A special election is being held on Sept. 14 for District 29 of the Tennessee House of Representatives. DeAngelo Jelks (D) and Greg Vital (R) are running in the general election. The winner of the special election will serve until November 2022.
The seat became vacant after the death of Mike Carter (R) on May 15. Carter had represented the district since 2012.
Heading into the special election, Republicans have a 73-26 majority in the Tennessee House. Tennessee has a Republican state government trifecta. A trifecta exists when one political party simultaneously holds the governor’s office and majorities in both state legislative chambers.
As of September, 58 state legislative special elections have been scheduled for 2021 in 20 states. Between 2011 and 2020, an average of 75 special elections took place each year. Tennessee held 11 state legislative special elections from 2011 to 2020.
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