Tennessee state legislative special elections, 2015
In 2015, one seat was vacated and filled by a special election in the Tennessee State Legislature. The following district had a vacancy in 2015:
- State House District 14: The seat was vacant following Ryan Haynes' (R) resignation on May 27, 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 Tennessee General Assembly, there are two ways a vacancy can be filled. When twelve months or more remain before the next general election, a special election must be held within the allowable time frame set by law. If fewer than twelve months remain before the next general election, members of the legislative body in the county where the vacancy occurred must vote on a replacement.[1]
See sources: Tennessee Const. Art. 2, Sec. 15
Special elections
September 29, 2015
☑ Tennessee House of Representatives District 14 | |
---|---|
Jason Zachary defeated Karen Carson in the Republican primary on August 12. A special general election was not held because there was no Democratic candidate. Zachary was sworn into the seat on August 24.[2][3][4] The seat was vacant following Ryan Haynes' (R) resignation on May 27, 2015.[5] A special election for the position of Tennessee House of Representatives District 14 was called for September 29. Since no Democratic candidate filed for election, the Republican primary on August 12 served as the special general election. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was July 2, 2015.[6]
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See also
- State legislative special elections, 2015
- Tennessee State Senate elections, 2014
- Tennessee House of Representatives elections, 2014
- Tennessee State Senate elections, 2012
- Tennessee House of Representatives elections, 2012
- Tennessee State Legislature
- Tennessee state legislative special elections: 2013, 2011
Footnotes
- ↑ Tennessee Legislature, "Tennessee Constitution," accessed May 22, 2014 (Article II, Section 15)
- ↑ wbir.com, "Two Republicans to vie for open state House seat," accessed July 2, 2015
- ↑ wbir.com, "Zachary prevails in race for 14th District TN House seat," accessed August 13, 2015
- ↑ wbir.com, "Zachary sworn in as new TN state rep," accessed August 31, 2015
- ↑ Dave Boucher, The Tennessean, "New GOP Chairman Haynes resigns seat in statehouse," March 27, 2015
- ↑ wbir.com, "Haslam issues writ, setting up election to replace Haynes," accessed June 16, 2015
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