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The 2013 United States elections were held on Tuesday, November 5, 2013. This off-year election cycle featured several special elections to the United States Congress; two gubernatorial races; state legislative elections in a few states; and numerous citizen initiatives, mayoral races, and a variety of other local offices on the ballot.
← 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 → Off-year elections | |
Election day | November 5 |
---|---|
Senate elections | |
Seats contested | 2 mid-term vacancies |
Net seat change | Democratic +1 |
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Map of the 2013 Senate special elections Democratic gain (1) Democratic hold (1) | |
House elections | |
Seats contested | 6 mid-term vacancies |
Net seat change | 0 |
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Map of the 2013 House special elections Democratic hold (2) Republican hold (4) | |
Gubernatorial elections | |
Seats contested | 2 |
Net seat change | Democratic +1 |
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Map of the 2013 Gubernatorial elections Democratic gain (1) Republican hold (1) |
The Democratic Party picked up the governorship in Virginia as Terry McAuliffe was elected to replace term-limited Republican Bob McDonnell. Meanwhile, Republican New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was re-elected to a second term. Congressional special elections were held throughout the year. In total, two Senate seats and six House seats were contested. None of the House seats changed party hands, as well as the Massachusetts Senate seat. Democrats, however, regained the Senate seat in New Jersey, which was held by a Republican appointee.
The election results were seen as a slight success for President Barack Obama and the Democrats. It is rare for the President's party to win a Virginia gubernatorial election since 1973, and Democrats lost no ground in state legislatures and Congress.
On December 21, 2012, President Barack Obama nominated Massachusetts U.S. Senator John Kerry as Secretary of State. Kerry was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 29, 2013, by a vote of 94–3.[1] Following the vote, Kerry resigned his Senate seat effective at February 1, 2013, at 4 p.m.[2] Massachusetts law required a special election within 145 to 160 days after the vacancy occurred and allowed Gov. Deval Patrick to appoint an interim senator until the winner of the special election can be sworn in.[3] Patrick announced on January 30, 2013, that he would appoint his former Chief of Staff Mo Cowan to serve as the interim senator. Cowan was sworn in by Vice President of the United States Joe Biden on February 7, 2013.[4] Cowan did not run in the special election.[5] Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin set the dates for the election with the primaries on April 30, 2013, and the general election on June 25, 2013.[6]
Democratic Congressman Ed Markey declared his candidacy on December 27, 2012,[7] and was the favorite of the Democratic establishment, receiving endorsements from Kerry, Victoria Kennedy (the widow of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy) and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.[8] U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch also sought the Democratic nomination.[9] Former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown was considered the overwhelming Republican favorite, but announced on February 1, 2013, that he would not run in the special election.[10] Kerry was re-elected in 2008 with 66 percent of the vote.[11]
On April 30, 2013, Markey easily defeated Lynch to secure the Democratic nomination taking over 57 percent of the over 550,000 cast.[12] Gabriel Gomez, a former Navy SEAL won the Republican nomination taking 51 percent of about 190,000 votes cast; defeating former United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts and former Acting Director Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Michael Sullivan who had 36 percent and state Rep. Daniel Winslow, who had 13 percent.[12]
Markey easily defeated Gomez on June 25, 2013, capturing over 625,000 votes of approximately 1.2 million cast, garnering approximately 55 percent to Gomez's 45 percent and less than 1 percent for Richard Heos, nominee of the Twelve Vision's Party.[13]
89-year-old Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who had already announced retirement plans[14] died on June 3, 2013.[15] On June 4, 2013, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie set the dates for the special election with the primaries being held on August 13, 2013, and the general election being held on October 16, 2013.[16] On June 6, 2013, Christie announced the appointment of New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa, a Republican, to serve as the interim senator until the winner of the special could be sworn in.[17] Chiesa announced he would not run in the special election and was sworn in by Vice President Joe Biden on June 10, 2013.[18]
Newark Mayor Cory Booker,[19] won the Democratic nomination over Congressmen Rush D. Holt, Jr.[20] and Frank Pallone,[21] and New Jersey General Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver.[22] Steve Lonegan, a former mayor of Bogota backed by the Tea Party and a two-time GOP primary candidate for Governor of New Jersey,[23] won the Republican nomination over health care reform advocate Alieta Eck.[24]
The election on October 16, 2013, was won by Cory Booker with 54.6% of the vote, against 44.3% for Steve Lonegan.[25] This senate election was a technical net gain for Democrats since Booker was replacing an appointed Republican. However, the gain was not enough to hold back the Republican wave which swept control of the senate just one year later.
