Lawmakers have passed a bill requiring a special election to fill a U.S. Senate vacancy. House Bill 1181 requires the governor to call a special election within 95 days of a Senate seat vacancy, unless the vacancy occurs within 95 days of the end of the Senate term, in which case the seat will be filled at the next regular election.

Democrats believe the bill is an attempt to discourage U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp from running for governor in 2016 since she would not be able to appoint her replacement.

The bill now goes to Gov. Jack Dalrymple for his signature.

Rep. Aaron Schock is resigning his seat at the end of the month in the wake of a congressional ethics investigation and looming federal investigation. The ethics investigation will focus on his use of taxpayer money, including mileage reimbursements from a car paid for by his campaign account.

Federal prosecutors in Illinois will focus on the mileage reimbursements as well as travel paid for by donors and in-kind contributions never reported.

Gov. Bruce Rauner must set a special election date within five days of Schock’s resignation at the end of the month; the congressional seat must be filled within 120 days.

Gov. Phil Bryant has announced a special election to fill an opening in the state House of Representatives. The election, for the House District 45 seat, will be May 5, with a runoff held on May 26 if needed.

The vacancy is a result of Rep. Bennett Malone resigning earlier this month and the winner will serve the last few months of his four-year term.

With the election occurring a month after the legislature adjourns, it is unlikely the new lawmaker will vote on bills.

Jay Jordan has won the Republican primary for the vacant seat in House District 63. Unofficial results have Jordan with 1,927 votes, Robby Hill with 1,076, and Elijah Jones with 517.

No Democrats filed to run in the special election on April 14, 2015.

The vacancy was created when Republican Kris Crawford resigned his seat a month after being elected unopposed to a fifth term.

Photo of the South Carolina Capitol Building by Nikopoley 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.”

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.

A by-election will be held on February 5 to select a representative for the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada, for the Electoral District of Sudbury. The by-election was announced on January 7 by Chief Electoral Officer Greg Essensa.

The campaign period for candidates began on January 7 and will end on May 5.

Photo of the Ontario Legislative Building by Andrijko Z. on Wikimedia Commons.

Gov. Peter Shumlin has finally won reelection following a vote of the state legislature. Shumlin received just 46.4 percent of the vote in November, less than the majority required by the state constitution, compelling the legislature’s action.

Scott Milne received 45.1 percent of the vote but, unlike previous runners-up, he did not concede the election.

By secret ballots cast in a joint session of the House and Senate, Gov. Shumlin received 110 votes to Milne’s 69.

Photo of Gov. Peter Shumlin by Community College of Vermont on Wikimedia Commons.

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.