Year: 2021

  • Ballotpedia’s Weekly Transition Tracker: January 16-22, 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…

  • House, Senate approve waiver for ret. Gen. Lloyd Austin for secretary of defense

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    January 22, 2021:The House and Senate approved a waiver that would allow retired Gen. Lloyd Austin to serve as secretary of defense before a seven-year cooldown period for former service members. President Joe Biden (D) and his team have been preparing for the transition between presidential administrations since the election, including selecting senior White House…

  • Filing deadline approaches in Massachusetts state House special election

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    Candidates interested in running in the special election for Massachusetts House of Representatives Nineteenth Suffolk District have until January 26, 2021, to file. The primary is scheduled for March 2, and the general election is set for March 30.  The special election was called after Robert DeLeo (D) resigned on December 29 to seek a…

  • Senate confirms first Biden Cabinet nominee

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    The Senate confirmed Avril Haines as director of national intelligence on January 20, 2021, by a vote of 84-10. Haines previously served as an assistant to the president and principal deputy national security advisor during the Obama administration. Ten Republican senators voted against her confirmation: Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) Sen. Ted…

  • Trump issues 74 pardons, 70 commutations on last day of term

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    On January 20, 2021, President Donald Trump (R) issued 74 pardons and 70 commutations. Among those pardoned included former Trump chief strategist Steve Bannon, former U.S. Reps. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.) and Duke Cunningham (R-Calif.), and the rappers Lil’ Wayne and Kodak Black. These final pardons and commutations bring the total for Trump’s term to 143…

  • Ben Robbins wins Alabama House District 33 special election

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    Ben Robbins (R) won the special general election for the District 33 seat in the Alabama House of Representatives on January 19, 2021. Robbins defeated Fred Crum, who was nominated by the Alabama Democratic Party to run in the special general election after Democratic primary winner Terra Foster withdrew from the race. Unofficial results from…

  • Year-end analysis of local ballot measures in the top 100 largest cities in the U.S.

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    There were 314 local measures on the ballot for voters in the nation’s 100 largest cities in 2020. These spanned 26 different states and Washington, D.C. Ballotpedia’s year-end analysis dives into approval rates, notable topics and measures, bond and tax measures, and the types of measures. Here are some highlights: 252 measures (80.3%) were approved,…

  • Ballotpedia’s Daily Brew: The history of U.S. Senate ties

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    U.S. Senate split evenly for fourth time in history After Vice President Kamala Harris took the oath of office on Jan. 20, she presided over the swearing in of three new Democratic Senators: Alex Padilla (Calif.), Jon Ossoff (Ga.), and Raphael Warnock (Ga.). The U.S. Senate now has 50 Republicans, 48 Democrats, and two independent…

  • Documenting America’s Path to Recovery: January 21, 2021

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    Since our last edition What rules and restrictions are changing in each state? For a continually updated article, click here. Kansas (divided government): The state is starting Phase 2 of its vaccine distribution plan Jan. 21. Individuals over the age of 65, high-contact essential workers (including police officers, grocery store workers, and school staff), and…

  • How many times has the U.S. Senate been split evenly between Democrats and Republicans?

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    After the winners of the Georgia U.S. Senate runoffs were sworn in on Jan. 20, the Democratic and Republican caucuses in the U.S. Senate were split 50-50. Vice President Kamala Harris (D) has the tie-breaking vote in the chamber.  This is the fourth time in U.S. history the Senate has been split evenly.  As a…