Death Special election June 29, 2023 Derrick Jackson (D)
March 7, 2023 Virginia State Senate 9th District Jennifer McClellan Democratic Elected to another office Special election April 11, 2023 Lamont Bagby (D)
March 1, 2023 Massachusetts House 9th Suffolk District Jon Santiago Democratic Resignation Special election June 7, 2023 John Moran (D)
February 28, 2023 Pennsylvania House District 108 Lynda Schlegel Culver Republican Elected to another office Special election June 5, 2023 Michael Stender (R)
February 28, 2023 Maryland House District 16 Ariana Kelly Democratic Appointed to another office Appointment April 3, 2023 Sarah Wolek (D)
February 28, 2023 Illinois House District 35 Frances Ann Hurley Democratic Resignation Appointment March 29, 2023 Mary Gill (D)
February 28, 2023 Massachusetts House 10th Suffolk District Edward Coppinger Democratic Resignation Special election June 7, 2023 Bill MacGregor (D)
February 25, 2023 Ohio House District 60 Kris Jordan Republican Death Appointment May 12, 2023 Brian Lorenz (R)
February 15, 2023 Maine House District 45 Clinton Collamore, Sr. Democratic Resignation Special election June 14, 2023 Abden Simmons (R)
January 31, 2023 Ohio House District 90 Brian Baldridge Republican Appointed to another office Appointment May 11, 2023 Justin Pizzulli (R)
January 27, 2023 Vermont House Lamoille-2 District Kate Donnally Democratic Resignation Appointment March 21, 2023 Melanie Carpenter (D)
January 27, 2023 Maryland House District 22 Alonzo Washington Democratic Appointed to another office Appointment February 28, 2023 Ashanti Martínez (D)
January 24, 2023 Georgia House District 75 Mike Glanton Democratic Resignation Special election March 28, 2023 Eric Bell II (D)
January 18, 2023 Maryland Senate District 16 Susan Lee Democratic Appointed to another office Appointment February 27, 2023 Ariana Kelly (D)
January 17, 2023 Montana House District 50 Mallerie Stromswold Republican Resignation Appointment January 23, 2023 Naarah Hastings (R)
January 17, 2023 Oregon House District 1 David Brock Smith Republican Appointed to another office Appointment February 9, 2023 Court Boice (R)
January 17, 2023 Utah House District 31 Karen Kwan Democratic Appointed to another office Appointment January 30, 2023 Brett Garner (D)
January 16, 2023 Utah Senate District 12 Karen Mayne Democratic Resignation Appointment January 17, 2023 Karen Kwan (D)
January 12, 2023 Illinois House District 106 Tom Bennett Republican Appointed to another office Appointment February 5, 2023 Jason Bunting (R)
January 11, 2023 Maryland House District 14 Eric Luedtke Democratic Resignation Appointment January 11, 2023 Bernice Mireku-North (D)
January 11, 2023 Illinois Senate District 53 Jason Barickman Republican Resignation Appointment January 12, 2023 Tom Bennett (R)
January 10, 2023 Montana House District 29 Doug Flament Republican Resignation Appointment January 14, 2023 Edward Butcher (R)
January 10, 2023 Maryland Senate District 22 Paul Pinsky Democratic Resignation Appointment January 27, 2023 Alonzo Washington (D)
January 10, 2023 Kansas Senate District 22 Tom Hawk Democratic Resignation Appointment January 11, 2023 Usha Reddi (D)
January 10, 2023 Colorado Senate District 5 Robert Rankin Republican Resignation Appointment January 12, 2023 Perry Will (R)
January 9, 2023 Colorado House District 12 Tracey Bernett Democratic Resignation Appointment February 1, 2023 Kyle Brown (D)
January 9, 2023 Illinois House District 82 Jim Durkin Republican Resignation Appointment February 6, 2023 John Egofske (R)
January 8, 2023 Kansas Senate District 13 Richard Hilderbrand Republican Resignation Appointment January 23, 2023 Tim Shallenburger (R)
January 6, 2023 Kentucky Senate District 28 Ralph Alvarado Republican Appointed to another office Special election June 8, 2023 Greg Elkins (R)
January 5, 2023 Colorado House District 35 Adrienne Benavidez Democratic Resignation Appointment January 9, 2023 Lorena Garcia (D)
January 5, 2023 Connecticut House District 100 Quentin Williams Democratic Death Special election March 3, 2023 Kai Juanna Belton (D)
January 3, 2023 Hawaii House District 16 James Tokioka Democratic Appointed to another office Appointment February 21, 2023 Luke Evslin (D)
January 3, 2023 Hawaii House District 37 Ryan Yamane Democratic Appointed to another office Appointment February 21, 2023 Trish La Chica (D)
January 3, 2023 Nebraska Senate District 21 Mike Hilgers Republican Elected to another office Appointment January 4, 2023 Beau Ballard (R)
January 3, 2023 Kentucky Senate District 19 Morgan McGarvey Democratic Elected to another office Special election March 2, 2023 Cassie Chambers Armstrong (D)
January 3, 2023 Utah House District 60 Adam Robertson Republican Resignation Appointment January 17, 2023 Tyler Clancy (R)
January 2, 2023 Kansas Senate District 27 Gene Suellentrop Republican Resignation Appointment January 9, 2023 Chase Blasi (R)
January 1, 2023 Oregon Senate District 1 Dallas Heard Republican Resignation Appointment January 17, 2023 David Smith (R)
January 3, 2023 Connecticut House District 6 Edwin Vargas Democratic Resignation Special election March 6, 2023 James Sánchez (D)
January 4, 2023 Connecticut House District 148 Dan Fox Democratic Resignation Special election March 3, 2023 Anabel Figueroa (D)
January 9, 2023 Georgia House District 119 Marcus Wiedower[1] Republican Resignation at term end Special election February 28, 2023 Holt Persinger (R)

How are vacancies filled in state legislatures?

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

The map below displays the different ways that vacancies are filled in state legislatures according to state law.

State legislative vacancies can be filled through special elections, governor appointments, board of county commissioners appointments, political party appointments, legislative chamber appointments, or a type of hybrid system. All 50 states use one or more of these systems to fill legislative vacancies.

Click on a state below to see the process for filling legislative vacancies in that state. The map also displays who holds the real power in filling legislative vacancies. For example, in the state of Utah, the state's constitution says that the governor is responsible for filling a legislative vacancy. However, the political party actually holds the real power in filling vacancies in the Utah State Legislature since the party recommends a successor to the governor and the governor then appoints the new member.

See also

Footnotes

  1. The seat became vacant after representative-elect Danny Rampey (R) resigned before he was sworn in.