Year: 2021

  • Bold Justice: Six-month checkup on federal judicial activity during Biden’s first year

    Posted on

    Welcome to the July 19 edition of Bold Justice, Ballotpedia’s newsletter about the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) and other judicial happenings around the U.S. In a special edition of Bold Justice, we’ll be taking the temperature of federal judicial activity during the first year of the Biden administration with a six-month checkup…

  • Contributions exceed $46 million to campaigns surrounding Maine electric transmission lines initiative

    Posted on

    In November, voters in Maine will decide a ballot initiative designed to stop the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC), a 145-mile long, high-voltage transmission line project. NECEC would transmit around 1,200 megawatts from hydroelectric plants in Quebec to electric utilities in Massachusetts and Maine. Since 2010, Ballotpedia has tracked campaign finance for ballot measures…

  • Trifecta vulnerability in 2021

    Posted on

    Welcome to the Monday, July 19, Brew. Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Assessing the vulnerability of the Democratic trifectas in New Jersey and Virginia Flashback: Trump announced Pence as VP five years ago Don’t miss our July 21 briefing on donor disclosure and privacy Assessing the vulnerability of the…

  • The State and Local Tap: California judge rules Gov. Newsom’s party affiliation will not appear on recall ballot

    Posted on

    Our weekly summary of state & local news highlights a state judge’s ruling that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s party affiliation will not appear on California’s Sept. 14 recall ballot and members of Texas’ legislature travel to Washington, D.C. ahead of an expected vote on election-related legislation. Read all about it in this week’s edition of the…

  • The Federal Tap: Early voting begins in runoff in Texas’ 6th Congressional District

    Posted on

    Our weekly summary of federal news highlights the start of early voting in the special runoff election between two Republicans in Texas’ 6th Congressional District and the Supreme Court’s announcement of the list of cases it will hear at the start of the October 2021-2022 term. Read all about it in this week’s edition of…

  • Republicans retain two Alabama state legislative seats in special elections on July 13

    Posted on

    Special general elections were held in District 14 of the Alabama State Senate and District 73 of the Alabama House of Representatives on July 13. The primary was held on March 30, and the filing deadline to run passed on Jan. 26. The Republican primary for the House District 73 seat went to a primary…

  • Maryland State Delegate Keith Haynes retires

    Posted on

    Keith Haynes (D)—who was first elected to the state legislature in 2002—retired from the Maryland House of Delegates on July 15. Haynes most recently won re-election in 2018 after running unopposed in the primary and general elections. “After 18 1/2 years of service, I am retiring from the Maryland House of Delegates as of July…

  • A look back at government responses to the coronavirus pandemic, July 20-24, 2020

    Posted on

    Although the first case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was confirmed on Jan. 21, 2020, it wasn’t until March when the novel coronavirus upended life for most Americans. Throughout the year, states issued stay-at-home orders, closed schools, restricted travel, issued mask mandates, and changed election dates. Here are the policy changes that happened July 20-24,…

  • Assessing the vulnerability of the Democratic trifectas in New Jersey and Virginia

    Posted on

    Gubernatorial or state legislative elections are taking place in two states, New Jersey and Virginia, in 2021. Trifecta status is at stake in both states. A trifecta exists when one party holds the governorship, a majority in the state senate, and a majority in the state house. There are currently 38 trifectas: 23 Republican trifectas…

  • Texas House speaker removes Democrat who left state from leadership position

    Posted on

    Texas House of Representatives Speaker Dade Phelan (R) announced the removal of Joseph Moody (D) from Moody’s position as speaker pro tem of the chamber on July 15. The speaker pro tem performs the duties of the speaker in his or her absence. Moody had served in the position for two sessions. Moody was one…