The U.S. House has 2 vacant seats, and two U.S. Senate seats hold special elections on November 3, 2026. This page lists each one, why it is open, and where the process stands. The U.S. House has 435 voting seats. With 2 vacant, the Office of the Clerk lists 218 Republicans, 214 Democrats, and 1 independent.
Vacant U.S. House seats
Florida’s 20th Congressional District
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D) resigned on April 21, 2026, following a House Ethics Committee finding that she misused federal disaster relief funds in campaign finance filings. No special election date has been set. The Clerk lists the date as to be determined, and the Florida Division of Elections special elections page listed no U.S. House contest for the district when checked on September 26, 2026. The regular election for the seat is on the normal 2026 calendar, so the winner would take office in January 2027. See Florida’s 20th Congressional District.
Texas’s 23rd Congressional District
Rep. Tony Gonzales (R) resigned on April 14, 2026. No special election has been called. The Clerk lists the date as to be determined, and the Texas Secretary of State’s 2026 election calendar listed no special election for the district when checked on September 26, 2026. Unless the governor calls one, the seat stays open until the winner of the November 3, 2026 general election takes office in January 2027. See Texas’s 23rd Congressional District.
Recently filled
California’s 14th Congressional District
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D) resigned on April 14, 2026. A special primary was held on June 16, 2026 and a special general election on August 18, 2026. Aisha Wahab (D) won and took the oath of office on September 2, 2026, so the seat is no longer vacant. She serves the remainder of the term, which ends in January 2027. See California’s 14th Congressional District.
Georgia’s 13th Congressional District
Rep. David Scott (D) died on April 22, 2026. Everton Blair Jr. (D) won the August 25, 2026 runoff and took the oath of office on September 1, 2026. See Georgia’s 13th Congressional District.
What a vacant seat means for constituents
A vacant district keeps a staffed office under the supervision of the Clerk of the House. That office can still help with federal agency casework, such as Social Security claims and veterans’ benefits. The district has no vote on the floor until the seat is filled. Committee seats held by the departed member are also left open until the successor is assigned.
Both U.S. senators for the state continue to represent everyone in it, including residents of a vacant House district. Use the senators by state list to find yours.
U.S. Senate special elections on November 3, 2026
Two senators were appointed in January 2025 to fill seats left by members who joined the executive branch. Both seats are on the ballot this November, and in each case the winner serves the remainder of the six-year term that began on January 3, 2023 and ends on January 3, 2029.
Ohio
J.D. Vance (R) was elected to this Class 3 seat in 2022 and resigned on January 10, 2025 to become Vice President. Governor Mike DeWine appointed Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted, who was sworn in on January 21, 2025. See Jon Husted.
Florida
Marco Rubio (R) was elected to this Class 3 seat in 2022 and resigned on January 20, 2025 after confirmation as Secretary of State. Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Attorney General Ashley Moody, who was sworn in on January 21, 2025. See Ashley Moody.
How vacant seats get filled
The rules differ by chamber. The Constitution requires a special election for a House vacancy, and the governor of the state calls it. A Senate vacancy can be filled by appointment first, if the state legislature has granted the governor that power, with an election later.
- What happens when a congressional seat becomes vacant
- How special elections to Congress work
- How U.S. senators are appointed to fill vacancies
- What is a runoff election and which states use them
Sources
Vacancy dates, reasons and special election dates come from the Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives vacancy list, checked on September 26, 2026. Senate appointment and election details were confirmed against a second source for each fact.
- Clerk of the House, Vacancies of the 119th Congress
- Office of the Governor of California, special election proclamation for the 14th district
- PBS NewsHour, result of the California 14th district special election
- Ballotpedia News, Florida 20th district vacancy
- Florida Division of Elections, special elections
- Texas Public Radio, resignation of Rep. Tony Gonzales
- Ohio Capital Journal, resignation of Sen. J.D. Vance
- Ballotpedia, 2026 U.S. Senate special election in Ohio
- Ballotpedia News, 2026 U.S. Senate special election in Florida
House membership counts come from the Clerk of the House member list. Rosters are published on their own schedule and can lag a resignation, death or special election by days.