A special election for New York's 11th congressional district was held on May 5, 2015, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Michael Grimm. Grimm, a member of the Republican Party, announced on December 30, 2014, that he would resign from the House effective January 5, 2015, and not take his seat for a third term following his guilty plea for tax evasion. On May 5, 2015, Republican candidate Dan Donovan defeated his Democratic challenger Vincent Gentile in the election and filled the vacant seat.
Background In April 2014, Grimm was indicted on twenty felony charges, including mail and wire fraud, perjury, obstruction of justice, employing illegal immigrants, and conspiring to defraud the United States after it was found that he under-reported revenues and employee wages relating to a restaurant he owned. He surrendered to the police and was released on $400,000 bail. Vowing his innocence, Grimm continued his campaign for reelection, and defeated Domenic Recchia, the Democratic Party nominee, by 53%, Grimm's highest margin in his congressional career.
On December 23, 2014, Grimm pleaded guilty to one charge of felony tax evasion. All other charges were dropped as part of the plea bargain. Grimm indicated that he would not resign his seat. However, on December 30, Grimm announced that he would resign from Congress on January 5, 2015, rather than be sworn in for his elected term. According to the U.S. Constitution (I.2.iv), Governor Andrew Cuomo is legally required to call a special election to fill the seat, which under the terms of the New York Constitution is to be held within 70 to 80 days of his announcement. On February 2, Cuomo, who had given no indication of when he would call the special election for, said that he was "looking at it now" but didn't have a timeframe for setting a date. Staten Island Attorney Ronald Castorina Jr. filed a lawsuit on behalf of 8 Plaintiffs from Brooklyn and Staten Island, Republicans, Democrats, Independents, and Non-Enrolled parties, to force Cuomo to call a special election and on February 17, Judge Jack B. Weinstein of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York ordered Cuomo to either schedule the election or explain why he was delaying, or he would schedule the election himself. Cuomo's office replied that he would "announce the date" for the special election "shortly". On February 20, Cuomo announced that the election would be held on May 5.
As it was a special election, primary elections did not occur. The nominees were selected by local party leaders in Brooklyn and Staten Island .
Republican Party
Candidates
Nominee Dan Donovan, Staten Island District Attorney and nominee for New York Attorney General in 2010
Declined Vito Fossella, former U.S. Representative Nicole Malliotakis, state assemblywoman
Endorsements
Democratic Party
Candidates
Nominated Vincent J. Gentile, New York City Councilman
Withdrawn Amber Adler, community advocate Lorie Honor, businesswoman Arne Mattsson, nominee for the 13th congressional district in 2002 Carlo Scissura, president of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce John Sollazzo, vice chairman of the Staten Island Democratic Committee William Colton, state assemblyman Robert Holst, electrician
Declined Michael Cusick, state assemblyman Michael McMahon, former U.S. Representative
Third parties Besides the Democratic and Republican parties, the Conservative, Green, Independence, Reform, Women's Equality and Working Families parties are qualified New York parties. Under the terms of electoral fusion, a candidate may be nominated by multiple parties.
Conservative Nominee Dan Donovan, Staten Island District Attorney and Republican nominee for New York Attorney General in 2010 Declined Nicole Malliotakis, state assemblywoman James Molinaro, former Staten Island Borough President
Green Nominee James Lane, internet media professional and nominee for New York City Public Advocate in 2013
Independence Nominee Dan Donovan, Staten Island District Attorney and Republican nominee for New York Attorney General in 2010
Publicly expressed interest Robert McKenna, retired New York City Police Lieutenant
Declined Nicole Malliotakis, state assemblywoman
Working Families Nominee Vincent J. Gentile, New York City Councilman
General election Polling
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror DanDonovan (R) MichaelCusick (D) Other UndecidedGlobal Strategy Group*Global Strategy Group* January 16–18, 2015 404 ± 4.9% 48% 28% — 24% * Poll commissioned by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Fundraising Campaign Finance Reports through April 15 Candidate Raised Spent Cash on Hand Debt Vincent Gentile $195,724 $79,697 $116,026 $0 Dan Donovan $614,775 $152,533 $461,781 $120,760 James Lane $11,095 $3,567 $7,527 $0 Source: OpenSecretsOpen Secrets | Elections | U.S. Senate opensecrets.org
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report April 3, 2015 Inside Elections January 28, 2015 Sabato's Crystal Ball January 5, 2015
Endorsements
Results
Results by county +Vote breakdown by county Dan DonovanRepublican Vincent GentileDemocrat James LaneGreen Write-inWrite-inTotal County Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % VotesKings (part)3,57037.74%5,74560.73%1301.37%150.16%9,460Richmond21,22764.23%11,30434.20%4371.32%810.25%33,049
See also List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives
References
External links Vincent Gentle for Congress Dan Donovan for Congress