Congressional vacancies offer unexpected opportunities for candidates and for political parties to pilot strategies ahead of regularly scheduled elections. House vacancies require special elections, which often must be scheduled as standalone events. Senate vacancies are filled by gubernatorial appointment, but special elections follow at the next general election for unexpired terms. Chapter 2 examines 2023 and 2024 special elections, considering candidate characteristics and electoral outcomes. It provides case studies of the special elections to replace expelled Rep. George Santos (R-NY) and former House Speaker Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). The authors find incremental gains in diversity. Special elections often attract media attention due to their idiosyncratic and unpredictable nature. The Santos seat attracted widespread media attention and campaign contributions, contributing to the seat flipping to the Democratic Party. However, there is little evidence that the other special election results were harbingers of the 2024 general election.