2009 United States House of Representatives elections

2009 United States House of Representatives elections

← 2008 March 31, 2009 – November 3, 2009 2010 →

5 of the 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives
218 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Nancy Pelosi John Boehner
Party Democratic Republican
Leader since January 3, 2003 January 3, 2007
Leader's seat California 8th Ohio 8th
Last election 257 seats 178 seats
Seats won 5 0
Seat change Increase 1 Decrease 1
Popular vote 256,360 154,344
Percentage 49.27% 29.66%

  Third party
 
Party Conservative
Last election 0 seats
Seats won 0
Seat change Steady
Popular vote 80,885
Percentage 15.55%

There were five special elections to the United States House of Representatives in 2009 during the 111th United States Congress.

One seat has switched parties, from Republican to Democratic, as the result of a special election.

Summary

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Elections are listed by date and district.

District Incumbent This race
Member Party First elected Results Candidates
New York 20 Kirsten Gillibrand Democratic 2006 Incumbent resigned January 26, 2009 to become U.S. senator.
New member elected March 31, 2009.
Democratic hold.
Illinois 5 Rahm Emanuel Democratic 2002 Incumbent resigned January 2, 2009 to become White House Chief of Staff.
New member elected April 4, 2009.
Democratic hold.
  • Green tickY Mike Quigley (Democratic) 69.25%
  • Rosanna Pulido (Republican) 24.16%
  • Matt Reichel (Green) 6.60%
California 32 Hilda Solis Democratic 2000 Incumbent resigned February 24, 2009, to become U.S. Secretary of Labor.
New member elected July 14, 2009.
Democratic hold.
  • Green tickY Judy Chu (Democratic) 61.85%
  • Betty Chu (Republican) 32.96%
  • Christopher Agrella (Libertarian) 5.18%
California 10 Ellen Tauscher Democratic 1996 Incumbent resigned June 26, 2009, to become U.S. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security.
New member elected November 3, 2009.
Democratic hold.
  • Green tickY John Garamendi (Democratic) 52.85%
  • David Harmer (Republican) 42.83%
Others
  • Jeremy Cloward (Green) 1.83%
  • Mary McIlroy (Peace and Freedom) 1.34%
  • Jerome Denham (American Independent) 1.15%
New York 23 John M. McHugh Republican 1992 Incumbent resigned September 21, 2009, to become U.S. Secretary of the Army.
New member elected November 3, 2009.
Democratic gain.

New York's 20th congressional district

[edit]
New York's 20th congressional district

On January 26, 2009, Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand resigned when appointed to fill Hillary Clinton's U.S. Senate seat. Scott Murphy, a fellow Democrat, won the election held March 31, 2009, defeating Republican Jim Tedisco by fewer than 700 votes. Because of the slim margin, Tedisco did not concede the race until more than three weeks later, when overseas ballots had been counted.

2009 New York's 20th congressional district special election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Scott Murphy 70,240 43.64
Independence Scott Murphy 6,754 4.20
Working Families Scott Murphy 3,839 2.39
Total Scott Murphy 80,833 50.23
Republican Jim Tedisco 68,775 42.73
Conservative Jim Tedisco 11,332 7.04
Total Jim Tedisco 80,107 49.77
Majority 726 0.45
Total votes 160,940 100.00
Democratic hold

Illinois's 5th congressional district

[edit]
Illinois's 5th congressional district

On January 2, 2009, Democrat Rahm Emanuel resigned one day before the end of the previous Congress after being named White House Chief of Staff. Democrat Michael Quigley won the election April 7, 2009 election to replace him, handily defeating Republican Rosanna Pulido with better than a two-to-one share of the vote.

2009 Illinois's 5th congressional district special election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Quigley 30,561 69.25
Republican Rosanna Pulido 10,662 24.16
Green Matt Reichel 2,911 6.60
Majority 19,899 45.09
Total votes 44,134 100.00
Democratic hold

California's 32nd congressional district

[edit]
California's 32nd congressional district

On February 24, 2009, Democrat Hilda Solis resigned to become United States Secretary of Labor. Judy Chu, also a Democrat, won the election, defeating Republican Betty Chu by a wide margin.[1]

2009 California's 32nd congressional district special election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Judy Chu 16,194 61.85
Republican Betty Chu 8,630 32.96
Libertarian Christopher Agrella 1,356 5.18
Write-in Eleanor Garcia 2 0.01
Majority 7,564 28.89
Total votes 26,182 100.00
Democratic hold

California's 10th congressional district

[edit]
California's 10th congressional district

On June 26, 2009, Democrat Ellen Tauscher resigned to become Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. Democrat John Garamendi held the seat for the Democrats on November 3, 2009, defeating Republican David Harmer.

2009 California's 10th congressional district special election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Garamendi 72,817 52.85
Republican David Harmer 59,017 42.83
Green Jeremy Cloward 2,515 1.83
Peace and Freedom Mary McIlroy 1,846 1.34
American Independent Jerome Denham 1,591 1.15
Majority 13,800 10.02
Total votes 137,786 100.00
Democratic hold

New York's 23rd congressional district

[edit]
New York's 23rd congressional district

On September 21, 2009, Republican John M. McHugh resigned to become United States Secretary of the Army.[2] On November 3, 2009, Democrat Bill Owens defeated Conservative Doug Hoffman and Republican Dede Scozzafava in a race that garnered considerable press attention. Days before the election, Scozzafava dropped out of the race, then endorsed Owens, the Democrat.[3]

2009 New York's 23rd congressional district special election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bill Owens 66,548 43.99
Working Families Bill Owens 6,589 4.36
Total Bill Owens 73,137 48.35
Conservative Doug Hoffman 69,553 45.98
Republican Dede Scozzafava 7,260 4.80
Independence Dede Scozzafava 1,322 0.87
Total Dede Scozzafava 8,582 5.67
Majority 3,584 2.37
Total votes 151,272 100.00
Democratic gain from Republican

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Democrat claims US House seat in Calif". The Washington Post. July 14, 2009.[dead link]
  2. ^ Weiner, Mark (September 16, 2009). "Rep. John McHugh is confirmed as Secretary of the Army". Syracuse Post-Standard. syracuse.com.
  3. ^ "Scozzafava Backs Ownes, Stuns GOP: Lifelong Republican throws support to former Democratic rival". Watertown Daily Times. November 1, 2009. Archived from the original on November 3, 2009. Retrieved November 3, 2009.