House and Senate Special Elections Update

With Republican Jason Smith winning the special election for Missouri's District 8, the breakdown in the U.S. House of Representatives is now 234 Republicans, 201 Democrats. All 435 seats in the House are currently occupied.

Frank Lautenberg, Senator from New Jersey, died at the age of 89 yesterday. Governor Chris Christie has called for a special election to fill the seat until election day, November 4, 2014. The Democratic and Republican primaries are scheduled for August 13, 2013 and the general election will be held on October 16.

The current tally in the Senate is 51 Democrats, 45 Republicans, 2 Independents (who both caucus with the Democrats), and 2 vacancies. The other vacancy will be filled in a June 25 special election in Massachusetts.

Updated House of Representatives Breakdown

With the special election victory by former governor Mark Sanford to South Carolina's open first district seat, the U.S. House now consists of 233 Republicans, 201 Democrats, and one vacancy (which will be filled on June 4).

Currently, four incumbent Democrats and five incumbent Republicans have announced their intention not to run in 2014. The Democrats leaving represent these districts:  Hawaii's 1st; Iowa's 1st; Michigan's 14th; and Pennsylvania's 13th. Only Iowa's 1st could realistically change hands at this point. The Republicans leaving represent these districts: Georgia's 1st, 10th, and 11th; Louisiana's 6th; and West Virginia's 2nd. Only West Virginia's 2nd could realistically change hands at this point.