When a Senator resigns, the governor of the represented state may immediately appoint a successor. For the House of Representatives, things are more complicated. See article in the Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marci-harris/my-congressman-just-resig_b_1660054.html The Constitution (Article I, Section 2, Clause 4) requires that Representatives must be elected and a special election to be called to fill the seat. Given the extensive nominating, primary, and general process, districts from which a Member of Congress leaves office -- for whatever reason -- are inevitably left without representation for several months.

1. Congressional Resignations
112th Congress
January 2011-December 2012
Compiled by POPVOX
July 9, 2012
Monday, July 9, 12

2. New York - 26
112 days
without a
Member in the
U.S. House of
Representatives
Special election
cost to taxpayers
$550,000 (estimated) Rep. Chris Lee Rep. Kathy Hochul
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Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
Monday, July 9, 12

3. CALIFORNIA - 36
156 days
without a
Member in the
U.S. House of
Representatives
Special election cost
to taxpayers:
$1.5 million Rep. Jane Harman Rep. Janice Hahn
(estimated)
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Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Ju
Monday, July 9, 12

4. Nevada - 2
129 days
without a
Member in the
U.S. House of
Representatives
Special election cost
to taxpayers:
$1 million (estimated) Rep. Dean Heller Rep. Mark Amodei
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Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Ju
Monday, July 9, 12

5. New York - 9
91 days
without a
Member in the
U.S. House of
Representatives
Special election
cost to taxpayers
$350,000 (estimated) Rep. Anthony Weiner Rep. Bob Turner
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Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
Monday, July 9, 12

6. OREGON - 1
188 days
without a
Member in the
U.S. House of
Representatives
Special election
cost to taxpayers
$593,497 Rep. David Wu Rep. Susan Bonamici
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Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
Monday, July 9, 12

7. Arizona - 8
146 days
without a
Member in the
U.S. House of
Representatives
Special election cost
to taxpayers:
$3 million (estimated) Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Rep. Ron Barber
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Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Ju
Monday, July 9, 12

8. Washington - 4
estimated*
243 days
without a
Member in the
U.S. House of
Representatives
No special election --
seat will be filled in Rep. Jay Inslee Vacant
November General
Election (at no
additional cost to
taxpayers.)
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Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Ju
Monday, July 9, 12

9. Michigan - 11
estimated*
125 days
without a
Member in the
U.S. House of
Representatives
No special election --
seat will be filled in Rep. Thad McCotter Vacant
November General
Election (at no
additional cost to
taxpayers.)
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Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Ju
Monday, July 9, 12