I’ve been updating these about once a week, it seems. We just had the Oklahoma and Louisiana specials and so time to take out a chunk of stuff and update some races where I have new info, e.g. Iowa senate district 3 where the parties have picked their nominees now.
I’m also experimenting with the look of things here. Tell me if you’ve got suggestions for my formatting, or if you wanna see a different picture up at the top!
If you've got more information to add or clarify anything, please comment and I'll edit it in or include it in a future edition of this calendar. Opportunities to flip seats (i.e. “offense”) are underlined; seats we need to defend (i.e. “defense”) are italicized.
SUMMARY: Lots of specials in December, but the new year is no slouch either.
(National-level races in bold in this summary.)
November 28: MS-SD10 runoff, MS-HD54 runoff
December 5: CA-AD51 runoff, GA-SD06, GA-SD39, GA-HD60, GA-HD89, GA-Atlanta Mayor, IA-Cedar Rapids Mayor, MA-SD Worcester & Middlesex, PA-HD133
December 12: AL-Sen, IA-SD03
December 19: FL-HD58, MS-SD49, TN-SD17
January 2: SC-HD56 (no Dems)
January 9: GA-SD17, GA-HD111
January 16: SC-HD28 (no Dems), SC-HD99, WI-SD10, WI-AD58, WI-AD66
January 23: PA-HD35
February 6: MO-HD39, MO-HD97, MO-129, MO-144
February 13: FL-HD72, OK-SD27, [expected] MN-SD54, [expected] MN-HD23B
February 27: NH-HDBelknap3
March 6: OK-HD51
March 13: PA-18
March 27: AL-HD21
USEFUL LINKS
Ready2vote.com schedule of special elections (w/ candidate names and links to campaign sites) - I took all the campaign links from here.
Ready2vote.com list of mayoral elections
Ballotpedia state lege 2017 special elections page | state lege 2018 special elections page
DKE pre-2016 state legislature districts with maps and Obama/Romney numbers
DKE 2016 state legislature districts with Clinton/Trump numbers
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28
Mississippi Senate district 10 runoff — Southeast of Southhaven, exurbs of Memphis, TN; Holly Springs, Coldwater, Senatobia. Billy Stone (D) resigned to become Holly Springs utility dept. manager. Attorney Sharon Gipson vs. Neil Whaley (no party labels in Mississippi state lege races). Sharon Gipson is identified as a Democrat by Ready2Vote.com.
Sharon Gipson (D) - (no campaign website?)
Mississippi House district 54 runoff — Largely rural areas northwest of Jackson, between it, Yazoo City, and the state border, including Fitler, Redwood, Youngtown, Bovina, Adams Landing, Satartia, Tinsley, and Anding. Alex Monsour (R) became South Ward Alderman for Vicksburg. Nonpartisan runoff: (Physician?) Randy Easterling vs. businessman Kevin Ford. (Race not highlighted by Ready2Vote so maybe they’re both Republicans?)
[primary] South Carolina House district 99 Republican primary runoff — general election January 16, 2018.
update: Nancy Mace wins the Repub primary runoff
for the general election: Cindy Boatwright (D) - www.cindyboatwrightforsc.com, Click Here to Donate to Cindy Boatwright, Click Here to Volunteer for Cindy Boatwright
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5
California Assembly district 51 runoff — Part of Los Angeles County, east and north of downtown, incl. Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Northeast L.A., Montecito Heights, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Chinatown. Obama 83.5% Romney 13.5%, Clinton 84.05% Trump 10.19%. Jimmy Gomez (D) was elected to the U.S. House. Two-Dem runoff: journalist Wendy Carrillo (D) vs. consultant and local Planned Parenthood board member Luis López (D). Carrillo is endorsed by Gomez.
Wendy Carrillo (D) - wendyforassembly.com/
Luis López (D) - www.luislopez.org
[primary] Florida House district 72 — Primary December 5; general election February 13, 2018.
Margaret Good (D) - margaretgood.com; Click Here to Donate to Margaret Good
Georgia Senate district 6 — Parts of Cobb and Fulton counties: north/northwestern Atlanta suburbs, incl. Smyrna, Vinings, Dobbins Air Force Base, Buckhead, Paces, Cumberland. Hunter Hill (R) resigned to run for governor. This is a two-Dem runoff, but we would strongly prefer candidate Jen Jordan (D), an attorney, because the other candidate, dentist Jaha Howard (D), is somewhat homophobic and sexist (and there’s brief info on Jen Jordan in that article too).
