All articles tagged with #special elections
Democrats are gaining momentum with multiple special-election wins ahead of the November midterms, notably in Georgia’s 14th District where Democrat Shawn Harris advances to a runoff against Republican Clay Fuller, while Republicans express alarm over spring losses and recalibrate ahead of Wisconsin’s gubernatorial contest.
Florida Democrats flipped two seats in Tuesday’s special elections, including the Palm Beach County district that encompasses Mar-a-Lago, sparking optimism that the party is gaining footing for the 2026 midterms. While Republicans still outpace Democrats in voter registration and cautions that special elections don’t guarantee general-election outcomes persist, analysts say the results signal broader momentum, with Hispanic turnout and dissatisfaction over costs and inaction contributing to Democratic energy beyond Florida’s borders.
Democrat Emily Gregory won a Florida state House special election in a district that includes Mar-a-Lago, defeating Trump-endorsed Jon Maples in a GOP-leaning area. The upset is part of a broader pattern of Democratic gains in off-year elections, with Democrats flipping about 30 Republican seats since 2025, boosting optimism for the 2026 midterms.
Democrat Emily Gregory won a Florida state House special election in the district that includes Mar-a-Lago, defeating Republican Jon Maples in a surprise result that signals Democratic momentum ahead of the 2026 midterms.
President Donald Trump voted by mail in a Palm Beach County, Florida special election for a state legislature seat, despite his ongoing push to curb mail-in voting. He is registered to vote at Mar-a-Lago, and the Palm Beach County elections office confirmed he voted by mail in the race that determined who would fill the open seat.
Three Louisiana state-legislature seats are up for grabs: Senate District 3 in New Orleans (Bouie resignation) where Sidney Barthelemy and Kenn Barnes advanced to a runoff, and House Districts 69 (Baton Rouge area) and 100 (New Orleans East to St. Tammany) with the same three-way dynamics. District 69 uses a majority-wins primary and could move to an April 18 runoff if no candidate clears 50%; District 100 sent Kenya Rounds and Dana Henry to a special general election after Jason Hughes’s resignation. Republicans hold large majorities in both chambers (Senate 28-10, House 72-31 with two vacancies). Polls close at 9 PM ET, with results shaping early outcomes and potential further runoffs; additional related elections are listed on the calendar for 2026 and beyond.
Democrats in the Pennsylvania House preserved their 102-seat majority by winning two special elections in Allegheny (42nd District) and Lehigh (22nd District) counties: Jen Mazzocco and Ana Tiburcio won for Democrats, replacing Republicans who vacated the seats. The wins leave three GOP-held seats still to be filled later this year, keeping the chamber at 102-98 until those elections occur. Additional special elections are scheduled in March to fill unexpired terms for Schmitt and Ecker and a May primary for Seth Grove’s seat, with George Margetas listed as the sole candidate for the 196th District race.
Democrats won both Virginia House of Delegates Special Elections, HD-11 (Fairfax County) and HD-23 (Prince William County), preserving their House majority as lawmakers join Gov.-elect Spanberger’s administration. Gretchen Bulova defeated Adam Wise 69.7% to 29.8% in HD-11, and Margaret Franklin defeated Vern Robinson 77.2% to 22.6% in HD-23, with turnout around 5,900–6,400 votes. A Jan. 20 election remains for HD-17 as another vacancy is filled by a candidate in Spanberger’s cabinet.
The House opens with Republicans holding a razor-thin 218-213 margin after Marjorie Taylor Greene’s resignation and Doug LaMalfa’s death; a Texas special election later this month is expected to boost Democrats, further narrowing the GOP edge and making party-line votes hinge on a single defection or attendance, undermining governance as the chamber heads into an election year.
A Mississippi federal judge ordered special elections for the state's Supreme Court after ruling that the current electoral map, which dilutes Black voters' influence, violates the Voting Rights Act. The Mississippi Legislature has until the end of 2026 to redraw the map, with the new elections scheduled for November 2026, following a lawsuit by the ACLU highlighting racial disparities in representation.
Two primary elections in Minnesota will determine the candidates for two vacant House seats in St. Paul and Woodbury-Maplewood, with the DFL candidates favored to win and potentially resulting in a tied legislature if both succeed.
Democrats in Mississippi won two special elections for State Senate, breaking the Republican supermajority and increasing Black representation in the state legislature, following court-ordered redistricting aimed at addressing racial dilution in voting districts.
Democrat James Walkinshaw wins the vacant 11th Congressional District seat in Virginia, increasing Democratic representation in the House, with key votes on Jeffrey Epstein files and government funding upcoming.
Democrats see potential in Iowa as a key battleground and are motivated by recent special election wins, but Republicans remain confident in holding their seats, especially with strong campaigns like Sand's gubernatorial run. The political landscape is competitive, with Democrats aiming for a comeback in 2026 despite recent setbacks in 2024.
Recent special elections in Iowa show significant Democratic gains, including flipping a Republican-held Senate seat and improving margins in other districts, fueling optimism for the 2026 midterms despite skepticism from Republicans about low turnout and the impact of these elections on broader state and national trends.