Iowa state legislative special elections, 2015
In 2015, four seats were vacated and filled by special elections in the Iowa State Legislature. The following districts had a vacancy in 2015:
- State House District 4: The seat was vacant following Dwayne Alons' (R) death on November 29, 2014.
- State House District 23: The seat was vacant following Mark Costello' (R) election to the Iowa State Senate.
- State House District 5: The seat was vacant following Chuck Soderberg's (R) resignation on September 14, 2015.
- State House District 21: The seat was vacant following Jack Drake's (R) death on October 11, 2015.
Breakdown of 2015 special elections
In 2015, the reasons prompting state legislative special elections were as follows:
- 38 due to appointment, election or seeking election to another position
- 14 due to a retirement
- 15 due to the incumbent accepting another job
- 1 due to an invalidated 2014 election result
- 1 due to a disqualification in the 2014 elections
- 9 due to a death
- 6 due to legal issues
- 3 due to moving
- 2 due to filling a remaining term
The partisan breakdown for vacancies were as follows:
- 42 Democratic seats
- 46 Republican seats
- 1 Independent seat
Note: This table reflects information for elections that were held and not total vacant seats.
Partisan Change from Special Elections | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | As of Vacancy | After Special Election | |
Democratic Party | 42 | 38* | |
Republican Party | 46 | 50* | |
Independent | 1 | 1 | |
Total | 89 | 89 |
*In 2015, Democrats lost nine seats in special elections, but gained six seats. Republicans lost five seats in special elections, but gained eight seats.
*Although Edwin Gomes won election to the Connecticut State Senate as a Working Families Party candidate, after swearing in he was listed as a Democratic senator.
*Although Diane Richardson won election to the New York State Assembly as a Working Families Party candidate, after swearing in she was listed as a Democratic representative.
*Although Jay Mathis won election to the Mississippi House of Representatives as a Nonpartisan candidate, after swearing in he was listed as a Republican representative.
How vacancies are filled
If there is a vacancy in the Iowa General Assembly, the vacant seat must be filled by a special election. The governor of Iowa is required within five days of a vacancy in the General Assembly to call for a special election. If the vacancy happens in session or within 45 days of the session convening, the governor must call for an election as soon as possible with at least an 18-day notice. All other special elections require a 40-day notice as long the election does not happen on the same day as a school election within the district.[1]
See sources: Iowa Code § 69.14
Special elections
January 6, 2015
☑ Iowa House of Representatives District 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
John Kooiker (R) defeated John Buntsma (D) in the special election on January 6, 2015.[2][3][4] The seat was vacant following Dwayne Alons' (R) death on November 29, 2014.[5] A special election for the position of Iowa House of Representatives District 4 was called for January 6. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was December 23, 2014.[6]
|
February 10, 2015
☑ Iowa House of Representatives District 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
David Sieck (R) defeated Steve L. Adams (D) in the special election on February 10.[7][8] The seat was vacant following Mark Costello's (R) election to the Iowa State Senate.[9] A special election for the position of Iowa House of Representatives District 23 was called for February 10. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 27.[10]
|
November 3, 2015
☑ Iowa House of Representatives District 5 | |
---|---|
A special election for the position of Iowa House of Representatives District 5 was called for November 3.[11] The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was October 9.[12] The seat was vacant following Chuck Soderberg's (R) resignation on September 14, 2015. He resigned to become the executive vice president of the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives.[11] Charles Holz (R) was unchallenged in the general election.[13]
|
December 8, 2015
☑ Iowa House of Representatives District 21 | |
---|---|
A special election for the position of Iowa House of Representatives District 21 was called for December 8. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was November 13.[14] The seat was vacant following Jack Drake's (R) death on October 11, 2015.[15] Tim Ennis (D) was defeated by Tom Moore (R) in the special election.[16][17] |
See also
- State legislative special elections, 2015
- Iowa State Senate elections, 2014
- Iowa House of Representatives elections, 2014
- Iowa State Senate elections, 2012
- Iowa House of Representatives elections, 2012
- Iowa State Legislature
- Iowa state legislative special elections: 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011
Footnotes
- ↑ Iowa General Assembly, "Iowa Code - 2021," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statute 69.14)
- ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed December 31, 2014
- ↑ The Iowa Republican, "Kooiker Wins HD4 Special Election," January 7, 2015
- ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Official election results," accessed January 28, 2015
- ↑ The Des Moines Register, "Special election set for northwest Iowa House seat," December 4, 2014
- ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "State Representative District 4 - 1/6/2015 Special Election," accessed December 5, 2014
- ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed January 28, 2015
- ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Official election results," accessed February 25, 2015
- ↑ The Des Moines Register, "Special election set for House District 23," January 14, 2015
- ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "State Representative District 23 - 2/10/2015 Special Election," accessed January 14, 2015
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 siouxlandmatters.com, "A special election to fill the open seat has been set for November," accessed September 14, 2015
- ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "November 3, 2015 - Special Election Calendar," accessed October 16, 2015
- ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Candidate list," accessed October 16, 2015
- ↑ WOWT NBC Omaha, "December Special Election To Fill Iowa House Seat," accessed October 19, 2015
- ↑ Associated Press, "Longtime Iowa House member Jack Drake dies at age 81," October 12, 2015
- ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "Candidate List," accessed November 16, 2015
- ↑ The Des Moines Register, "Moore wins special election to Iowa House," accessed December 9, 2015