While it may feel like we wrapped up the election cycle on Tuesday, there are always more elections to come. This post covers the special and runoff legislative races coming up in the next month. There are three other important races, the Mass. Senate race and the Houston and Atlanta mayoral runoff races, that will be covered in a future post.
Dems have a chance at picking up one seat in California, two in Tennessee and one in Kentucky, while they are defending another seat in Kentucky, one in Georgia and one in Iowa. There are also two interesting inter-party fights going on in the Georgia runoffs.
This is cross posted on my new blog dedicated to following special elections and culling absentee ballot information from all states into one spot to increase turnout in local races. To read more about each race and learn more about the candidates, click here.
I am sure I left out some races – I hope you will let everyone know about them in the comments and I will be sure to write about them shortly
For the races, join me below the jump.
November 17 – CA Assembly 72 – This doesn’t mean much around these here parts, but there is a primary in Orange County for the seat of Republican Mike Duvall, who resigned due to a sex scandal earlier this year.
Three Republicans are vying for the chance to take on the Democratic candidate, John MacMurray, a teacher in La Habra, and the Green Party Candidate, Jane Rands. MacMurray’s website is here.
The general election will be held on January 12.
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On November 24, Democrats are defending a seat in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (HD 33) Democrats chose Kirsten Running-Marquardt as their candidate. A former aide to Congressman David Loebsack, her background is detailed here.
Republicans nominated Josh Thurston, an Iraq War veteran and Cargill employee
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December 1 – Voters go back to work in Georgia for legislative runoffs and there are two special elections in Tennessee.
In Georgia, four races are being voted on in different parts of the state. Thanks to TheUnknown285 for all his help on these races.
SD 35
This Atlanta-based Senate district was represented by Kasim Reed, who is locked in a runoff race for Mayor of Atlanta, also to be held on December 1. Outside of parts of Atlanta, the district also represents:
College Park, Douglasville, East Point, Fairburn, Hapeville, Lithia Springs, Palmetto, and Union City
The two remaining candidates are Donzella James and Torrey Johnson, both Democrats. James, who took the most votes in the first vote on December 3 is attempting to return to the State Senate after serving from 1994-2002. Johnson is an ordained Lutheran minister seeking his first elected office.
HD 58
To see a map of the Georgia House Districts, click http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg…
There is a runoff in GA HD 58 between two Democrats. Asha Jackson faces Simone Bell in this Atlanta-based district.
HD 129
This district is comprised of most of Harris County and parts of Troup County and Muscogee County.
A pair of Republicans, Kip Smith and Steve Earles are facing off in this election.
HD 141
This district is made up of all of Baldwin County and a small piece of Putnam County. The Democratic incumbent did not run for reelection and so independent candidate Rusty Kidd will square off against Democrat Darrell Black.
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In Tennessee, specifically East Memphis, voters will go to the polls to elect a new state senator to fill the seat of Republican Paul Stanley, SD 31, who resigned earlier this year. Many of the voters will also be picking in the primary for the 83rd House District in a seat resigned by Republican Brian Kelsey, a candidate for Stanley’s seat.
In the State Senate race, covering covers most of Bartlett, almost all of Cordova and Germantown, a few East Memphis precincts and parts of Hickory Hill, Democrat Adrienne Pakis-Gillon is hoping to keep the seat in her party’s hands. A Shelby County Democratic Party Executive Committee Member, her website can be found at http://www.voteadrienne.com/.
The Republican candidate is former State Representative Brian Kelsey who was the Republican floor leader in the House for 2007-2008.
For the House race primary vacated by Kelsey, the candidates are Republicans Mark White and John Pellioccitti, Democrats Guthrie Castle and Ivan Faulkner and Independent John Andreucetti.
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December 8 – There are two races in Kentucky and one in Arkansas.
KY SD 14 and HD 96
Two races will be voted on December 8th in Kentucky. The State Senate race, located in a district in central Kentucky and comprised of Marion, Mercer, Nelson, Taylor and Washington counties, resulted from Republican Senator Dan Kelly being named to a circuit court judgeship.
The Republican nominee for SD-14 is State Representative Jimmy Higdon from Lebanon, KY.
The Democratic candidate is former State Representative Jodie Haydon, who is looking to return to the legislature after retiring from the House in 2004.
The House race is in north-east Kentucky, near the Ohio border, covering Lewis and Carter counties. Democratic Representative Robin Webb resigned the post after being elected to a State Senate seat.
In the House race, Democrats nominated Barry Webb, while Republicans chose Jill York.
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AR SD 4
There will be a special election held in District 4, which includes all of Yell County, the southern portion of Pope County and the eastern portion of Logan County. Republican Senator Sharon Trusty is resigning her seat.
There are three candidates on the ballot. Former State Representative Michael Lamoureux is attempting to return to the State House as the Republican candidate.
John Burnett is a Russellville Attorney and is running as a Democrat.
Tachany C. Evans is the Independent candidate and a member of the Board of Directors for Help Network, Inc.
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That’s all for this time. Thanks for reading. I look forward to hearing about more races I should include and cover. To read more about each race and learn more about the candidates, click here.