Jen Jordan (D) - www.jen4ga.com; Click Here to Donate to Jen Jordan; Click Here to Volunteer for Jen Jordan
Georgia Senate district 39 — Part of Fulton County: a diagonal strip of western Atlanta portions from Lindbergh/Garden Hills/Peachtree Hills down to Greenbriar, Princeton Lakes, and widening to reach Arbor West. Obama 83.5% Romney 15.6%, Clinton 85.10% Trump 11.98%. Incumbent Vincent Fort (D) resigned to run for mayor of Atlanta. Two-Dem runoff: Planned Parenthood Southeast VP for public policy Nikema Williams (D) vs. paralegal Linda Pritchett (D).
Nikema Williams (D) - nikemaforsenate.com
Linda Pritchett (D) - www.vote4linda.com
Georgia House district 60 — Parts of Clayton and Fulton counties: Areas south of Atlanta, around the airport, including parts of College Park and Forest Park. Obama 89.0% Romney 10.5%, Clinton 85.82% Trump 12.08%. Incumbent Keisha Sean Waites (D) resigned “to focus on her run for Fulton Co. Board of Commissioners”. Two-Dem runoff: Kim Schofield (D) vs. Literacy Action academic affairs director De’Andre S. Pickett (D).
Kim Schofield (D) - www.electkim4d60.net
De'Andre Pickett (D) - www.iamdspickett.com
Georgia House district 89 — Parts of DeKalb County: areas east and southeast of Atlanta: Constitution, Gresham Park, East Atlanta, Edgewood, Kirkwood. 89.4% Obama 9.1% Romney, 90.41% Clinton 6.40% Trump. Incumbent Stacey Abrams (D) resigned to run for governor. Two-Dem runoff: chief of staff (for state rep. Sam Park (D-GA-HD101)) Bee Nguyen (D) vs. lawyer Sachin Varghese (D).
Bee Nguyen (D) - www.beeforgeorgia.com
Sachin Varghese (D) - sachinforgeorgia.com
Georgia: Mayor of Atlanta — Incumbent Kasim Reed (D) is term-limited. Atlanta city council member for district 11 Keisha Lance-Bottoms vs. Atlanta city council member for post 2 at large Mary Norwood. Officially nonpartisan, but I've heard that Norwood is the conservative in the race (please correct me if I’m wrong).
Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) - keishalancebottoms.com; Click Here to Volunteer for Keisha Lance Bottoms
Iowa: Mayor of Cedar Rapids — Incumbent Ron Corbett (R) is running for governor. Former city council mayor pro tem Monica Vernon (D) (whom you may recall from an unsuccessful run for the U.S. House) vs. attorney Brad Hart (whose party affiliation I can’t find).
Monica Vernon (D) - monicavernonformayor.com; Click Here to Volunteer for Monica Vernon
Massachusetts Senate district Worcester & Middlesex — north of Worcester in central Massachusetts: Berlin, Bolton, Clinton (part), Fitchburg, Gardner, Lancaster, Leominster, Lunenberg, Sterling, Townsend, and Westminster. Obama 51.9% Romney 46.1%, Clinton 50.41% Trump 41.87%. Incumbent Jennifer Flanagan (D) resigned to join the state Cannabis Control Commission. Leominster at-large city councilor Susan Chalifoux Zephir (D) vs. Fitchburg councilor Dean Tran (R) vs. (former?) Leominster city councilor Claire Freda (i) vs. Berlin library trustee Charlene DiCalogero (G).
Susan Chalifoux Zephir (D) - www.suechalifouxzephir.com
Pennsylvania House district 133 — U-shaped district that bends around Allentown’s east, between it and Bethlehem; incl. Coplay, Whitehall, Catasauqua, Fountain Hill, and the Lehigh Valley airport. Obama 59.0% Romney 39.4%, Clinton 52.89% Trump 42.75%. Incumbent Daniel McNeill (D) passed away. His widow Jeanne McNeill (D) vs. acupuncturist David Molony (R).
Jeanne McNeill (D) - (no campaign website?)
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12
Alabama - U.S. Senate seat — The entire state of Alabama. Obama 38.36% Romney 60.55%, Clinton 34.36% Trump 62.08%. Incumbent Jeff Sessions (R) appointed U.S. Attorney General, interim Sen. Luther Strange (R) lost renomination bid. Former United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama Doug Jones (D), known for successfully prosecuting KKK members who bombed a church, vs. twice-former and twice-disgraced state supreme court justice (and charity cheater and possible sexual predator and insane wingnut) Roy Moore (R).
Doug Jones (D) - dougjonesforsenate.com; Click Here to Donate to Doug Jones; Click Here to Volunteer for Doug Jones
[primary] Alabama Senate district 26 — Primary December 12; general election May 15, 2018. A big chunk of western/northern/eastern Montgomery, plus areas around it. Incumbent Quinton Ross (D), who was senate minority leader, resigned to become president of Alabama State University. Democratic primary only.
