SET Act
Sponsored By: Representative Menefee, Christian D. [D-TX-18]
Introduced
Summary
Sets a 180-day federal deadline for special elections to fill House vacancies. It also creates civil enforcement powers for the Attorney General and allows private suits to compel states to hold those elections.
Show full summary
- Voters and households: Restores representation faster by requiring a special election within 180 days after a vacancy unless a regular general election falls inside that period.
- State executives and election officials: Limits state scheduling discretion by imposing the federal 180-day deadline and allows courts to order compliance if a chief executive fails to act.
- House leaders and private plaintiffs: Lets the Attorney General sue a state's chief executive and gives aggrieved persons, including the Speaker and Minority Leader, a private right of action to seek court relief.
- Election administration: Clarifies that a “special election” means the vote to fill the vacancy and does not include nominating contests.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Faster special elections for House seats
If enacted, the bill would require a special election to fill a vacant U.S. House seat within 180 days of the vacancy. The 180-day deadline would not apply if a regular general election for the seat is scheduled at any time during that 180-day period. States and territories would still set election rules, but those rules would be subject to the 180-day limit. The U.S. Attorney General or any person aggrieved — including the House Speaker or Minority Leader — would be able to sue a state chief executive in federal court for orders to enforce the rule. A “special election” would mean an election to elect a candidate to fill the vacancy and would not include nomination-only contests.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Menefee, Christian D. [D-TX-18]
TX • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]
MD • D
Sponsored 4/29/2026
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/29/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 4/29/2026
Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]
OH • D
Sponsored 4/29/2026
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov