July 01, 2016
Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice
U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah arrives with his family at the Local 1199C Hospital & Healthcare Workers Union where he gave his concession speech, Tuesday, April 26, 2016. The 11-term congressman lost to state Rep. Dwight Evans in the Democratic primary, and on Tuesday, June 21, 2016, a federal jury found him guilty of racketeering charges.
Gov. Tom Wolf has scheduled a special election to be held Nov. 8 – the same day as the general election – to fill the Second Congressional District seat vacated by Rep. Chaka Fattah following his conviction on racketeering, fraud and other charges earlier this month.
A federal jury found Fattah guilty of the charges on June 21, and after first saying he wouldn't resign his seat until his sentencing in October, he changed course and announced on June 23 that he would be immediately stepping down.
The 11-term Democrat's conviction stems from a $1-million campaign loan Fattah received for a failed mayoral bid.
The candidate who wins the special election will serve the final eight weeks of Fattah's term as a member of the 114th U.S. Congress.
Republican and Democratic party leaders told Philly.com the candidates for this race likely would be the same two running for the seat in the general election on the same day – Democrat Dwight Evans and Republican James Jones.
Philly.com also reported that holding the special election the same day as the general election eliminates nearly all of the costs associated. Otherwise, the state would have spent nearly $1.5 million to hold the special election.
Evans defeated Fattah in the Democratic primary election in April. Jones ran uncontested on the Republican side of the ballot.
Read more of Philly.com's report here.
