A special election for New York’s 11th congressional district was held on May 5, 2015 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Michael Grimm. Grimm, a member of the Republican Party, announced on December 30, 2014, that he would resign from the House effective January 5, 2015, and not take his seat for a third term following his guilty plea for tax evasion. On May 5, 2015 Republican candidate Daniel Donovan, Jr. defeated his Democratic challenger Vincent Gentile in the election and filled the vacant seat.