Plurality of Americans live in a state with a Republican trifecta
At the start of 2022, 34.0% of Americans (113 million) lived in a state with a Democratic trifecta and 41.7% (138 million) lived in a state with a Republican trifecta. The remaining 24.3% of Americans (80 million) lived in a state with a divided government.
The statewide minimum wage increased in 21 states on New Year’s Day
In 2022, 25 states and Washington D.C. will see an increase in the statewide minimum wage. State lawmakers approved legislation increasing the minimum wage in 12 of the 21 states with hikes taking effect Jan. 1. In the eight other states, voters approved ballot initiatives that caused the 2022 increases.
Average margin of victory in state legislative general elections last year was 23.6 percent
The margin of victory is the difference between the share of votes cast for the winning candidate and the second-place candidate in an election. In 2021 races where more than one candidate ran in the election, the average margin of victory was 23.6%. Three races were decided by a margin of 0.5% or less.
Number of recall efforts in 2021 was highest since 2012
Ballotpedia tracked more recall efforts in 2021 than any other year since we began compiling recall data in 2012. Across all levels of government, we identified 529 officials who faced recalls in 2021. Twenty-five of those recall efforts were successful.
Illinois Rep. Bobby Rush (D) announces retirement
As of Jan. 4, 42 members of Congress—six members of the U.S. Senate and 36 members of the U.S. House—have announced they will not seek re-election. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) announced he would not seek a 16th term in the House. Rush was first elected in 1992.