Year: 2021

  • Vice President Kamala Harris casts two tie-breaking votes in Senate

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    Our weekly summary of federal news highlights Vice President Kamala Harris’ latest tie-breaking votes and the CDC’s approval of Moderna and J&J booster shots. Read all about it in this week’s edition of the Federal Tap. Congress is in session Both the House and Senate are in session next week. Click here to see the…

  • Seattle’s mayoral and city council races, by the numbers

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    Seattle holds city elections on Nov. 2 for mayor, two at-large city council seats, and other local offices. Recent polling, campaign finance data, and satellite spending provide insight into these races just over one week out. Polls City Council President Lorena González and former City Council President Bruce Harrell face each other in the mayoral…

  • Redistricting map updates: proposals, advancements, and enactments between Oct. 13 and 20

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    Image of several stickers with the words "I voted"

    At least nine states progressed in either proposing or advancing new congressional and state legislative district maps as part of the 2020 redistricting cycle between Oct. 13 and Oct. 20, 2021. Proposed Arizona: The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission released a new series of state legislative and congressional maps between Oct. 15 and Oct. 19. The commission…

  • Major party campaign committee fundraising nears $600 million in 2022 cycle

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    Six party committees have raised a combined $599 million over the first nine months of the 2022 election cycle. In September, the committees raised $68 million, according to recent filings with the Federal Election Commission. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) raised $14.5 million and spent $5.1 million in September, while the National Republican Congressional…

  • Gov. Greg Abbott (R) appoints John Scott (R) as secretary of state

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    On Oct. 21, 2021, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott appointed John Scott as secretary of state.  Scott replaces Ruth Ruggero Hughs, who resigned in May of 2021 after the Senate Nominating Commission refused to take up her nomination.  Texas is one of nine states where secretaries of state are appointed by the governor. Scott’s appointment will…

  • West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals will hear case involving blocked union dues law next week

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    West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals will hear case involving blocked union dues law next week The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals will hear arguments on Tuesday, Oct. 26, in a case involving a union dues law that a judge blocked from going into effect earlier this year. The law would prohibit public-sector employers…

  • Top five donors to Democratic and Republican candidates in Virginia House battleground districts

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    Elections for all 100 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates are taking place on November 2, 2021. Democrats hold 55 seats and Republicans hold 45 seats. This is the first election cycle since 1999 with Democrats defending a majority in the chamber. Ballotpedia has identified 22 battleground races in these elections. Sixteen are in…

  • Texas voters to decide on an increase to the homestead exemption from school district property taxes in May 2022

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    On Oct. 18, the Texas State Legislature voted to refer to the ballot a constitutional amendment that would increase the homestead exemption for school district property taxes from $25,000 to $40,000. Voters will decide the measure on the May 2022 ballot. It would take effect for the 2022 tax year. The Legislative Budget Board estimated…

  • Explore campaign finance figures in Virginia’s House races

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    Welcome to the Friday, October 22, Brew.  By: Doug Kronaizl Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Take a deep dive into our coverage of campaign finance in Virginia’s House races A look back at government responses to the coronavirus pandemic, Oct. 19-23, 2020 #FridayTrivia: By this date in 2011, how…

  • Documenting America’s Path to Recovery #309: October 21, 2021

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    Welcome to Documenting America’s Path to Recovery. Today we look at: An announcement about nonessential travel in Hawaii A bill limiting gubernatorial emergency powers in North Carolina Vaccine distribution School mask requirements State proof-of-vaccination requirements and policies Federal responses We are committed to keeping you updated on everything from mask requirements to vaccine-related policies. We…