2015 United States elections

←2013        2014        2015        2016        2017 → Off-year elections
Election day	November 3
Congressional special elections
Seats contested	3 House mid-term vacancies
Net seat change	0
Map of the 2015 House special elections      Republican hold (3)
Gubernatorial elections
Seats contested	3
Net seat change	0
Map of the 2015 gubernatorial races      Republican hold (1)      Republican gain (1)     Democratic gain (1)

Elections were held in the United States on (for the most part) November 3, 2015. Theoff-year election included aspecial election for Speaker of the House. There were alsogubernatorial andstate legislative elections in a few states; as well as numerouscitizen initiatives,mayoral races, and a variety of other local offices on the ballot.

None of the three congressional seats that were up for special elections changed party hands. The Democrats picked up the governorship in Louisiana, while the Republicans picked up the one in Kentucky and held onto the governorship in Mississippi. The Republicans also picked up other various statewide offices. This ledNPR to call the 2015 elections "a stinging rebuke to President Obama ... cap[ping] off yet another disappointing election cycle for Democrats", who have performed poorly against the Republicans in midterm and off-year elections during Obama's tenure.^[1] According toThe Washington Post, the election results were characterized by deepeningpolitical polarization, as the Democrats held their own or even gained ground in Democratic-leaning cities and states, while Republican gains were concentrated in Republican-leaning states.^[2]

The following special elections were held to replace Senators or House Representatives who either died or resigned while in office:

• Illinois's 18th congressional district: RepresentativeAaron Schock announced his resignation on March 17, 2015.^[3] The election was held on September 10, 2015, and won by RepublicanDarin LaHood, who was sworn in on September 17, 2015.^[4]
• Mississippi's 1st congressional district: RepresentativeAlan Nunnelee died on February 6, 2015.^[5] The election was won by RepublicanTrent Kelly, who was sworn into office on June 2, 2015.^[6]
• New York's 11th congressional district: RepresentativeMichael Grimm resigned from Congress on January 5, 2015, after pleading guilty to tax evasion.^[7] The election was won by RepublicanDaniel M. Donovan, Jr., who was sworn into office on May 12, 2015.^[8][9]

AfterJohn Boehner ofOhio's 8th congressional district announced his resignation from the position ofSpeaker of the House on September 25, a special election to replace him was initially scheduled for October 8.^[10] However, after initial frontrunnerKevin McCarthy, the current House Majority leader ofCalifornia's 23rd congressional district, suddenly withdrew from the race the day of the nomination vote, Republican leadership decided to move the election further back, to an unknown date later in October, if not beyond that.^[11] Both the second Republican frontrunner,Jason Chaffetz ofUtah's 3rd congressional district, and Chairman of theGovernment Oversight and Reform Committee, andBill Flores ofTexas's 17th congressional district, withdrew on October 20 and 22, respectively, to express their support forPaul Ryan, thevice presidential candidate in 2012, Chairman of theWays and Means Committee, and representative ofWisconsin's 1st congressional district, who entered the race on October 22 after long being considered a potential frontrunner.^[12][13][14] The only other Republican candidate wasDaniel Webster ofFlorida's 10th congressional district, a member of the highly-conservativeFreedom Caucus that caused both Boehner to resign and McCarthy to withdraw.^[15] The Democratic candidate was current Speaker of the HouseNancy Pelosi ofCalifornia's 12th congressional district.^[16] On October 29, Ryan was elected Speaker with 236 of the 432 votes cast. Pelosi received 184, and Webster received 9.Jim Cooper,John Lewis, andColin Powell all received 1 each.^[17]

Three states held gubernatorial elections in 2015.

• Kentucky: DemocratSteve Beshear is term-limited and could not run for re-election to a third term in office.^[18] RepublicanMatt Bevin won the election.
• Louisiana: RepublicanBobby Jindal is term-limited and could not run for re-election to a third term in office.^[19] DemocratJohn Bel Edwards won the election.
• Mississippi: RepublicanPhil Bryant ran for re-election to a second term in office.^[20] Bryant was re-elected.

Three states held elections for statewide executive offices in 2015:

• Kentucky: Elections were held for the offices ofAttorney General,Secretary of State, State Auditor,State Treasurer and Agriculture Commissioner.
• Louisiana: Elections were held for the offices ofLieutenant Governor,Attorney General,Secretary of State, State Treasurer,Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry and Commissioner of Insurance.
• Mississippi: Elections were held for the offices ofLieutenant Governor,Attorney General,Secretary of State,State Treasurer,State Auditor,Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, Commissioner of Insurance and theMississippi Public Service Commission.

Seven legislative elections were held for four states in 2015: Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia.^[21] In New Jersey, only the lower house of the legislature held elections. Republicans maintained control of both chambers of the Louisiana, Mississippi, and Virginia legislatures, while Democrats maintained control of the New Jersey General Assembly.

• Pennsylvania: Democrats won all three open seats, thereby flipping the court from a 4-3 Republican majority to a 5-2 Democratic majority.
• Wisconsin: Liberal justiceAnn Walsh Bradley was re-elected for another 10-year term.

Various elections were held for officeholders in numerous cities, counties, school boards, special districts and others around the country.

