Elections for the United States House of Representatives were held on November 7, 2006, with all of the 435 seats in the House up for election. The representatives were to serve a two year term. So those elected were to serve the 110th United States Congress starting January 3, 2007 to January 3, 2009. On Election Day, Democrats gained 31 seats in the House, enough to take control, and Republicans became the minority party after 12 years of control. There were two seats which went to December runoffs. This included Louisiana and Texas. In the runoff in Louisiana, a Democratic incumbent defeated a Democratic challenger. In another runoff in Texas, a Democratic challenger defeated a Republican incumbent.
In the election, there were 32 open seats: 28 incumbents not seeking re-election and four vacancies. Of the 28 incumbents, 18 were Republicans, 9 Democrats, and 1 independent. The four vacancies were New Jersey's 13th congressional district, Texas's 22nd congressional district, Ohio's 18th congressional district and Florida's 16th congressional district. New Jersey's 13th congressional districts were to be filled at the same time as the general election with the winner taking office in November immediately after the votes were certified. Texas 22 nd congressional district was to be filled with a separate special election on the same day. Ohio's 18th congressional district and Florida's 16th congressional district did not have special elections to fill the vacancies before January 2007. New Jersey's 13th congressional district had been held by Democrat Bob Menendez, Texas's 22nd congressional district had been held by Republican Tom DeLay, Ohio's 18th congressional district had been held by Republican Robert Ney, and Florida's 16th congressional district had been held by Republican Mark Foley.
This year Elections for the House of Representatives are to be held in the month of November, 2008. All the 435 seats are going for a reelection. The members elected will be forming the 111th United States Congress. It is scheduled to meet in Washington, DC from January 3, 2009 to January 3, 2011. |
