Live Results: Several State Legislative Elections to Close out the Year

The 2021 election calendar wraps up Tuesday with two general and two primary state legislative special elections. While all four of the states have completed legislative redistricting, these elections will be contested under the existing boundaries.

Special General Elections

Connecticut State House District 116

The 151 member Connecticut House of Representatives is comprised of 95 Democrats and 54 Republicans. Members serve two-year terms. The next scheduled elections are in in 2022. These will be conducted using redistricted boundaries.

There are vacancies in Districts 116 and 144. The special election for Stamford-area District 144 will take place on January 25.

District 116 is located just southwest of New Haven. It was previously represented by Democrat Michael DiMassa, who resigned in October after being indicted. He was serving his third term. 

Nominees for special elections in Connecticut are selected by the parties. Democrats nominated Trenee McGee. The Republican nominee is Richard DePalma, who also represented the party in the 2016 and 2018 elections here. Those races were not competitive; DiMassa won by a nearly 50% margin both times. Independent Portia Bias is also on the ballot.

Polls close at 8:00 PM Eastern Time (ET).

Iowa State Senate District 1

Republicans hold a 31-18 edge over Democrats in the 50-person Iowa State Senate. Members serve staggered four year terms; districts with even numbers were contested in 2020 and those with odd numbers scheduled for 2022. As a result of redistricting, it is possible that one or more of the even-numbered districts, known as "holdover senatorial districts" will also be on the ballot. That remains to be determined. If any of those elections are needed, they will be for a shortened two-year term. 

District 1 covers a largely rural area in the northwest corner of the state. It has been vacant since October, when Republican Zach Whiting resigned to take a job in Texas. Whiting was in his first term; he ran unopposed in 2018. 

Nominees for special elections in Iowa are selected by the parties. The Republicans chose Dave Rowley; the Democratic nominee is Mark Lemke.

Polls close at 9:00 PM ET.

Special Primary Elections

Arkansas State Senate District 7

Republicans hold a lopsided 26-7 margin over Democrats in the 35-person Arkansas State Senate. Term length is four years, except two years for the election that precedes a redistricting - as was the case in 2020. The 2022 elections will be contested using redistricted boundaries. Those will be for four years terms, as will the ones in 2026. 

District 7 is in the northwest part of the state. Republican Lance Eads resigned in October to take a private sector job. Eads was serving in his second term, having run unopposed in the general election in 2016 and 2020.

Four Republicans are looking to succeed Eads, while two Democrats are seeking their party's nomination. If no candidate gets a majority of the vote, a top two runoff will be held January 11. The ultimate nominees will advance to the February 8 general election.

Polls close at 8:30 PM ET.

Massachusetts State Senate 1st Suffolk & Middlesex District

Democrats have an overwhelming 36-3 membership advantage in the 40-person Massachusetts State Senate. Term length is two years; the next regularly scheduled elections are in 2022. These will be contested under redistricted boundaries.

The vacancy in this Boston area district occurred in September, when incumbent Democrat Joseph Boncore resigned to take a private sector job. Boncore was in his third term.

No Republican has contested this district since 2012. That streak will continue with the special election. Two candidates are competing in the Democratic primary with the nominee all but certain to be elected on January 11.

Polls close at 8:00 PM ET.

Upcoming

On January 11, there will be a special election to in Florida's 20th congressional district.  The seat has been vacant since long-time Democratic Rep. Alcee Hastings died in April. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick won the special Democratic primary by just 5 votes over Dale Holness and she will be a heavy favorite against Republican Jason Mariner. 

This is the only currently open seat in the U.S. House. However, another will occur at the end of 2021, as California Rep. Devin Nunes (R) announced he will resign to lead former president Donald Trump's new media venture.

The 2022 Election Calendar (statewide primaries) kicks off in Texas on March 1. It was to have been followed the following week by North Carolina's primaries. However, these have been delayed until May by the State Supreme Court to allow time for legal challenges to redistricted maps recently approved by the General Assembly.

There will also be several legislative special elections in January and February.