Gov. Andrew Cuomo has called a special election for May 5, 2015, to fill the congressional vacancy left by former Rep. Michael Grimm.

A federal judge compelled the governor to set a date for the election by February 20, 2015.

Political parties now have 12 days to designate their candidates and a few short months to campaign.

Photo of Gov. Cuomo courtesy of Pat Arnow on Wikimedia Commons.

A federal judge has ordered Gov. Andrew Cuomo to set a date by Friday, February 20, 2015, for a special election filling the congressional vacancy left by former Rep. Michael Grimm.

Judge Jack Weinstein wrote in his opinion the constituents of the 11th Congressional District, mostly covering Staten Island, are “bereft of an advocate to help them navigate the morass of government bureaucracy.”

Shortly after the federal court issued its opinion, the governor’s spokeswoman made a statement saying Cuomo will announce a date for the special election “shortly.” If Cuomo does not set a date by Friday, February 20, 2015, the judge will set a date “as promptly as the law will allow.”

A federal lawsuit has been filed against Gov. Andrew Cuomo in an attempt to force the governor to call a special election for the congressional vacancy left by former Rep. Michael Grimm. Grimm resigned from Congress in early 2015 after pleading guilty to felony tax fraud.

By law, Cuomo must call a special election to fill the seat and such election must take place 70 to 80 days after it is announced. However, the governor has no present plans of calling a special election, angering the constituents of Grimm’s former district, which encompasses Staten Island and southern Brooklyn.

The suit alleges constitutional violations and requests the court to compel Cuomo to call a special election.

Judge Jack Weinstein of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York will hear the case on February 13, 2015.

Photo of Governor Cuomo courtesy of Pat Arnow on Wikipedia.

On March 20, a special election will be held for the American Samoa House of Representative seat left vacant by the death of Lemapu Suiaunoa Talo.

Lemapu, who had been in office for four years, ran in the November general election opposed by only one candidate, according to Marianas Variety. The deadline to file as a candidate for the office is February 6.

State Rep. Elizabeth Dickerson of House District 93 resigned from the Maine House of Representatives, saying she has decided to move to another state.

Secretary of State Matt Dunlap set a special election to fill Dickerson’s seat for March 10, 2015.

Candidates must be nominated by February 9, 2015.

Gov. Jerry Brown has announced special elections to fill vacancies in state Senate Districts 7, 21, and 37. The vacancies were created by departures of three former state senators to Congress.

The special primary ballot is scheduled for March 17, 2015. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, a runoff will take place on May 19.

Del. Joseph D. Morrissey announced he has resigned his seat, prompting a special election on January 13, 2015. The lawmaker entered an Alford plea on a misdemeanor count of contributing to the deliquency of a minor, acknowledging sufficient evidence for a conviction but not admitting guilt. The charge stems from an alleged relationship with a 17-year-old receptionist in his office.

Morressey plans to run in the special election to regain the House District 74 seat, leaving the decision of whether or not he should be removed from office to the voters.

Photo of Joseph D. Morrissey by Cliff on Wikimedia Commons.

A special election has been scheduled for April 28, 2015, to fill vacant council seats in Wards 4 and 8. Several prospective candidates for the Ward 8 seat have already obtained nominating petitions, and several other candidates are expected to enter the race before the petition filing deadline on January 28, 2015.

The Ward 8 seat was held by long-time District politician Marion Barry, who recently passed away. The Ward 4 seat was held by Muriel Bowser, who is the mayor-elect.

Gov. Terry Branstad has called a special election on January 6, 2015 to fill the state House District 4 seat formerly held by Dwayne Alons.

Alons passed away recently after serving in the Iowa Legislature since 1999.

The timing of the special election will allow the newly elected lawmaker to be present for 2015 legislative session, which convenes January 12, 2015.

Secretary of State Brian Kemp has called a special election to fill the seat in House District 120. The special election is set for January 6, 2015, and a runoff will be held on February 3, if necessary.

The newly re-elected Rep. Mickey Channell announced he will not fill the seat when the new term begins on January 12, 2015.

Virginia House Speaker William Howell announced a special election will be held on January 6 to fill the open seat for District 34. Barbara Comstock is vacating the seat following her victorious campaign for Virginia’s 10th Congressional District.

The Democratic candidate is likely to be Kathleen Murphy while the Republicans will select a candidate this weekend.

The 34th District covers parts of Fairfax and Loudoun counties.

Gov. Terry Branstad has called a special election for state Senate District 12. The special election is scheduled for December 30, 2014.

The election will fill the vacancy left by Joni Ernst, who resigned from the state senate after being elected to the U.S. Senate in November 2014. Ernst’s former senate district includes Fremont, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Ringgold, and Taylor counties.

Gov. Mike Beebe has scheduled a special election on April 14, 2015, to fill the state Senate seat vacated by Michael Lamoureux. The primary will be January 13 and a primary runoff, if necessary, on February 10. Lamoureux vacated the seat in Senate District 16 to take a position as Gov.-elect Asa Hutchinson’s chief of staff.

The 2015 legislative session will be conducted by a 34-seat Senate unless the session runs for more than three months.

Councilman Marion Barry passed away on Sunday, November 23, 2014, at the age of 78. Barry served four terms as mayor before becoming a councilman.

With his death leaving a vacancy on the council, the D.C. Board of Elections must schedule a special election between 70 and 174 days after the vacancy has been declared.

A special election to fill the vacancy is expected between early February and mid-May. The winner of the special election would serve the remainder of Barry’s term, which is approximately two years.

Photo of Marion Barry courtesy of dbking on Wikimedia Commons.