Steve Scalise (R) and Don Cazayoux (D) Win Lousianaa House Seats in Special Elections

Republican Steve Scalise, a 12-year veteran of the Louisiana House of Representatives, won a May 3 special U.S. House election in Louisiana’s First Congressional District. Scalise, 42, won over 75 percent of the vote against Democrat Gilda Reed and two minor candidates. Scalise will succeed Republican Bobby Jindal, who resigned January 14 to be inaugurated to the office of Governor that he won last October in Louisiana’s off-year election. No Democrat has represented the First Congressional District since 1977.

Democratic State Rep. Don Cazayoux won a May 3 special election in Louisiana’s Sixth Congressional District, ending a 33-year Republican hold on representing the Baton Rouge-based area in the U.S. House. Cazayoux, 44, narrowly defeated Republican Louis (Woody) Jenkins with 49.2 percent of the vote to Jenkins’ 46.3 percent, with the remainder divided by three independent candidates. Cazayoux will succeed 11-term Rep. Richard H. Baker, who resigned February 2 to lobby for the hedge fund industry.

Jackie Speier (D) Wins California House Seat in Special Election

Democrat Jackie Speier, a former Congressional staffer who served for 18 years in the California Legislature, won an April 8 special election to succeed the late Rep. Tom Lantos (D) in California’s 12th Congressional District. Speier, 57, avoided a possible June runoff by winning nearly 76 percent of the vote against a Democratic, two Republican and one Green Party opponent. Under California law, every candidate in the race was listed on the same ballot, regardless of party affiliation.

Speier worked on Capitol Hill as Legislative Counsel for Rep. Leo J. Ryan (D CA). She was seriously wounded on November 18, 1978 at an airstrip in Guyana by gunmen associated with Peoples Temple cult leader Jim Jones. Speier and Ryan were among a delegation that had traveled to the remote location to investigate claims of abuse by the cult. She ran in the 1979 special election to succeed Ryan but lost to Republican Bill Royer. Rep. Lantos won the seat in 1980 and held it until his death in February.

Rep. Andrews to challenge Sen. Lautenberg in New Jersey Democratic Contest

Nine-term New Jersey Rep. Robert E. Andrews (D) announced April 2 that he will challenge 84-year old incumbent Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg in the state’s June 3 primary. Rep. Andrews, 50, said in a statement that “after consulting with family, friends, supporters and people from all points of view, I have decided that I will place my name and my credentials before the people of New Jersey to serve as their new United States senator. The people of New Jersey deserve to choose their senator.

Rep. Andrews’s announcement comes despite the efforts of the seven members of New Jersey’s Democratic Congressional delegation to discourage him from running. The state’s six other Democratic House members — Rush Holt, Frank Pallone, Jr., William J. Pascrell, Jr., Donald M. Payne, Steve Rothman and Albio Sires — have all pledged to share their ballot line in their districts with Sen. Lautenberg. U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D), Gov. Jon Corzine (D), State Democratic Party chair Joseph Cryan, Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, and Newark Mayor Cory Booker have also announced their support for Sen. Lautenberg.

State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio of Montville, college educator Murray Sabrin of Fort Lee and businessman Andrew Unanue are seeking the Republican Senate nomination.

Rep. Wynn (D MD-4) to resign from House in June

Rep. Albert R. Wynn (D MD-4), who lost his bid for renomination to a ninth term in last month’s Congressional primary, announced March 27 that he plans to resign from Congress in June to join the Government Law and Strategy Group of the Washington, D.C. law firm of Dickstein Shapiro.

Rep. Wynn’s departure could set the stage for a special election where the Democratic nominee who defeated him in February, Donna Edwards, would be favored to win in Maryland’s Fourth Congressional District, which takes in parts of Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. However, Maryland election laws also give Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) the option of leaving the seat vacant until the regular general election on November 4.

Rep. Reynolds (R NY-26) won’t seek Sixth Term in 2008

Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds (R NY-26) announced March 20 that he would not run for reelection to the House seat he has held since 1999. Rep. Reynolds, 57, barely fended off a well-funded challenge in 2006 from silicon carbide heating element industrialist Jack Davis of Newstead. This year, Davis and two other Democrats, Jonathan Powers of Clarence and Alice J. Kryzan of Buffalo, are seeking their party’s nomination. Among Republicans, State Assemblyman James E. Hayes of Amherst and State Sen. George D. Maziarz of Newfane are considering their possible entries into the race.

Rep. Cramer (D AL-5) won't run for 10th Term

Rep. Robert E. (Bud) Cramer, Jr., a member of the House Appropriations Committee and the conservative-leaning House Democratic “Blue Dog Coalition,” announced on March 13 that he would not run for a 10th term this year. Rep. Cramer, 60, said in a statement that “[A]fter 28 years of public service it is time for me to step aside, spend more time with my family and begin another chapter in my life.” He is the sixth Democrat who will not stand for election to the House; 24 Republicans have also decided against seeking re-election in 2008.

The filing deadline for Alabama’s June 3 primary is on April 4. Democrats being mentioned as possible Fifth Congressional District candidates include State Senators Tom Butler of Madison and Parker Griffith of Huntsville, and State Rep. John Robinson of Scottsboro. Among area Republicans, Madison County Commissioners Mo Brooks and Dale Strong, as well as State Senator Arthur Orr of Decatur, may run for the seat.

Andre Carson (D) wins Indiana House Seat in Special Election

Democrat André Carson won a March 11 special election to succeed his late grandmother, Rep. Julia M. Carson, as Representative of Indiana’s Seventh Congressional District. Carson, 33, defeated State Rep. Jon Elrod with 54 percent of the vote. His victory brings the total number of House Democrats to 233, with 198 Republicans and four vacancies.

Carson will serve the nine months remaining in his grandmother’s uncompleted House term. He will face Seventh District voters once more on May 6, when a primary is held for spots on the November 4 general election ballot. State Rep. Carolene Mays, State Rep. David Orentlicher and former State Health Commissioner Woodrow A. Myers Jr. are challenging Carson in the May primary.

Bill Foster (D) wins Illinois House Seat in Special Election

Democrat Bill Foster, a particle accelerator physicist and first-time candidate, won a March 8 special election that made him the new Representative of Illinois’ 14th Congressional District. Foster, 52, defeated Republican nominee Jim Oberweis to win the Republican leaning-seat held for 20 years by former House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, who resigned in November 2007. The last Democrat to represent the area in the House was Rep. Tim Hall, who served from 1975 until 1977.

Foster’s victory means he will serve the nine months remaining in Hastert’s uncompleted term. Foster and Oberweis won their parties’ respective nominations in the February 5 Illinois primary and will meet again on November 4 for election to a complete two-year term.