Some of the large cities holding mayoral elections include:^[22]

• Anchorage, AK: RepublicanDan Sullivan is term-limited and cannot run for re-election to a third term in office.^[23] DemocratEthan Berkowitz was elected to replace Sullivan.
• Arlington, TX: RepublicanRobert Cluck was defeated for a seventh term as mayor by Jeff Williams.^[24][25]
• Boise, ID: DemocratDavid H. Bieter won re-election to a fourth term in office.^[26]
• Cary, NC: DemocratHarold Weinbrecht won re-election to a third term in office.^[27]
• Charlotte, NC: DemocratDan Clodfelter was defeated in the Democratic primary.^[28]Jennifer Roberts won the Democratic primary and election.
• Chicago, IL: DemocratRahm Emanuel won re-election to a second term in office.^[29]
• Colorado Springs, CO: RepublicanSteve Bach is retiring rather than running for re-election to a second term.^[30] RepublicanJohn Suthers was elected to replace Bach.
• Columbus, OH: DemocratMichael B. Coleman is retiring rather than running for re-election to a fifth term in office.^[31] DemocratAndrew Ginther was elected to replace Coleman.
• Dallas, TX: DemocratMike Rawlings won re-election to a second term in office.^[32]
• Denver, CO: DemocratMichael Hancock won re-election to a second full term in office.^[33]
• Duluth, MN: DemocratDon Ness is retiring rather than running for re-election to a third term in office.^[34]
• Fort Wayne, IN: DemocratTom Henry is running for re-election to a third term.^[35]
• Fort Worth, TX: RepublicanBetsy Price won re-election to a third term in office.^[36]
• Greensboro, NC: DemocratNancy Vaughan is running for re-election to a second term.^[37]
• Hartford, CT: IncumbentPedro Segarra was defeated in the Democratic primary election byLuke Bronin.^[38] Bronin then defeated independent Joel Cruz, Jr. in the general election.^[39]
• Houston, TX: DemocratAnnise Parker is term-limited and could not run for re-election to a fourth term in office.^[40] A run off was held on December 12, 2015. DemocratSylvester Turner won the election.
• Indianapolis, IN: RepublicanGreg Ballard is retiring rather than running for re-election to a third term in office.^[41] DemocratJoe Hogsett was elected to replace Ballard.
• Jacksonville, FL: DemocratAlvin Brown was defeated for a second term in office by RepublicanLenny Curry.^[42]
• Kansas City, MO: IncumbentSly James won re-election to a second term in office.^[43]
• Knoxville, TN: DemocratMadeline Rogero is running for re-election to a second term.^[44]
• Las Vegas, NV: Incumbent DemocratCarolyn Goodman won re-election to a second term in office.^[45]
• Lincoln, NE: DemocratChris Beutler won re-election to an unprecedented third term in office.^[46]
• Madison, WI: DemocratPaul Soglin won re-election to an eighth term in office.^[47][48]
• Memphis, TN: DemocratA C Wharton lost re-election to a fifth full term in office.^[49] Mayor-electJim Strickland won the election, with 41.5% of the votes cast, compared to Wharton's 22%.^[50][51][52]
• Montgomery, AL: RepublicanTodd Strange won re-election to a third term in office.^[53]
• Nashville, TN: DemocratKarl Dean is term-limited and could not run for re-election to a third term in office.^[54] DemocratMegan Barry was elected to replace Dean.
• Orlando, FL: Incumbent DemocratBuddy Dyer won re-election for a fourth term.
• Philadelphia, PA: DemocratMichael Nutter is term-limited and could not run for re-election to a third term in office.^[55] DemocratJames F. Kenney was elected to replace Nutter.
• Phoenix, AZ: DemocratGreg Stanton won re-election to a second term in office.^[56]
• Portland, ME: Incumbent DemocratMichael Brennan was defeated for reelection by fellow DemocratEthan Strimling.^[57]
• Raleigh, NC: IncumbentNancy McFarlane won re-election to a second term in office.^[58]
• Salt Lake City, UT: DemocratJackie Biskupski defeated Incumbent DemocratRalph Becker.
• San Antonio, TX: DemocratIvy Taylor won election to a first full term in office.^{[59][60][61][62]}
• San Francisco, CA: DemocratEd Lee won re-election to a second term in office.^[63]
• South Bend, IN: DemocratPeter Buttigieg won re-election to a second term in office.^[64]
• Springfield, MO: Libertarian Robert Stephens won re-election.^[65]
• Tampa, FL: DemocratBob Buckhorn was re-elected to a second term in office.^[66]
• Toledo, OH: DemocratPaula Hicks-Hudson (acting mayor) is running in a special election to fill the remainder of the term of late MayorD. Michael Collins.^[67][68][69]
• Tucson, AZ: DemocratJonathan Rothschild is running for re-election to a second term.^[70]
• West Palm Beach, FL: DemocratJeri Muoio won re-election to a second term in office.^[71]
• Wichita, KS: DemocratCarl Brewer is term-limited and could not run for re-election to a third term in office.^[72] RepublicanJeff Longwell was elected to replace Brewer.

Other city offices

• Chicago Alderman

Local propositions

• Houston, Texas Proposition 1: A referendum on an anti-discrimination ordinance known as the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance. Houston voters rejected this measure.

These tables show the partisan results of the Congressional special elections and gubernatorial races in 2015.Bold indicates a change in control.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to2015 elections in the United States.

• "State Elections Legislation Database",Ncsl.org, Washington, D.C.:National Conference of State Legislatures,State legislation related to the administration of elections introduced in 2011 through this year

• 2015 elections in the United States
• General elections in the United States
• November 2015 in the United States

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