congressional resignations in the 112th
DESCRIPTION
When a Senator resigns, the governor of the represented state may immediately appoint a successor. For the House of Representatives, things are more complicated. See article in the Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marci-harris/my-congressman-just-resig_b_1660054.html The Constitution (Article I, Section 2, Clause 4) requires that Representatives must be elected and a special election to be called to fill the seat. Given the extensive nominating, primary, and general process, districts from which a Member of Congress leaves office -- for whatever reason -- are inevitably left without representation for several months.TRANSCRIPT
Congressional Resignations112th Congress
January 2011-December 2012
Compiled by POPVOX July 9, 2012
Monday, July 9, 12
New York - 26
Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
112 dayswithout a Member in the U.S. House of Representatives
Special electioncost to taxpayers$550,000 (estimated) Rep. Chris Lee Rep. Kathy Hochul
Lee resigned
February 9, 2011
Jan Feb Mar Apr May
Special Election
May 25, 2011
Kathy Hochul sw
orn in
June 1, 2011
Monday, July 9, 12
CALIFORNIA - 36
Harman resigned
February 28, 2011
to become president
and CEO of the
Woodrow Wilson
Center
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Special Election
July 12, 2011
156 dayswithout a Member in the U.S. House of Representatives
Special election cost to taxpayers:$1.5 million (estimated)
Rep. Jane Harman Rep. Janice Hahn
Janice Hahn sworn in
June 1, 2011
Monday, July 9, 12
Nevada - 2
Heller resigned
May 9, 2011
to accept an
appointment to the
U.S. Senate
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Special Election
September 13, 2011
129 dayswithout a Member in the U.S. House of Representatives
Special election cost to taxpayers:$1 million (estimated) Rep. Dean Heller Rep. Mark Amodei
Mark Amodei sworn in
September 15, 2011
Monday, July 9, 12
New York - 9
Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
91 dayswithout a Member in the U.S. House of Representatives
Special electioncost to taxpayers$350,000 (estimated) Rep. Anthony Weiner Rep. Bob Turner
Weiner resigned
June 16, 2011
Jan Feb Mar Apr May
Special Election
September 13, 2011
Bob Turner sworn in
September 15, 2011
Monday, July 9, 12
OREGON - 1
Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
188 dayswithout a Member in the U.S. House of Representatives
Special electioncost to taxpayers$593,497 Rep. David Wu Rep. Susan Bonamici
Wu resigned
August 3, 2011
Jan Feb Mar Apr May
Special Election
January 31, 2011
Susan Bonamici sworn in
February 7, 2012
Monday, July 9, 12
Arizona - 8
Giffords re
signed
January 25, 2012
to concentrate on
recovery from Jan
2011 shooting
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Special Election
June 12, 2012
Ron Barber sworn in
June 19, 2012
146 dayswithout a Member in the U.S. House of Representatives
Special election cost to taxpayers: $3 million (estimated) Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Rep. Ron Barber
Monday, July 9, 12
Washington - 4
Inslee resigned
March 10, 2012
to run for governor of
Washington
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
General Election
November 6, 2012
243 dayswithout a Member in the U.S. House of Representatives
No special election -- seat will be filled in November General Election (at no additional cost to taxpayers.)
Rep. Jay Inslee Vacant
estimated*
Monday, July 9, 12
Michigan - 11
McCotter resigned
July 6, 2012
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
General Election
November 6, 2012
125 dayswithout a Member in the U.S. House of Representatives
No special election -- seat will be filled in November General Election (at no additional cost to taxpayers.)
Rep. Thad McCotter Vacant
estimated*
Monday, July 9, 12