Update on U.S. House Vacancies

The passing of long-time Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18) on Friday created a new vacancy in the U.S. House of Representatives. Republicans now hold a 220-212 partisan advantage.

Jackson Lee was renominated for a 16th term in the state's March primary. Replacing her on the November ballot will fall to the Harris County Democratic Party's executive committee, who has until August 26 to nominate someone. It is up to Gov. Greg Abbott (R) to decide whether there is a special election to complete the current term. 

A brief update on the other two seats that are currently unfilled:

NJ-10: Democratic Rep. Donald Payne Jr. died in April. The seat will be filled in a special election on September 18. Party primaries were held July 16, with businessman Carmen Bucco unopposed for the GOP nomination. For the Democrats, Newark City Council president LaMonica McIver advanced from a large field, and will be heavily favored in this district where Democrats outnumber Republicans by a 6 to 1 margin.

At a party convention this past Thursday, McIver was also selected to be the nominee on the November ballot for a full two-year term. She will replace Payne, who had been posthumously nominated in the June primary.

WI-08: Republican Mike Gallagher resigned in April. The seat will be filled concurrently with this year's regular elections. Special primaries are on August 13; the special election is November 5. This is a safely Republican seat; three are vying to succeed Gallagher.