Special election set to fill Chaka Fattah's seat

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A special election will be held the day of the general election to fill a Pennsylvania U.S. House seat left vacant by a Democratic congressman convicted in a federal racketeering case.

Eleven-term congressman Chaka Fattah resigned June 23, two days after his conviction in Philadelphia.

The date for the Nov. 8 special election was set by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf.

Fattah lost the primary in April to longtime state Rep. Dwight Evans. Evans is a heavy favorite to win the general election because of Democrats' huge voter registration edge in Philadelphia.

The winner of the special election will serve eight weeks before the winner of the general election is sworn in.

Fattah's case centered on misuse of federal grants and nonprofit funds to repay an illegal $1 million loan. Defense lawyers blamed two political consultants.