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Washington's 1st Congressional District special election, 2012
The 1st Congressional District of Washington held a special election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012. The election was to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Representative Jay Inslee (D). Candidates wishing to run had to file by the signature filing deadline May 18, 2012. The primary elections were held on August 7, 2012. Washington has a top-two primary system, in which the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, go on to the general election.[1] [2]
Suzan DelBene (D), who also won election for the full next term, won the special election.[3]
The special election was projected cost the state about $770,000, according to Secretary of State Sam Reed.[2]
Candidates
General election candidates
August 7, 2012, primary results
Democratic candidates
- J. Byron Holcomb (Only running for the month-long term)[4]
- Brian Berry (Only running for the month-long term)[4]
- Brian Sullivan (Only running for the month-long term)[4]
- Darcy Burner (Also running for the 2012-2014 term)[4]
- Suzan DelBene
(Also running for the 2012-2014 term)[4] - Laura Ruderman (Also running for the 2012-2014 term)[4]
- Darshan Rauniyar (Also running for the 2012-2014 term)[4]
- Ruth Morrison (Only running for the month-long term)[4]
Republican candidates
- John Koster (Also running for the 2012-2014 term)[4]
- Steven Gerdes (Only running for the month-long term)[4]
- John Koster
Independent candidates
- Bob Champion (Only running for the month-long term)[4]
Race background
Incumbent Jay Inslee retired in 2012 order to run for Washington governor. Washington officials were required under the U.S. Constitution to replace him, even though the winner of the special election would serve for one month—December 2012—before the newly elected representative took office for the next full term. Most of the candidates for the 2012-2014 term also ran in the special election.[4]
Voters selected both the short-term and two-year replacements at the same time: in the November 6, 2012 election. Further complicating matters was the fact that redistricting significantly changed the boundaries of the 1st District for 2012. The short-term replacement was elected by the pre-2012 district, and the representative for 2012-2014 was elected by the newly redrawn district.[5]
See also
- United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, 2012
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2012
Footnotes
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Top 2 Primary: FAQ," accessed May 17, 2012
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Seattle Times, "Gregoire calls a special election to replace Inslee for a month," April 2, 2012
- ↑ Seattle Times, "2012 Washington Election Results"
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 Washington Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings," accessed May 18, 2012
- ↑ Seattle Times, "Special election to replace Inslee for 1 month," April 2, 2012
