List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives


Below is a list of special elections to the United States House of Representatives. Such elections are called by state governors to fill vacancies that occur when a member of the House of Representatives dies or resigns before the biennial general election. Winners of these elections serve the remainder of the term and are usually candidates in the next general election for their districts.
In the United States, these contests are called "special elections." They are sometimes held on the regular Election Day like regular congressional elections but often they are on different days as determined by local statutes. Despite their name, however, special elections to the U.S. House happen often. Furthermore, one published study shows that special elections are explained by the same factors as regular congressional elections. Special elections to the U.S. House of Representatives have occurred at least once in all states except Iowa and Idaho. A few special elections for territorial delegates to Congress have also been held.
A 2016 study of special elections to the United States House of Representatives found "that while candidate characteristics affect special election outcomes, presidential approval is predictive of special election outcomes as well. Furthermore, we find that the effect of presidential approval on special election outcomes has increased in magnitude from 1995 to 2014, with the 2002 midterm representing an important juncture in the nationalization of special elections."

List of special elections

Summary

In a few instances more than one seat was filled in a single special election, but each seat is counted separately in the list below.
Cong
ress		StartEndSpecial
elections		Cumulative
total
March 3, 179122
March 3, 179368
March 3, 1795816
March 3, 17971228
March 3, 17991543
March 3, 18011154
March 3, 18031872
March 3, 18051183
March 3, 18071699
March 3, 180911110
March 3, 181112122
March 3, 18137129
March 3, 181521150
March 3, 181723173
March 3, 181917190
March 3, 182115205
March 3, 182321226
March 3, 182511237
March 3, 182716253
March 3, 182916269
March 3, 183114283
March 3, 18339292
March 3, 183523315
March 3, 183720335
March 3, 183919354
March 3, 184118372
March 3, 184323395
March 3, 184514409
March 3, 184713422
March 3, 184910432
March 3, 185114446
March 3, 18536452
March 3, 18559461
March 3, 18579470
March 3, 185911481
March 3, 18617488
March 3, 186320508
March 3, 18656514
March 3, 18677 523
March 3, 186911534
March 3, 187116550
March 3, 187310560
March 3, 187513573
March 3, 187716589
March 3, 18796595
March 3, 18818603
March 3, 188316619
March 3, 188515634
March 3, 188711645
March 3, 18898653
March 3, 189117670
March 3, 189315685
March 3, 189521706
March 3, 189711717
March 3, 189913730
March 3, 190120750
March 3, 190317767
March 3, 190514781
March 3, 190717798
March 3, 190913811
March 3, 191113824
March 3, 191315839
March 3, 191519858
March 3, 191712870
March 3, 191923893
March 3, 192124917
March 3, 192320937
March 3, 192524961
March 3, 192711972
March 3, 192915987
March 3, 1931271,014
March 3, 1933241,038
January 3, 1935151,053
January 3, 1937101,063
January 3, 1939151,078
January 3, 1941241,102
January 3, 1943191,121
January 3, 1945181,139
January 3, 1947161,155
January 3, 1949191,174
January 3, 1951111,185
January 3, 1953151,200
January 3, 195591,209
January 3, 195751,214
January 3, 1959101,224
January 3, 1961101,234
January 3, 1963121,246
January 3, 1965121,258
January 3, 1967101,268
January 3, 196961,274
January 3, 1971141,288
January 3, 1973101,298
January 3, 1975101,308
January 3, 1977101,318
January 3, 197961,324
January 3, 198171,331
January 3, 198391,340
January 3, 198591,349
January 3, 198751,354
January 3, 198981,362
January 3, 1991121,374
January 3, 199361,380
January 3, 199571,387
January 3, 199761,393
January 3, 199991,402
January 3, 200131,405
January 3, 200391,414
January 3, 200551,419
January 3, 200761,425
January 3, 2009131,438
January 3, 2011111,449
January 3, 2013101,459
January 3, 2015111,470
January 3, 201771,477
January 3, 2019141,491
January 3, 202181,499