Democrats: Deborah Anthony, Fred F. Bell, David Burkette, Tony Q. Cobb Jr., John Knight
[primary] Alabama House district 4 — Primary December 12; general election May 15, 2018. Southwest/west of Huntsville: Huntsville, Priceville, Decatur, Somerville, Oakland(?), etc.. Incumbent Micky Hammon (R) pled guilty to mail fraud and was removed from office. Republican primary only.
for the general election: Juanita Healey (D)
Iowa Senate district 3 — Parts of Plymouth and Woodbury counties; an arc around the eastern side of Sioux City. Obama 38.7% Romney 60.2%, Clinton 27.32% Trump 68.12%. Incumbent Bill Anderson (R) resigned to become executive director of Cherokee Area Economic Devevelopment Corporation. Former Le Mars school superintendent Todd Wendt (D) vs. state rep. Jim Carlin (R-IA-HD06).
Todd Wendt (D) - www.toddwendtforiowa.com
[primary] Oklahoma Senate district 27 — Primary December 12; general election February 13, 2018. Incumbent Bryce Marlatt (R) was charged with felony complaint of sexual battery. Beaver, Cimarron, Dewey, Ellis, Harper, Major, Texas, Woods, and Woodward counties -- the entire panhandle plus other parts of northwestern Oklahoma; Boise City, Guymon, Beaver, Woodward, Mooreland, and a bunch of other small towns. Obama 14.8% Romney 85.2%; Clinton 11.32% Trump 84.21%. Republican primary only.
for the general election: Amber Jensen (D) - www.facebook.com/electamberjensen
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19
Florida House district 58 — Part of Hillsborough County; areas northeast of Tampa and west of Lakeland, along I-4 and points north, including Plant City, Thonotosassa, Turkey Creek, Temple Terrace, and maybe Mango, Seffner, and Sydney; from edges of Tampa metro area to rural expanses. Obama 46.8% Romney 52.1%, Clinton 43.06% Trump 53.20%. Incumbent Dan Raulerson (R) resigned (no reason given on Ballotpedia). Jose N. Vazquez Figueroa (D) vs. businessman Lawrence McClure (R) vs. professional engineer Bryan Zemina (L) vs. USF mass communications alumnus Ahmad Hussan Saadaldin (i).
Jose Vazquez (D) - vote4jose.com; Click Here to Donate to Jose Vazquez
Mississippi Senate district 49 (runoff Jan. 9) — part of Gulfport, plus areas east, north, and northwest, such as Lyman and Mississippi City, plus eastern Cat Island (but I’m not sure anyone lives there). Incumbent Sean Tindell (R) was appointed to state Court of Appeals. Nonpartisan jungle primary: Dan Carr vs. Joel Carter vs. Ron Meyers. (Ready2Vote says no Democrats filed.)
Tennessee Senate district 17 — Cannon, Clay, DeKalb, Macon, Smith, and Wilson counties: a large area east and northeast of Nashville and Murfreesboro, including Mt. Juliet, Lebanon, Woodbury, Gordonsville, Smithville, Lafayette, Red Boiling Springs, and Celina. Obama 29.5% Romney 69.1%, Clinton 23.75% Trump 72.22%. Incumbent Mae Beavers (R) is running for governor. Attorney Mary Alice Carfi (D) vs. state rep. Mark Pody (R).
Mary Alice Carfi (D) - www.maryalicecarfi.com; Click Here to Donate to Mary Alce Carfi; Click Here to Volunteer for Mary Alice Carfi
[primary] Wisconsin Senate district 10 — Primary election on December 19; general election on January 16, 2018.
for the general election: St. Croix County Medical Examiner and Somerset School Board member Patty Schachtner (D)
[primary] Wisconsin Assembly district 58 — Primary election on December 19; general election on January 16, 2018.
[primary] Wisconsin Assembly district 66 — Primary election on December 19; general election on January 16, 2018.
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2018
Jan. 2: SC-HD56 (no Dems filed)
Jan. 9: [jungle] GA-SD17, [jungle] GA-HD111, [primary] NH-HDBelkanp3 (general February 27), [primary] OK-HD51 (general March 6)
GA-SD17: jungle election January 9, runoff February 6 if necessary
GA-HD111: jungle election January 9, runoff February 6 if necessary. El-Mahdi Holly - www.elforstaterep.com
NH-HDBelknap3: Philip Spagnuolo Jr. (D)
Jan. 16: SC-HD28 (no Dems filed), SC-HD99, WI-SD10 (primary Dec. 19), WI-AD58 (primary Dec. 19), WI-AD66 (primary Dec. 19)
SC-HD99: Parts of Berkeley and Charleston counties: areas northeast of Charleston city and east of North Charleston: Hanahan, Mt. Pleasant (part), and points in between them such as Daniel Island, the Cainhoy peninsula, straddling the Wando and Cooper rivers, plus part of Joint Base Charleston and Goose Creek. Clinton 35.35% Trump 58.14%, Obama 32.0% Romney 66.3%. Incumbent James Merrill (R), unopposed in 2016 and 2014 and 2012, was indicted on 30 counts of ethics violations relating to political corruption, failing to report funds received from groups with a policy interest, and was subsequently suspended from his post. Mental health councilor Cindy Boatwright (D) of Mt. Pleasant, vs. realtor and author Nancy Mace (R) of Charleston (Daniel Island area). (Yes, Mace has a Wikipedia page.)
