Year: 2021

  • Ballotpedia releases federal judicial vacancy count for December

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    In this month’s federal judicial vacancy count, Ballotpedia tracked nominations, confirmations, and vacancies to all United States Article III federal courts from December 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020. Ballotpedia publishes the federal judicial vacancy count at the start of each month. HIGHLIGHTS Vacancies: There have been no new judicial vacancies since the November 2020…

  • Nancy Pelosi elected speaker of the House for 117th Congress

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    Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was elected speaker of the House on Sunday with 216 votes. Five Democratic representatives did not vote for her: Jared Golden (D-Maine), Conor Lamb (D-Pa.), Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), and Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.). Golden voted for Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Lamb voted for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.). Sherrill,…

  • Ballot measure records and firsts in 2020

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    2020 was a unique year for statewide ballot measures. Here are 12 ballot measure-related stories from 2020 that either never happened before or hadn’t happened in a very long time. Ballot measure campaign finance records were set nationally and in four states: California, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Alaska. Gig economy policies appeared on a statewide ballot…

  • Federal Register weekly update: 2020 year-to-date total of 84,198 pages

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    Banner with the words "The Administrative State Project"

    The Federal Register is a daily journal of federal government activity that includes presidential documents, proposed and final rules, and public notices. It is a common measure of an administration’s regulatory activity. From December 21 to December 25, the Federal Register grew by 1,328 pages for a year-to-date total of 84,198 pages. Over the same…

  • The Runoff Report: Pre-runoff election weekend filled with campaign stops, interviews

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    Republicans have secured 50 seats in the next U.S. Senate compared to Democrats’ 48 (including two independents who caucus with them). Control of the next Senate comes down to Georgia’s runoff elections. In The Runoff Report, we provide the latest on each race and the fight for Senate control. Voting on Jan. 5 Some answers…

  • Documenting America’s Path to Recovery: January 4, 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. California (Democratic trifecta): Health Secretary Mark Ghaly extended the stay-at-home order for the Greater Sacramento region. Restrictions will remain effective until the region’s four-week projected available ICU capacity is equal to or greater than 15%.…

  • Alabama House of Representatives District 73 special election set for July 13, 2021

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    Election officials have scheduled a special election for the District 73 seat in the Alabama House of Representatives on July 13, 2021. The seat became vacant after Cam Ward (R) was appointed to serve as director of the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles by Gov. Kay Ivey (R). The primary is on Mar. 30,…

  • Iowa State Senate District 41 special election set for Jan. 26, 2021

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    Election officials have scheduled a special election for the District 41 seat in the Iowa State Senate for Jan. 26, 2021. The seat became vacant when Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R) resigned effective Jan. 2 after being seated in the U.S. House of Representatives. There is no primary, and the Democratic and Republican parties will select their nominees at…

  • No initiative campaigns submitted signatures by Dec. 25 deadline in Ohio

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    No initiative campaigns submitted signatures in Ohio on the Dec. 25 deadline. In Ohio, initiated statutes are indirect, requiring 132,887 signatures in 2021 to go before the Ohio State Legislature. If enough signatures are submitted, the legislature has the option to approve an initiative without a vote of electors. If the state legislature does not…

  • Texas House of Representatives District 68 special election set for Jan. 23, 2021

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    Election officials have scheduled a special election for the District 68 seat in the Texas House of Representatives for Jan. 23, 2021. The office became vacant after State Rep. Drew Springer won a special election to the District 30 seat in the Texas State Senate on Dec. 19. There is no primary, and the filing…