Year: 2021
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Filing deadline approaches to run for school board in Texas
The filing deadline to run for school board in seven Texas school districts is on Aug. 16. Prospective candidates may file to run in the following districts: Aldine Independent School District (3 seats) Alief Independent School District (3 seats) Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (3 seats) Houston Independent School District (5 seats) Klein Independent School District…
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Redistricting round-up: U.S. Census Bureau releases 2020 data necessary to begin the redistricting process (and other news)
Today’s redistricting round-up includes news from: The U.S. Census Bureau was scheduled to release 2020 census data necessary for redistricting on Aug. 12 Michigan, where an announcement about a potential legal counsel hire has drawn criticism New Jersey, where a congressional redistricting tiebreaker was chosen and the Secretary of State announced a date for the…
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Thirteen states require masks in schools for the upcoming school year
As students across the country begin returning to school for the 2021-2022 academic year, 13 states require masks in public schools while seven ban them. As of Aug. 10, eleven states require masks for all K-12 students and staff: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington. Nevada requires masks…
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Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wis.) announces retirement
U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D) announced Tuesday that he will not run for re-election in 2022. Kind has represented Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District since 1997. He said in his announcement, “For 26 years, I’ve flown to and from Washington, DC and traveled the 18 counties of the most beautiful Congressional District in the Nation almost…
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Texas House lacks quorum as second special session begins
On August 7, 2021, the Texas House of Representatives began a new 30-day special session without a quorum. The chamber has been without a quorum since July 12 when enough Democrats left the state during consideration of House Bill 3 and Senate Bill 1 to break quorum. At least 50 members of the Democratic caucus…
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Oregon Supreme Court justice to retire at year’s end
Oregon Supreme Court Justice Lynn Nakamoto is retiring on Dec. 31, 2021. Nakamoto’s replacement will be Governor Kate Brown’s (D) sixth nominee to the seven-member supreme court. Under Oregon law, midterm vacancies on the state supreme court are filled via gubernatorial appointment. Appointed judges serve until the next general election more than 60 days after…
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CA GOP votes “No endorsement” for recall election; SoS releases campaign finance summaries
On August 7, the Republican Party of California voted not to endorse a candidate in the September 14 recall election of Gov. Gavin Newsom (D). About 90% of the delegates attending the virtual party meeting voted to skip the endorsement vote and not endorse a candidate. The vote came amid concerns from delegates and party…
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Incumbent Pete Holmes concedes Seattle city attorney election
Pete Holmes, the incumbent Seattle city attorney, conceded to challengers Ann Davison and Nicole Thomas-Kennedy on August 6, 2021, in the top-two primary election held August 3. As of August 10, the latest election results showed Thomas-Kennedy with 35.5% of the vote followed by Davison with 33% and Holmes with 31.2%. Davison and Thomas-Kennedy will…
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Ninety-two percent of state legislative incumbents filed for re-election in 2021
In 2021, state legislative incumbents filed for re-election at a higher rate than any other year in the past decade other than 2013. When an incumbent does not run for re-election, his or her seat is left open, meaning it is guaranteed to a newcomer at the start of the next state legislative session. Of…