Gov. Terry Branstad has called a special election to fill the state House seat left vacant by the passing of state Rep. Greg Forristall.

The special election will be held Tuesday, June 27, 2017.

The winner of the special election will complete the remainder of Forristall’s term, serving through 2019.

Photo of Rep. Forristall from the Iowa House Republicans site.

Voters in Polk County will be heading to the polls this October to elect a new representative in the State House. State Rep. Kevin McCarthy announced he will resign his seat effective Thursday to accept a position in the Iowa Attorney General’s Office.

Gov. Terry Branstad announced the special election to replace McCarthy will take place on October 22.

McCarthy, a Democrat, was first elected in November 2002 to lead House District 33 and during his time in office served four years as the House majority leader. Two Democrats have already thrown their hats into the ring to replace McCarthy; Joe Henry, an advocate for union workers, and Karl Schilling, a long-time member of Iowa Civil Rights Commission. More people are expected to enter the race before the parties hold their nominating conventions.

Governor Terry Branstad announced that a special election will take place on January 22, 2013 to fill the now-vacated district 52 house seat.

Representative Brian Quirk had won the seat in the November elections, but due to a new job he recently accepted, decided he could not fulfill his duties as a lawmaker.