Election Dates Set To Fill Ousted Mass. Rep's Seat

A special election has been set to fill the seat left vacant when the Massachusetts House of Representatives voted to expel former Rep. Carlos Henriquez.

The special election for the 5th Suffolk District will be held April 29. The primary is scheduled for April 1.

The 146-5 vote to expel Henriquez came last Thursday after less than two hours of debate and took effect immediately.

The vote followed the conviction of the Boston Democrat on Jan. 15 of two assault charges stemming from his 2012 arrest.

Henriquez took the unusual step of addressing the chamber before the vote, saying he was innocent of charges he assaulted a former girlfriend and rejected calls that he resign.

The vote marked the first time in almost a century that the House voted to expel one of its own.