Georgia state legislative special elections, 2016
Three seats were vacated in the Georgia State Legislature in 2016.
Vacancies filled
- State Senate District 54: The seat was vacant following Charlie Bethel's (R) resignation in November 2016.
- State House District 58: The seat was vacant following Simone Bell's (D) resignation on November 13, 2015.
- State House District 162: The seat was vacant following Bob Bryant's (D) death on February 25, 2016.
Breakdown of 2016 special elections
Across the country in 2016, special elections for state legislative positions were held for a variety of reasons:
- 23 were due to appointment, election, or the seeking of election to another position
- 11 were due to a retirement
- 11 were due to the incumbent accepting another job
- 12 were due to a death
- 4 were due to a conviction
- 3 were due to filling a remaining term
- 1 was due to an expulsion
The partisan breakdown for vacancies were as follows:
- 37 Democratic seats
- 28 Republican seats
Partisan Change from Special Elections | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | As of Vacancy | After Special Election | |
Democratic Party | 37 | 39 | |
Republican Party | 28 | 24 | |
Independent | 0 | 2 | |
Total | 65 | 65 |
Note: The table above reflected information for elections that were held—not total vacant seats.
How vacancies are filled
If there is a vacancy in the Georgia General Assembly, the vacant seat must be filled by a special election. If the vacancy occurs during a legislative session, the governor must declare a special election no later than 10 days after the vacancy happens. If the vacancy occurs after the regular legislative session held during the first year of the term of office for members, the governor may order a special election at any time but no later than 60 days before the November general election. If the vacancy occurs between 60 days before the November general election and the next legislative session, the governor is required to order a special election within 10 days.[1]
The special election must be held no less than 30 days and no later than 60 days after the governor calls for the election. The counties representing the vacant district are responsible for conducting the election.[1]
See sources: Georgia Code § 21-2-544
Special elections
January 19, 2016
☑ Georgia House of Representatives District 58 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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A special election for the position of Georgia House of Representatives District 58 was called for January 19. A special runoff election was held on February 16.[2] The seat was vacant following Simone Bell's (D) resignation on November 13, 2015, to take a job at Lambda Legal.[3] Democrats Kwame Thompson, Park Cannon and Ralph Long, III faced off in the special election.[2] Since no candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two vote-getters, Cannon and Long, met in a runoff election, which Cannon won.[4][5]
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March 29, 2016
☑ Georgia House of Representatives District 162 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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A special election for the position of Georgia House of Representatives District 162 was called for March 29. A special runoff election was held on April 26. The filing deadline to run in this election was March 4.[6] The seat was vacant following Bob Bryant's (D) death on February 25, 2016.[7] Alicia Blakely, Josey Sheppard and Carl Gilliard ran in the nonpartisan special election. Since no candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two vote-getters, Blakely and Gilliard, met in a runoff election, which Gilliard won.[8][9][10]
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December 13, 2016
☑ Georgia State Senate District 54 | |
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A special election for the position of Georgia State Senate District 54 was called for December 13. A special runoff election was held on January 10, 2017.[11] The filing deadline to run in this election was November 17. The seat was vacant following Charlie Bethel's (R) resignation in November 2016. He resigned after he was appointed to the Georgia Court of Appeals. Conda Lowery-Goodson (R), Chuck Payne (R), Michelle Underwood (R), William Vinyard (R), and Debby Peppers (ind.) faced off in the special election.[12] Since no candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two vote-getters, Payne and Peppers, met in a runoff election.[13] Payne defeated Peppers.[14]
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See also
- State legislative special elections, 2016
- State legislative special elections, 2015
- Georgia State Senate elections, 2014
- Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2014
- Georgia State Senate elections, 2012
- Georgia House of Representatives elections, 2012
- Georgia State Legislature
- Georgia state legislative special elections: 2015, 2012, 2011
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The State of Georgia, "Official Code of Georgia," accessed January 23, 2024 (Statute 21-2-544)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Peach Pundit, "The Special Election Contenders for House District 58!" accessed December 23, 2015
- ↑ Project Q Atlanta, "Lesbian state lawmaker quits Georgia House," accessed October 29, 2015
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Special Election - State House District 58 - January 19, 2016," accessed January 20, 2016
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Special Election Runoff Results," accessed February 17, 2016
- ↑ wsav.com, "Special election to be held for GA State House," accessed March 3, 2016
- ↑ wtoc.com, "State Rep. Bob Bryant passes away," accessed February 25, 2016
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Special Election - State House District 162 - March 29, 2016," accessed May 19, 2016
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Special Election Runoff - April 26, 2016," accessed May 19, 2016
- ↑ Savannah Now, "Third Savannah candidate joins race to replace state Rep. Bob Bryant," accessed March 8, 2016
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Call for Special Election for Senate District 54," accessed November 18, 2016
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Special Election December 13, 2016," accessed December 14, 2016
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Kemp: Four Republicans, One Nonpartisan Candidate Enter State Senate District 54 Race," accessed November 18, 2016
- ↑ Georgia Election Results, "Special Election Runoff, January 10, 2017," accessed January 10, 2017
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