The Democratic Party picked up the governorship in Virginia as Terry McAuliffewas elected to replace term-limited Republican Bob McDonnell. Meanwhile, Republican New Jersey Governor Chris Christiewas re-elected to a second term. Congressional special elections were held throughout the year. In total, two Senate seats and six House seats were contested. None of the House seats changed party hands, as well as the Massachusetts Senate seat. Democrats, however, regained the Senate seat in New Jersey, which was held by a Republican appointee.
The election results were seen as a slight success for President Barack Obama and the Democrats. It is rare for the President's party to win a Virginia gubernatorial election since 1973, and Democrats lost no ground in state legislatures and Congress.
Democratic CongressmanEd Markey declared his candidacy on December 27, 2012,[7] and was the favorite of the Democratic establishment, receiving endorsements from Kerry, Victoria Kennedy (the widow of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy) and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.[8] U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch also sought the Democratic nomination.[9] Former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown was considered the overwhelming Republican favorite, but announced on February 1, 2013, that he would not run in the special election.[10] Kerry was re-elected in 2008 with 66 percent of the vote.[11]
Markey easily defeated Gomez on June 25, 2013, capturing over 625,000 votes of approximately 1.2 million cast, garnering approximately 55 percent to Gomez's 45 percent and less than 1 percent for Richard Heos, nominee of the Twelve Vision's Party.[13]
89-year-old Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who had already announced retirement plans[14] died on June 3, 2013.[15] On June 4, 2013, New Jersey Gov.Chris Christie set the dates for the special election with the primaries being held on August 13, 2013, and the general election being held on October 16, 2013.[16] On June 6, 2013, Christie announced the appointment of New Jersey Attorney GeneralJeffrey Chiesa, a Republican, to serve as the interim senator until the winner of the special could be sworn in.[17] Chiesa announced he would not run in the special election and was sworn in by Vice President Joe Biden on June 10, 2013.[18]
The election on October 16, 2013, was won by Cory Booker with 54.6% of the vote, against 44.3% for Steve Lonegan.[25] This senate election was a technical net gain for Democrats since Booker was replacing an appointed Republican. However, the gain was not enough to hold back the Republican wave which swept control of the senate just one year later.
This off-year election cycle featured special elections to the 113th United States Congress to fill vacancies due to resignations. Six special elections have taken place to fill seats in the United States House of Representatives. Two were due to Congressmen taking seats in the United States Senate (Tim Scott of South Carolina and Ed Markey of Massachusetts), one resigned to take jobs in the private sector (Jo Ann Emerson of Missouri), one resigned to take a job in the public sector (Jo Bonner of Alabama), and Jesse Jackson Jr. resigned due to an impending federal indictment of misuse of campaign funds.
Jesse Jackson Jr. resigned on November 21, 2012, following a months-long battle with bipolar disorder and due to being subject to a federal investigation over the possible misuse of campaign funds.[26] Democratic nominee Robin Kelly defeated Republican nominee Paul McKinley on April 9, 2013, taking 71 percent of about 82,000 votes cast.[27]
Incumbent Jo Ann Emerson resigned January 22, 2013,[30] to become the CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association in March 2013.[31] Republican Missouri state Rep.Jason Smith beat Democratic state Rep. John Hodges on June 4, 2013.[32]
Incumbent Democrat Ed Markey resigned on July 15, 2013 when elected U.S. senator. Democratic state senator Katherine Clark beat Republican lawyer Frank Addivinola on December 10, 2013.[33]
On May 23, 2013, Republican Incumbent Jo Bonner resigned August 15, 2013 to become the vice chancellor of government relations and economic development with the University of Alabama System.,[34][35] Republican former state senator Bradley Byrne beat Democratic real estate agent Burton LeFlore on December 17 by a wide margin.[36]
On November 16, 2013, businessman Vance McAllister defeated fellow Republican state senatorNeil Riser defeated Republican Riser in the November 16 run-off with 60 percent of the vote.[38] and was sworn in by Boehner on November 21, 2013.
New Jersey: Republican Chris Christie ran for a second term and was challenged for the GOP nomination by Seth Grossman, a Republican lawyer and former Atlantic City Councilman.[39] The declared Democratic candidates were State Senator Barbara Buono and Troy Webster. On June 4, 2013, Christie defeated Grossman to secure the GOP nomination with 92 percent of the vote[40] and Buono defeated Webster for the Democratic nomination with 88 percent of the vote.[40] Christie then won re-election on November 5[41]
Several states had referendums on propositions and/or state constitutional amendments on the ballot in November 2013, including a non-binding vote to create a new state in Northern Colorado, tax and marijuana issues in Colorado, an initiative to require labeling of genetically modified food in the state of Washington, and an amendment to raise the minimum wage in New Jersey.[44]
New Yorkers voted to amend its constitution in several minor ways, but voted against raising the retirement age for judges.
Municipal elections
Various elections were held for officeholders in numerous cities, counties, school boards, special districts and others around the country.
Mayoral elections
Some of the large cities holding mayoral elections included:[45]
Albany, NY: Incumbent Democratic mayor Gerald Jennings declined to run for a sixth term. City Treasurer Kathy Sheehan easily won both the Democratic primary and the general election[46]
Rochester, NY: Incumbent mayor Thomas Richards was defeated in the Democratic primary in his bid for a full term by Lovely A. Warren. Richards was on the ballot on the Independence Party and Working Families Party lines, but endorsed Warren,[60] who defeated him in the general election, becoming the city's first female mayor[61]
San Diego, California: A special election was held on November 19 following the resignation of Bob Filner on August 30, 2013. Kevin Faulconer and David Alvarez received the first and second most votes respectively. Because neither candidate received a majority of the vote, a runoff election was scheduled for February 2014[63]
^The vacancy resulted from the death of Democratic Senator Frank Lautenberg on June 3, 2013. Republican Jeffrey Chiesa was appointed on June 4 to serve as interim senator until the winner of the October 16 special election was sworn in.
