Year: 2021

  • Documenting America’s Path to Recovery: January 29, 2021

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    The next 72 hours What is changing in the next 72 hours? Iowa (Republican trifecta): People age 65 and older will become eligible for the coronavirus vaccine on Feb. 1. Kentucky (divided government): Gov. Andy Beshear (D) announced only individuals in Phase 1B (including people age 70 and older) of vaccine distribution will be prioritized…

  • California Supreme Court upholds removal of judge following sexual misconduct charges

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    On Jan. 27, the California Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal by Jeffrey Johnson, a former justice of the 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 1. The state Commission on Judicial Performance removed Johnson from office, effective July 2, 2020, after charging him with nine counts of misconduct. The charges against Johnson included sexual…

  • Julie Vargas sworn in to New Mexico Supreme Court

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    On January 25, Julie Vargas was sworn in as a justice on the New Mexico Supreme Court. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) appointed Vargas on December 19, 2020, to succeed Justice Judith Nakamura (R), who retired on December 1. Prior to her appointment, Vargas was a judge on the New Mexico Court of Appeals. She…

  • Ballotpedia’s Weekly Transition Tracker: January 23-29, 2021

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    President Joe Biden (D) and his team have been preparing for the transition between presidential administrations since the election, including selecting senior White House staff and appointees to top government positions. In 2020, there were 1,472 government positions subject to presidential appointment: 1,118 positions required Senate confirmation and 354 did not. The new administration is…

  • Bidens signs executive actions on special enrollment period, Mexico City policy

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    January 29, 2021: Joe Biden signed two executive actions on federal marketplace enrollment and the Mexico City policy. President Joe Biden (D) and his team have been preparing for the transition between presidential administrations since the election, including selecting senior White House staff and appointees to top government positions. In 2020, there were 1,472 government…

  • 77 third-party candidates received more votes than the winner’s margin of victory in 2020

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    Seventy-seven third-party candidates whose vote totals were greater than the winner’s margin of victory When third-party candidates run in elections, sometimes they can receive more votes than the margin of victory in the race. We looked at last year’s races where that happened within our coverage scope of more than 10,000 races. Below are the…

  • Documenting America’s Path to Recovery: January 28, 2021

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    The next 24 hours What is changing in the next 24 hours? North Dakota (Republican trifecta): On Wednesday, Jan. 27, Gov. Doug Burgum (R) announced he would move the state into the “green,” or low, risk level effective Friday, Jan. 29. All counties are currently in the “yellow,” or moderate, category. The “low” category increases…

  • Three candidates file to run in Louisiana House District 82 special election

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    Candidates interested in running in the special election for the District 82 seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives had until January 27, 2021, to file. The primary is scheduled for March 20, and the general election, if needed, is set for April 24. Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the…

  • Filing period to close Feb. 3 for municipal elections in two Ohio cities

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    The candidate filing deadline to run for elected office in Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio, is on February 3, 2021. Prospective candidates in Columbus may file for the following municipal and school district offices: City attorney City auditor City council (3 seats) Columbus City Schools Board of Education (3 seats) In Cleveland, prospective candidates may file…

  • Dickey defeats Stewart in Iowa Senate District 41 special election

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    A special general election was held for Iowa State Senate District 41 on January 26, 2021. Adrian Dickey (R) won the special election with 55.3% of the vote and defeated Mary Stewart (D). The special election was called after Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R) resigned effective January 2 to be seated in the U.S. House of Representatives.…