Overview and Live Results: February 25 Legislative Special Elections

Three states are holding legislative special elections or primaries Tuesday. Results are ordered by poll closing times.

Connecticut

Polls close at 8:00 PM Eastern.

State Senate District 21 

Democrats hold 25 of 36 seats in the Connecticut State Senate. There are 10 Republicans, and a vacancy to be filled Tuesday. Members serve two year terms; the next regular elections are in 2026.

District 21 stretches northward from the Long Island Sound between Bridgeport and Milford. Republican Kevin Kelly resigned in early January, just before the start of this year's legislative session. 

Kelly was first elected in 2010. Unopposed in 2024, he won by 57% to 43% in 2022. There are two candidates on the ballot: Long-time State Rep. Jason Perillo is the Republican nominee; Stratford Town Councilman Tony Afriyie represents the Democrats.

According to calculations by State Navigate, SD-21 was the closest in Connecticut when looking at 2024 presidential results by Senate district. Donald Trump won by 316 votes out of 58,255 cast - a margin of about 0.5%. 

State House District 40

Democrats also hold a large majority in the Connecticut House of Representatives. The party controls 101 seats, with Republicans sitting in 49. There is one vacancy to be filled Tuesday. Members serve two year terms; the next regular elections are in 2026.

District 40 is in the eastern part of the state, near the coast. It includes portions of New London and Groton. Democrat Christine Conley resigned on January 7, one day prior to the start of the legislative session.

Conley was first elected in 2016. She was reelected in 2024 by a 66% to 34% margin. The nominees are Groton City Councilman Dan Gaiewski (D) and Groton Economic Development Chairman Robert Boris (R).

Maine

Polls close at 8:00 PM Eastern.

State House District 24

The Maine House of Representatives is narrowly-divided, with Democrats holding a 75-73 partisan edge. There are two independents and one vacancy. Members serve two year terms; the next regular elections are in 2026.

District 24 is in the Bangor area. The seat was vacated in December, when Joseph Perry (D) was appointed State Treasurer.

Perry was reelected by a 65% to 35% margin in 2024. Two are contesting for the seat. Sean Faircloth, who previously served in both chambers of the Maine Legislature, is the Democratic nominee. Bangor City Councilwoman Carolyn Fish represents the GOP.

California

Polls close at 11:00 PM Eastern. 

These elections are all-party primaries conducted largely by mail. If one candidate gets a majority, they are elected. Otherwise, a special general election between the top two finishers will take place April 29.

State Senate District 36

Democrats hold a 30-9 partisan advantage over Republicans in the California State Senate. There is one vacancy. Members serve four year staggered terms; the even-numbered districts will be up for election in 2026.

District 36 is located along the Pacific Ocean south of Los Angeles. Republican Jane Nguyen resigned in December after being elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

Nguyen was in her first term; she won by 57% to 43% in 2022. There are two Democrats and two Republicans on the ballot.

State Assembly District 32

Democrats also dominate the lower chamber in California. The party holds 60 seats vs. 19 for Republicans. There is one vacancy. Members serve two year terms; the next regular elections are in 2026.

District 32 is in the southcentral part of the state. Republican Vince Fong resigned in May, after winning a special election to succeed Kevin McCarthy in the House of Representatives. 

Prior to his election to the House, Fong had advanced - along with another Republican, Ken Weir - in the March top-two primary for District 32. Fong was able to run concurrently for both the U.S. House and District 32 in November. Winning both, he was never reseated in District 32.

The special election ballot features two Republicans, a Democrat, and a Libertarian. Businessman Stan Ellis has been endorsed by McCarthy and Fong.

Upcoming Special Elections

• March 4
  • Oklahoma State Senate District 8 (Primary)
    • Runoff (if needed) April 1; General Election May 13
• March 11
  • Alabama State Senate District 5 (Primary)
    • Runoff (if needed) April 8; General Election June 24
  • Iowa State House District 100
  • Minnesota State House District 40B
• March 25
  • Mississippi State House Districts 23 and 82
    • Runoff (if needed) April 22
  • Pennsylvania State Senate District 36 and State House District 35
  • South Carolina State House District 113
• April 1
  • Florida Congressional Districts 1 and 6
  • Florida State Senate District 19 and State House Districts 3 and 32 (Primaries)
    • General Election June 10
  • Oklahoma State House Districts 71 and 74
    • Runoff (if needed) May 13; General Election June 10
  • South Carolina State House District 50 (Primary)
    • Runoff (if needed) April 15; General Election June 3
• April 15
  • Massachusetts State House District 6th Essex (Primary)
    • General Election May 13
  • Mississippi State Senate District 18
  • Oakland Mayor

Upcoming Scheduled Elections

• March 4
  • St. Louis Mayor Primary
    • General Election April 8
• April 1
  • Omaha Mayor Primary
  • Wisconsin Supreme Court