Special elections to the 111th United States Congress

This is a list of special elections for the 111th United States Congress.

There were five special elections to the United States Senate; however, all but one will take place on the same date as the 2010 general election.

Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy died August 25, 2009. A special election was held to choose someone to serve the remainder of the term through January 2013. On September 24, 2009, Paul G. Kirk, former Democratic National Committee chairman and aide to Ted Kennedy, was appointed to occupy Kennedy's Senate seat on an interim basis until the special election process is completed. Kirk was sworn in on September 25, 2009, to serve as a "caretaker" until the January 2010 special election, in which he was not a candidate.

A party primary was held December 8, 2009.Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley beat three other Democrats for her party's nomination. She lost the January 19, 2010 general election to Republican Scott Brown.

There were five special elections in 2009 to fill vacant seats in the United States House of Representatives, and there will be at least four in 2010. As of February 9, 2010^[update], one seat has switched parties, from Republican to Democratic, as the result of a special election.

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.

...
Wikipedia