# 2009 United States House of Representatives elections

There were five special elections to the United States House of Representatives in 2009 during the 111th United States Congress.
One seat has switched parties, from Republican to Democratic, as the result of a special election.

## Summary

Elections are listed by date and district.
| District | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | This race | This race |
| District | Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates |
| New York 20 | Kirsten Gillibrand | Democratic | 2006 | Incumbent resigned January 26, 2009 to become U.S. senator. New member elected March 31, 2009. Democratic hold. | ▌Y Scott Murphy (Democratic) 50.23% ▌Jim Tedisco (Republican) 49.77% |
| Illinois 5 | Rahm Emanuel | Democratic | 2002 | Incumbent resigned January 2, 2009 to become White House Chief of Staff. New member elected April 4, 2009. Democratic hold. | ▌Y Mike Quigley (Democratic) 69.25% ▌Rosanna Pulido (Republican) 24.16% ▌Matt Reichel (Green) 6.60% |
| California 32 | Hilda Solis | Democratic | 2000 | Incumbent resigned February 24, 2009, to become U.S. Secretary of Labor. New member elected July 14, 2009. Democratic hold. | ▌Y Judy Chu (Democratic) 61.85% ▌Betty Chu (Republican) 32.96% ▌Christopher Agrella (Libertarian) 5.18% |
| California 10 | Ellen Tauscher | Democratic | 1996 | Incumbent resigned June 26, 2009, to become U.S. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. New member elected November 3, 2009. Democratic hold. | ▌Y John Garamendi (Democratic) 52.85% ▌David Harmer (Republican) 42.83% Others ▌Jeremy Cloward (Green) 1.83% ▌Mary McIlroy (Peace and Freedom) 1.34% ▌Jerome Denham (American Independent) 1.15% |
| New York 23 | John M. McHugh | Republican | 1992 | Incumbent resigned September 21, 2009, to become U.S. Secretary of the Army. New member elected November 3, 2009. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Bill Owens (Democratic) 48.35% ▌Doug Hoffman (Conservative) 45.98% ▌Dede Scozzafava (Republican) 5.67% |

## New York's 20th congressional district

On January 26, 2009, Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand resigned when appointed to fill Hillary Clinton's U.S. Senate seat. Scott Murphy, a fellow Democrat, won the election held March 31, 2009, defeating Republican Jim Tedisco by fewer than 700 votes. Because of the slim margin, Tedisco did not concede the race until more than three weeks later, when overseas ballots had been counted.
2009 New York's 20th congressional district special election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Scott Murphy | 70,240 | 43.64 |
| | Independence | Scott Murphy | 6,754 | 4.20 |
| | Working Families | Scott Murphy | 3,839 | 2.39 |
| | Total | Scott Murphy | 80,833 | 50.23 |
| | Republican | Jim Tedisco | 68,775 | 42.73 |
| | Conservative | Jim Tedisco | 11,332 | 7.04 |
| | Total | Jim Tedisco | 80,107 | 49.77 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 726 | 0.45 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 160,940 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Illinois's 5th congressional district

On January 2, 2009, Democrat Rahm Emanuel resigned one day before the end of the previous Congress after being named White House Chief of Staff. Democrat Michael Quigley won the election April 7, 2009 election to replace him, handily defeating Republican Rosanna Pulido with better than a two-to-one share of the vote.
2009 Illinois's 5th congressional district special election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mike Quigley | 30,561 | 69.25 |
| | Republican | Rosanna Pulido | 10,662 | 24.16 |
| | Green | Matt Reichel | 2,911 | 6.60 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 19,899 | 45.09 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 44,134 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## California's 32nd congressional district

On February 24, 2009, Democrat Hilda Solis resigned to become United States Secretary of Labor. Judy Chu, also a Democrat, won the election, defeating Republican Betty Chu by a wide margin.
2009 California's 32nd congressional district special election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Judy Chu | 16,194 | 61.85 |
| | Republican | Betty Chu | 8,630 | 32.96 |
| | Libertarian | Christopher Agrella | 1,356 | 5.18 |
| | Write-in | Eleanor Garcia | 2 | 0.01 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,564 | 28.89 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 26,182 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## California's 10th congressional district

On June 26, 2009, Democrat Ellen Tauscher resigned to become Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. Democrat John Garamendi held the seat for the Democrats on November 3, 2009, defeating Republican David Harmer.
2009 California's 10th congressional district special election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John Garamendi | 72,817 | 52.85 |
| | Republican | David Harmer | 59,017 | 42.83 |
| | Green | Jeremy Cloward | 2,515 | 1.83 |
| | Peace and Freedom | Mary McIlroy | 1,846 | 1.34 |
| | American Independent | Jerome Denham | 1,591 | 1.15 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,800 | 10.02 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 137,786 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## New York's 23rd congressional district

On September 21, 2009, Republican John M. McHugh resigned to become United States Secretary of the Army. On November 3, 2009, Democrat Bill Owens defeated Conservative Doug Hoffman and Republican Dede Scozzafava in a race that garnered considerable press attention. Days before the election, Scozzafava dropped out of the race, then endorsed Owens, the Democrat.
2009 New York's 23rd congressional district special election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bill Owens | 66,548 | 43.99 |
| | Working Families | Bill Owens | 6,589 | 4.36 |
| | Total | Bill Owens | 73,137 | 48.35 |
| | Conservative | Doug Hoffman | 69,553 | 45.98 |
| | Republican | Dede Scozzafava | 7,260 | 4.80 |
| | Independence | Dede Scozzafava | 1,322 | 0.87 |
| | Total | Dede Scozzafava | 8,582 | 5.67 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,584 | 2.37 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 151,272 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |