Year: 2022
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171 state legislative vacancies occurred in 2021
There were 171 state legislative vacancies across 43 states in 2021, according to a Ballotpedia analysis. As of Jan. 6, 2022, 129 of those vacancies have been filled. One hundred and twenty-four (124) vacancies occurred in state Houses and 47 occurred in state Senates. Ninety (90) of the vacant seats were originally held by Democrats…
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Average margin of victory in state legislative general elections in 2021 was 23.6 percent
Three of the nation's 99 state legislative chambers held regularly-scheduled elections for 220 seats on Nov. 2, 2021. In races where more than one candidate ran in the election, the average margin of victory was 23.6%. The margin of victory is the difference between the share of votes cast for the winning candidate and the…
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36.5 percent of Americans live in a Democratic trifecta, 41.8 percent live in a Republican trifecta
At the start of 2022, 36.5 percent (120 million) of Americans lived in a state with a Democratic trifecta, while 41.8 percent (137 million) lived in a state with a Republican trifecta. The other 71 million Americans lived in a state with a divided government. A state government trifecta is a term to describe single-party…
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Michigan citizen redistricting commission approves new legislative maps
The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) approved new district boundaries for both the state Senate and state House of Representatives on Dec. 28, 2021. The maps will become law 60 days after the MICRC publishes a report on the redistricting plans with the secretary of state and will take effect for Michigan's 2022 state…
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Upcoming state supreme court vacancy in New Jersey
New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Faustino J. Fernandez-Vina is scheduled to retire from the court on Feb. 15 upon reaching the state’s mandatory retirement age of 70 years old. Fernandez-Vina's replacement will be Gov. Phil Murphy's (D) third nominee to the seven-member supreme court. In New Jersey, state supreme court justices are selected through direct…
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Michigan citizen redistricting commission approves new congressional map
The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) approved new congressional district boundaries by a vote of 8-5 on Dec. 28, 2021. Michigan was apportioned 13 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, one fewer than it received after the 2010 census. This map will take effect for Michigan's 2022 congressional elections.…
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Virginia Supreme Court approves new state legislative district maps
Virginia enacted new state legislative districts on Dec. 28, 2021, when the Virginia Supreme Court approved proposals drafted by two special masters the court had appointed. The maps will take effect for Virginia’s 2022 state legislative elections. Democrat and Republican consultants submitted statewide map proposals for consideration to the Virginia Redistricting Commission on Sept. 18.…
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New state legislative maps enacted in Arkansas
Arkansas’ new state legislative districts were enacted on Dec. 29, 2021, following a constitutionally mandated month-long waiting period after the Arkansas Board of Reapportionment voted to approve the maps 3-0 on Nov. 29. The maps will take effect for Arkansas’ 2022 state legislative elections. The three-member Board of Reapportionment is made up of Gov. Asa…