Special-election date set to fill former Rep. Wu’s seat

Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber (D) announced on Thursday that the special election for former Rep. David Wu’s (D-Ore.) House seat will be held Jan. 31, 2012, with a primary to be held on Nov. 8 of this year.

“I have received a letter of resignation from Congressman David Wu and am working with the Secretary of State’s office on a special election process,” Kitzhaber said in a statement. “Holding both a primary and general election allows the voters of the First Congressional District full participation in selecting a replacement.”

{mosads}Wu resigned late Wednesday, after news broke on Sunday about allegations that Wu had engaged in an “unwanted sexual encounter” with a teenager. Those allegations stacked up on reports earlier this year that Wu had in the past exhibited bizarre behavior such as dressing up in a full-body tiger costume and sending emails to his staff in the voice of his young daughter. 

Since the news of the alleged sexual encounter, the question of Wu’s resignation seemed to only be when it would happen. 

Despite the damaging press for the Oregon Democrat, it appears his district will remain in Democratic control. Sixty-one percent of voters in the 1st district voted for President Obama in 2008.

Republican businessman Robert Cornilles, who was defeated by Wu in the last election 55 percent to 42 percent, planned to announce his candidacy for the seat on Thursday.