RUFUS – New Shire Governor David Rivera has announced that a special election to fill the vacant House seat of Nolan Burmaster who was ascended to the Senate following the death of Larry Cofelt last month. He announced the special election during a very early morning meeting with State leaders ahead of a key vote this afternoon.

Governor Rivera said that the Special Election to fill New Shire’s 19th Congressional District seat would take place on November 10, 2026. He said that it would give candidates at least three months to campaign in the district. He announced that he was not going to appoint anyone in the meantime to fill the vacancy, citing the “the importance of the will of the people,” as a major deciding factor.

“I am pleased to announce that November 10, 2026, will be the date that New Shire’s 19th Congressional District voters will hit the polls to elect their next Representative during a special election,” said Governor Rivera. “November 10, 2026 will give candidates adequate time to present their cases to the people of our great state to represent the state’s 19th district in Congress.”

As of right now, Lt. Governor Brendan MacDonald says he does not intent to run for the district. He did say that he will support whatever candidate is put up for the Nationalist candidate for the district.

“I want to continue serving New Shirens as their Lieutenant Governor and I won’t be seeking to be elected to Congress during the special election,” said Lt. Governor Brendan MacDonald. “I will however, support the Nationalist candidate when that individual is announced by the party. We must work to ensure that New Shire remains free, and we have to retain that seat going into this election so I urge voters to get out and vote on November 10, 2026.”

Burmaster served the district following the resignation of then-Representative Brian Whittier in August of 2021. He served the district until being appointed by Governor Rivera to fill the vacant Senate seat left by the death of Larry Cofelt on July 27, therefore vacating the 19th district House seat.

“It is important that voters get out and vote because their voices matter no matter what Republicans say or try to do,” said former New Shire Governor Simon Victors. “Voters can’t let their vote go to waste because New Shirens will suffer if Republicans control the district in the House. Let’s get out and vote folks.”

The election will take place on November 10, and polls are set to open at 7:00 AM with polls expected to close around 8:00 PM. Republicans hope to nab the seat and gain and even larger majority in the House, the largest ever seen in Jesstopian history currently.