| ←2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 → Off-year elections | |
| Election day | November 3 |
|---|---|
| Congressional special elections | |
| Seats contested | 5 |
| Net seat change | Democratic +1 |
| Gubernatorial elections | |
| Seats contested | 3 (2 states, 1 territory) |
| Net seat change | Republican +2 |
 | |
| 2009 gubernatorial election results map | |
| Legend | |
| Republican gain Covenant hold | |
Elections were held in the United States on November 3. During thisoff-year election, the only seats up for election in theUnited States Congress werespecial elections held throughout the year. In total, only the seat representingNew York's 23rd congressional district changed party hands, increasing theDemocratic Party's majority over theRepublicans in theUnited States House of Representatives, 258–177.
However, there were also severalgubernatorial races andstate legislative elections, and numerouscitizen initiatives,mayoral races in several major cities, and several types of local offices on the ballot.[1]
Although the number of elections was relatively small considering it was an off-year election, Republicans dominated, flipping the gubernatorial seats in bothVirginia andNew Jersey. These results represented the first in a pattern of Republican dominance in non-general election years during theObama presidency.[2] Just one year later in2010 Republicans gained 63 seats in the House of Representatives, six Senate seats, and 12 Governor's Mansions (net +6 gain). The pattern was repeated in2014 when Republicans won unified control of Congress.
In total, there were fivespecial elections to the United States House of Representatives during 2009. The only election which changed party hands (fromRepublican toDemocratic) was inNew York's 23rd congressional district.
Also, a primary election was held inMassachusetts on December 8, 2009, for the senate seat left open by the death ofU.S. SenatorTed Kennedy; thegeneral special election for that later seat occurred on January 19, 2010.
New Jersey andVirginia, along with the U.S. territory of theNorthern Mariana Islands, held gubernatorial elections in 2009. Both governorships in New Jersey and Virginia changed party hands from Democrat to Republican. This is the last time, both governors flipped parties in the same election. Meanwhile, the localCovenant Party maintained control of the governorship of the Northern Mariana Islands. This is the last time this seat would be up in an off-year.
Legislative elections were held for theNew Jersey General Assembly, theVirginia House of Delegates, and theNorthern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature. Both chambers of theNorthern Mariana Islands legislature were up, which remains the last time they were up in this class of elections.
Democrats maintained control of the lower house of the New Jersey legislature, and Republicans did so in the lower chamber in Virginia. This remains the last time Democrats won more state legislative chambers and seats than Republicans.
Cities, counties, school boards, special districts, and others elected members in 2009. Several large cities held mayoral elections in 2009, including:New York City,Boston,Los Angeles,Houston,Minneapolis,Seattle,San Antonio, andDetroit.Memphis, Tennessee also had a special election to replace former mayorWillie Herenton.
Some of these mayoral elections included the following:
