Indiana Rep. Jackie Walorski (right) was killed in a wrong-way vehicle crash on August 3, 2022. Walorski was driving on an Indiana highway with two members of her staff, who were also killed in the accident
Walorski represented Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District. She was first elected in 2012. Prior to serving in the United States Congress, Walorski worked as a television reporter and nonprofit director. He was a member of the Indiana House of Representatives from 2004 to 2010.
A special election will be called to fill the vacancy created by Walorski’s death. Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) said his office had not begun the process to set the election. Walorski’s seat is also up for grabs in the Nov. 8 general election.
Since 2019, eight members of Congress have died while serving their terms. Three of these members were Democrats, while the other five were Republicans.
The Constitution requires that vacancies in the House be filled through elections. At the first session of any Congress, all states, territories, and districts order a special election in the event of a vacancy in any House seat. If the vacancy occurs during the second session, the requirements differ based on the time elapsed between the time the vacancy occurs and the next general election.
The process for filling vacancies in the House is different from that of fill vacancies in the US Senatewhere 37 states fill vacancies by gubernatorial appointment and the remaining 13 require special elections.
Further reading:
Special Elections to the 117th United States Congress (2021-2022)
