United States general elections, 2009

2009 United States elections

Off-year elections
Election day	November 3
Congressional special elections
Seats contested	5
Net change	Democratic +1
Gubernatorial elections
Seats contested	3 (2 states, 1 territory)
Net change	Republican +2
2009 Gubernatorial election results map
Legend
Republican gains   not up for election

The 2009 United States elections were held on Tuesday, November 3. During this off-year election, the only seats up for election in the United States Congress were special elections held throughout the year. In total, only the seat representing New York's 23rd congressional district changed party hands, increasing the Democratic Party's majority over the Republicans in the United States House of Representatives, 258–177.

However, there were also several gubernatorial races and state legislative elections, and numerous citizen initiatives, mayoral races in several major cities, and several types of local offices on the ballot.

In total, there were five special elections to the United States House of Representatives during 2009. The only election which changed party hands (from Republican to Democratic) was in New York's 23rd congressional district.

Also, a primary election was held in Massachusetts on December 8, 2009, for the senate seat left open by the death of U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy; the general special election for that later seat occurred on January 19, 2010.