Cindy Boatwright (D) - www.cindyboatwrightforsc.com will face winner of Nov. 28 Republican primary runoff. Click Here to Donate to Cindy Boatwright; Click Here to Volunteer for Cindy Boatwright
WI-SD10: Patty Schachtner (D)
Jan. 23: PA-HD35
PA-HD35: Parts of Allegheny County, outskirts of Pittsburgh suburbs; a convolutedly hook-shaped district in the southeastern suburbs, including Clairton, Duquesne, Lincoln, McKeesport, Munhall, South Versailles Township, Versailles, West Mifflin (only districts 03, 04, 12, 15, 16), Whitaker, and White Oak. (Whoever drew these district lines deserves to be punished by being forced to redistrict M.C. Escher paintings.) Obama 63.9% Romney 35.2%, Clinton 57.89% Trump 39.41%. Incumbent Marc Gergely (D) "resigned after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor charges relating to an illegal gambling machine ring." Special general election January 23, 2018; candidates TBD by parties. Allegheny County Housing Authority board of commissioners vice-chairman Austin Davis (D) vs. Republican candidate TBD.
Feb. 6: [runoff] GA-SD17, [runoff] GA-HD111, MO-HD39, MO-HD97, MO-HD129, MO-HD144
GA-SD17: jungle election January 9, runoff February 6 if necessary
GA-HD111: jungle election January 9, runoff February 6 if necessary. El-Mahdi Holly - www.elforstaterep.com
MO-HD129: Ronna King Ford (D) - www.facebook.com/RonnaKingFord
MO-HD144: Jim Scaggs (D)
Feb. 13: FL-HD72 (primary Dec. 5), OK-SD27 (primary Dec. 12), [expected] MN-SD54, [expected] MN-HD23B
FL-HD72: Margaret Good (D) - margaretgood.com; Click Here to Donate to Margaret Good
OK-SD27: Primary December 12; general election February 13, 2018. Incumbent Bryce Marlatt (R) was charged with felony complaint of sexual battery. Beaver, Cimarron, Dewey, Ellis, Harper, Major, Texas, Woods, and Woodward counties -- the entire panhandle plus other parts of northwestern Oklahoma; Boise City, Guymon, Beaver, Woodward, Mooreland, and a bunch of other small towns. Obama 14.8% Romney 85.2%; Clinton 11.32% Trump 84.21%. Amber Jensen (D) - www.facebook.com/electamberjensen
MN-SD54: Parts of Dakota and Washington counties, southeast of St. Paul moving southeast along US-10 to the Wisconsin border plus Afton to the northeast; South St. Paul, Newport, St. Paul Park, Cottage Grove, Hastings, and Afton, and areas in between. Obama 52.5% Romney 45.3%, Clinton 44.74% Trump 46.16%. State Sen. Dan Schoen (DFL) will resign due to sexual misconduct allegations. Special election not yet announced but expected on February 13.
MN-HD23B: Parts of Blue Earth, Le Sueur, Waseca, and Watonwan counties; areas east, south, and west of Mankato, such as Waterville, New Richland, Mapleton, Amboy, Lake Crystal, Madelia, and St. James. Obama 47.30% Romney 50.57%, Clinton 32.70% Trump 59.47%. (This is not an unwinnable district!) State Rep. Tony Cornish (R) will resign due to sexual misconduct allegations. Special election not yet announced but expected on February 13.
Feb. 27: NH-HDBelknap3 (primary Jan. 9)
NH-HDBelknap3: Philip Spagnuolo Jr. (D)
Mar. 6: OK-HD51
OK-HD51: Primary January 9. Charles Murdock (D)
Mar. 13: PA-18
PA-18: Incumbent Tim Murphy (R) resigned due to sex scandal. Marine veteran and former assistant U.S. attorney Conor Lamb (D) vs. state rep. Rick Saccone (R). Conor Lamb (D) - conorlamb.com; Click Here to Donate to Conor Lamb
Mar. 27: AL-HD21
AL-HD21: Terry Jones (D) - www.facebook.com/TerryJonesforAL