This off-year election cycle featured special elections to the 113th United States Congress to fill vacancies due to resignations. Six special elections have taken place to fill seats in the United States House of Representatives. Two were due to Congressmen taking seats in the United States Senate (Tim Scott of South Carolina and Ed Markey of Massachusetts), one resigned to take jobs in the private sector (Jo Ann Emerson of Missouri), one resigned to take a job in the public sector (Jo Bonner of Alabama), and Jesse Jackson Jr. resigned due to an impending federal indictment of misuse of campaign funds.
Jesse Jackson Jr. resigned on November 21, 2012, following a months-long battle with bipolar disorder and due to being subject to a federal investigation over the possible misuse of campaign funds.[26] Democratic nominee Robin Kelly defeated Republican nominee Paul McKinley on April 9, 2013, taking 71 percent of about 82,000 votes cast.[27]
Incumbent Tim Scott resigned when appointed U.S. senator.[28] The Republican candidate, former governor Mark Sanford, who held the seat from 1995 to 2001, defeated Democratic nominee Elizabeth Colbert Busch, sister of comedian Stephen Colbert taking 54 percent.[29]
Incumbent Jo Ann Emerson resigned January 22, 2013,[30] to become the CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association in March 2013.[31] Republican Missouri state Rep. Jason Smith beat Democratic state Rep. John Hodges on June 4, 2013.[32]
Incumbent Democrat Ed Markey resigned on July 15, 2013 when elected U.S. senator. Democratic state senator Katherine Clark beat Republican lawyer Frank Addivinola on December 10, 2013.[33]
On May 23, 2013, Republican Incumbent Jo Bonner resigned August 15, 2013 to become the vice chancellor of government relations and economic development with the University of Alabama System.,[34][35] Republican former state senator Bradley Byrne beat Democratic real estate agent Burton LeFlore on December 17 by a wide margin.[36]
On August 6, 2013, incumbent Rodney Alexander resigned September 26, 2013, citing the partisan gridlock in Congress,[37] and became the Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs under Governor Bobby Jindal.
On November 16, 2013, businessman Vance McAllister defeated fellow Republican state senator Neil Riser defeated Republican Riser in the November 16 run-off with 60 percent of the vote.[38] and was sworn in by Boehner on November 21, 2013.
Two states held gubernatorial elections in 2013:
Legislative elections were held for the New Jersey Senate, New Jersey General Assembly, and the Virginia House of Delegates. In New Jersey, Democrats retained control of their majorities in the Senate and General Assembly.[43] Republicans held a majority in the Virginia House of Delegates.
Judicial elections were held for New York State Supreme Court in most of its 13 Judicial Districts.
Several states had referendums on propositions and/or state constitutional amendments on the ballot in November 2013, including a non-binding vote to create a new state in Northern Colorado, tax and marijuana issues in Colorado, an initiative to require labeling of genetically modified food in the state of Washington, and an amendment to raise the minimum wage in New Jersey.[44]
New Yorkers voted to amend its constitution in several minor ways, but voted against raising the retirement age for judges.
Various elections were held for officeholders in numerous cities, counties, school boards, special districts and others around the country.
Some of the large cities holding mayoral elections included:[45]
Some of the major local elections included:
These tables show the partisan results of the Congressional special elections and gubernatorial races in 2013. Bold indicates a change in control.
Seat | Before 2013 elections | After 2013 elections |
---|---|---|
Massachusetts Class 2 | Democratic | Democratic |
New Jersey Class 2 | Republican[lower-alpha 1] | Democratic |
Seat | Before 2013 elections | After 2013 elections |
---|---|---|
Alabama 1st | Republican | Republican |
Illinois 2nd | Democratic | Democratic |
Louisiana 5th | Republican | Republican |
Massachusetts 5th | Democratic | Democratic |
Missouri 8th | Republican | Republican |
South Carolina 1st | Republican | Republican |
State | Before 2013 elections | After 2013 elections |
---|---|---|
New Jersey | Republican | Republican |
Virginia | Republican | Democratic |
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