2009 California's 10th congressional district special election explained

Election Name:2009 California's 10th congressional district special election
Country:California
Type:Presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:United States House of Representatives elections in California, 2008#District 10
Previous Year:2008
Next Election:United States House of Representatives elections in California, 2010#District 10
Next Year:2010
Nominee1:John Garamendi
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:72,817
Percentage1:52.9%
Nominee2:David Harmer
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:59,017
Percentage2:42.8%
Representative
Before Election:Ellen Tauscher
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:John Garamendi
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

California's 10th congressional district special election, 2009 was held on November 3, 2009, to fill the vacancy caused in California's 10th congressional district by the resignation of Ellen Tauscher. Democratic Party candidate John Garamendi won against Republican opponent David Harmer.

Background and procedures for election

On May 5, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Democratic Representative Ellen Tauscher for the position of Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security.[1] She was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 26 and subsequently resigned from her congressional seat.[2]

Following her resignation, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger called a special election. An open primary among candidates of all political parties took place on September 1, 2009. If a candidates received a majority of the vote in the primary, that candidate would wins the seat without an additional election. As that didn't occur, the general election took place on November 3, 2009, between the candidates with the most votes for each party.

Candidates

The following individuals appeared in the certified list of candidates and the certified list of write-in candidates published by the Secretary of State of California, and were thus eligible to receive votes in the special primary election.[3] [4]

American Independent

Democratic

Green

Peace and Freedom

Republican

Polling

General election

width=185px Poll sourcewidth=150px Datewidth=150px John Garamendiwidth=150px David Harmerwidth=150px Other
Survey USA[6] October 26–28, 200950%40%6%

Results

Primary

Since no candidate won a majority in the September 1, 2009, open primary, the candidates with the top votes for each party advanced to the special general election. Garamendi won more votes than any other Democrat and Harmer more than any Republican. Denham, Cloward, and McIlroy were the only candidates from their parties so they advanced the general election by default.

General

Notes and References

  1. Web site: President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts . May 5, 2009 . . . September 12, 2009.
  2. News: Lisa . Vorderbrueggen . Tauscher confirmed as Undersecretary for Arms Control and International Security . . June 26, 2009 . September 12, 2009.
  3. Web site: Certified List of Candidates for the Special Primary Election, Tenth Congressional District, September 1, 2009 . July 27, 2009 . September 22, 2009 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20091008122734/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/Special/cd10/certified-list-of-candidates-cd10-primary.pdf . October 8, 2009 . dead .
  4. Web site: Certified List of Write-In Candidates for the Special Primary Election, Tenth Congressional District, September 1, 2009 . August 19, 2009 . September 22, 2009 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20091008122822/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/Special/cd10/certified-list-of-candidates-write-ins.pdf . October 8, 2009 . dead .
  5. News: Greta . Mart . DeSaulnier endorsed by George Miller, Torlakson, Tauscher . Martinez News-Gazette . July 15, 2009 . September 22, 2009 . https://archive.today/20120908051522/http://www.martinezgazette.com/news/story/i410/2009/07/15/desaulnier-endorsed-george-miller-torlakson-tauscher . September 8, 2012 . dead .
  6. http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=d0a09738-d7a8-4f8f-9ed9-a5275c7eab96 Survey USA