Subjects –
Widow’s Mandate
Representative Mae Ella Nolan of California
January 23, 1923
Mae Ella Nolan of California, widow of Labor Committee Chairman John I. Nolan, was elected to the U.S. House as an Independent, filling her late husband’s vacant seat at the end of the 67th Congress (1921–1923).
Representative Katherine Byron of Maryland
May 27, 1941
From a rural, largely Democratic Maryland district, Katherine Byron narrowly won the special election on this date to her late husband’s seat in the House of Representatives.
Representative Vera Buchanan of Pennsylvania
November 26, 1955
On this date, Representative Vera Buchanan of Pennsylvania passed away during her third term in the House, becoming the first Congresswoman to die in office.
Representative Shirley Pettis of California
April 29, 1975
On this date, Shirley Pettis of California won the special election to fill the vacancy caused by the untimely death of her husband Jerry Pettis in an airplane crash.