Year: 2021
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State court judge rules last year’s SD marijuana measure unconstitutional
On February 8, 2021, Hughes County Circuit Judge Christina Klinger overturned South Dakota’s 2020 marijuana legalization initiative. Klinger ruled that the measure violated the state’s single-subject rule. Klinger also ruled that the measure constituted a revision of the constitution rather than an amendment. South Dakota voters approved Amendment A by 54% to 46% on November 3. The…
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Special election approaches Feb. 23 in New York City Council District 31
The special general election for New York City Council District 31 is on February 23, 2021. Nine candidates are competing in the special election. The filing deadline to run passed on December 16, 2020. The special election was called when Donovan Richards left office after he was elected Queens Borough President in November. Richards served…
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Oklahoma voters decide school board primary elections
Primaries for school board elections were held in Oklahoma on February 9. Ballotpedia is covering elections for 35 seats across 27 Oklahoma school boards in 2021. These 27 school districts served a combined total of 261,543 students during the 2016-2017 school year. Seventeen seats were won outright by unopposed candidates. There were 13 seats where…
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Six national party committees raised a combined $2.65 billion in 2019 and 2020
Six committees associated with the Democratic and Republican parties raised a combined $2.65 billion in 2019 and 2020. Democrats and Republicans each have three major national committees: an overall national party committee, one dedicated to U.S. Senate elections, and one dedicated to U.S. House elections. The six committees were each among the top 15 spenders…
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Alaska House of Representatives elects temporary speaker
Forty-six state legislatures are currently in session. The Alaska House of Representatives has been in session since Jan. 19. But no regular business has taken place because legislators have not elected a permanent speaker or organized committees. Partisan control of the House was uncertain after the 2020 elections, split between those favoring a Republican-led majority…
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Iowa lifts statewide face-covering requirement
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) issued an order easing coronavirus restrictions, effective Feb. 7. The order lifted the statewide mask mandate and limits on indoor and outdoor gatherings. Reynolds first issued the face-covering requirement on Nov. 17, requiring everyone two years or older to wear masks in indoor spaces open to the public where social…
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New Mexico state Rep. Phelps Anderson changes party affiliation
New Mexico state Rep. Phelps Anderson changed his voter registration from Republican to “declined to state” on Feb. 5 after he was the only Republican to vote in favor of repealing a 1969 anti-abortion law. Phelps was first elected to House District 66 in 2018 and ran uncontested for re-election in 2020. Of the 70…
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Doris Turner, Mike Simmons appointed to Illinois state Senate
On Feb. 6, two new state legislators were appointed to fill vacancies in the Illinois state Senate. Doris Turner (D) was appointed by the Democratic county chairs of the 48th Legislative District Committee to fill the seat formerly occupied by Andy Manar (D). Manar left office in January in order to take a position as…