2005 California's 5th congressional district special election

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 2005 California's 5th congressional district special election

| country = California

| type = presidential

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 2004 United States House of Representatives elections in California#District 5

| previous_year = 2004

| next_election = 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in California#District 5

| next_year = 2006

| election_date = March 8, 2005

| image1 = 120px

| nominee1 = Doris Matsui

| running_mate1 =

| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)

| popular_vote1 = 56,175

| percentage1 = 67.7%

| image2 = 120px

| nominee2 = {{nowrap|Julie Padilla}}

| running_mate2 =

| party2 = Democratic Party (United States)

| popular_vote2 = 7,158

| percentage2 = 8.6%

| map_image =

| map_size =

| map_caption =

| title = U.S. Representative

| before_election = Bob Matsui

| before_party = Democratic Party (United States)

| after_election = Doris Matsui

| after_party = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

On March 8, 2005, a special election was held in the California's 5th congressional district to choose a U.S. Representative to replace Bob Matsui, who had died of pneumonia shortly after being re-elected in the 2004 elections. Matsui's wife, Doris, was quickly able to win support from the Democratic Party officials, and ended up winning over two-thirds of the vote in the special primary election, meaning a run-off would not be needed. As of 2021, this is the last time a widow succeeded their spouse in Congress.{{efn|In 2020, Luke Letlow was elected to represent Louisiana but died before he could be sworn in. The special election to fill his vacant seat was won by his widow, Julia Letlow.}}

Results

{{Election box begin no change | title=California's 5th congressional district special election, 2005{{cite web |url=http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/Special/official_canvass_cd5.pdf |title=Special Election Results |access-date=May 29, 2008 |publisher=Secretary of State of California |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529022119/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/Special/official_canvass_cd5.pdf# |archive-date=May 29, 2008 |url-status=dead }}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Doris Matsui

|votes = 56,175

|percentage = 67.65

}}