DemDaily: 2017 Special Elections!
February 21, 2017
Our first glimpse at the Trump effect on the electorate may come as soon as April when the first of five "special elections" will take place to fill the terms of Members of Congress who are leaving their seats to serve in the Trump Administration.
A "Special Election" is one called to fill the unexpected vacancy of an elected office mid-term.
Although 4 of the 5 are traditionally Republican seats, Democrats are hoping the increasing negatives of the Trump presidency - at only 41% approval (Gallup) - and the historic edge of mid-terms gains favored by the Party outside the White House, to play in their favor.
Many of the races are still taking shape but, for our followers, an introduction to the current landscape!
[left to right] James Thompson (D) - Kansas, Ron Slotin (D) - Georgia, Amanda Curtis (D) - Montana
| Office | Incumbent | Special Election Date | Democratic Candidates | Republican Candidates | Presidential % in CD |
| US Congress: California 34th District |
Xavier Becerra, left to serve as California Attorney General | April 4th "jungle primary." If no candidate receives more than 50% of vote, the top two advance to Runoff election June 6th. | 17 Democrats (see full list) |
William Morrison | Clinton 83% Trump 11% |
|
US Congress: Georgia 6th District
|
Tom Price, left to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services | Primary (jungle): April 18th Run-off: June 20 |
frm State Senator Ron Slotin, frm congressional aide Jon Ossoff, Ragin Edwards, Richard Keatley, Rebecca Quigg | frm Georgia Sec of State Karen Handel, State Sen Judson Hill, frm State Sen Dan Moody, Councilman Bob Gray, businessman Bruce Levell. | Clinton 47% Trump 48% |
| US Congress: Kansas 4th District |
Mike Pompeo, left to serve as Director of CIA | General: April 11th | James Thompson, civil rights attorney and U.S. Army veteran |
Ron Estes, State Treasurer | Clinton 33% Trump 60% |
| US Congress: Montana At Large seat |
Ryan Zinke, left to serve as Secretary of the Interior | Nominees elected at Party Conventions: Dates TBD pending Zinke confirmation. |
State Rep and nominee for US Senate in 2014 Amanda Curtis, State Rep Kelly McCarthy, attorney John Meyer, musician Rob Quist
|
State Sen Edward Buttrey, 2016 Governor nominee Greg Gianforte, State Rep Carl Glimm, frm State Sen and Chair of the Montana GOP Ken Miller, State Sen Scott Sales, frm US Rep candidate Drew Turiano, State Rep Daniel Zolnikov
|
Clinton 36% Trump 57% |
| US Congress: South Carolina 5th District |
Mick Mulvaney, left to serve as Director, Office of Management & Budget | Primary: May 2nd General: June 20th |
none declared at this point | Camden attorney Tom Mullikin, State Rep Ralph Norman, education activist Sheri Few, attorney Kris Wampler, State House Speaker Pro Tem: Tommy Pope, Chad Connelly | Clinton 39% Trump 57% |
