Welcome to the Monday, January 31, Brew.
By: Samuel Wonacott
Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:
- The two states with separate filing deadlines for congressional candidates
- California county commission recall election to be held Feb. 1
- All aboard Union Station—your weekly look at public-sector union policy!
The two states with separate filing deadlines for congressional candidates
Alabama’s filing deadline for all 2022 statewide primary candidates was originally scheduled for Jan. 28. However, on Jan. 24, a federal court unanimously struck down the state’s recently enacted congressional district map and postponed the congressional filing deadline to Feb. 11 to give the Legislature time to redraw the map.
This decision made Alabama the second state in the 2020 cycle with multiple statewide filing deadlines. In Ohio, congressional candidates must file to run for office by March 4. All other candidates must file by Feb. 2. In the 2020 and 2018 election cycles, three states have separate filing deadlines for congressional candidates: Florida, Iowa, and North Carolina in 2020 and Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania in 2018.
Filing deadlines for all or some 2022 statewide primary candidates have passed in three states—Texas (Dec. 13, 2021), Kentucky (Jan. 25), and Alabama (Jan. 28).
Looking ahead, the following states have filing deadlines in February:
- Feb. 1: New Mexico.
- Feb. 2: Ohio (non-congressional offices).
- Feb. 4: Indiana.
- Feb. 11: Alabama (congressional candidates only)
- Feb. 15: Nebraska.
- Feb. 22: Maryland.
From there, 18 states have filing deadlines in March, eight in April, five in May, seven in June, and three in July. In the 2022 election cycle, the earliest filing deadline was Texas’ on Dec. 13, 2021. The latest is expected to be Louisiana’s on July 22.
Twenty-five states have adopted congressional district maps, and one state has approved congressional district boundaries that have not yet taken effect. Six states were apportioned one U.S. House district, so no congressional redistricting is required. Congressional redistricting has been completed for 271 of the 435 seats (62.3%) U.S. House districts.
Shasta County, Calif., commission recall election to be held Feb. 1
A recall election against District 2 representative Leonard Moty on the Shasta County Board of Supervisors in California takes place tomorrow, Feb. 1.
As with all recalls in California, two questions are on the ballot. The first is a yes/no question asking voters if Moty should be recalled. The second is a question listing candidates who filed to run for Moty’s seat if a majority of voters decide to recall Moty.
Tim Garman, Dale Ball, Tony Hayward, and Tarick Mahmoud filed to run in the replacement race.
Recall supporters cited the following reasons for recall:
- “Betrayal of public trust by not defending the county from state government overreach” and
- “A need for fundamental change and irresponsible handling of taxpayer money.”
Moty said he would defend his position. “Now is not the time to tear us apart as some [have] sought,” Moty said. “But rather it’s a time to move our county forward. I will say here and now, I refuse to allow personal attacks on myself, my family, dedicated county workers, and courageous citizens by those who would halt our progress in our county.”
Moty was first elected to the board in 2008. He was re-elected to a four-year term on Nov. 3, 2020, receiving 51% of the vote and defeating two challengers.
The recall effort began in April 2021 and was initially against three of the five members of the board. Along with Moty, the notice of intent named District 1 representative Joe Chimenti and District 3 representative Mary Rickert. Chimenti, Moty, and Rickert voted on Feb. 2, 2021, to censure the other two members of the board, Les Baugh and Patrick Jones, for opening the board chambers to the public in defiance of the county’s ban on in-person meetings. Elissa McEuen, a recall supporter, said during a board meeting on April 6, 2021, that Chimenti, Moty, and Rickert had failed to stand up to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D).
Recall supporters filed signatures for the recall against Moty by the deadline on Sept. 29 but did not submit signatures for the other two commissioners.
In 2021, we covered a total of 351 recall efforts against 537 elected officials. This was the highest number of recall efforts and officials targeted since we started compiling data on recalls in 2012.
All aboard Union Station—your weekly look at public-sector union policy!
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, unions represented 7 million public sector workers in 2021 — 33.9% of the total public sector workforce. Conversely, unions represented 6.1% of private sector workers. The high rate of public sector unionization gives those unions considerable political influence at the local, state, and federal levels.
We created Union Station, a weekly newsletter, to track bills relating to public sector employee unions, highlight national legislative trends, and provide insight into the debate surrounding public-sector union policy. In our most recent edition, we cover the following topics:
- A brewing conflict in Colorado between Gov. Jared Polis (D) and Democratic legislative leaders over a bill that would expand public-sector collective bargaining in the state—including to local governments. We bring you an unbiased summary of the conflict, including the political context and an overview of the groups and individuals supporting and opposing the bill.
- An overview of the 86 pieces of legislation we’re tracking around the country that touch on public-sector union membership.
- A complete roundup of recent legislative action since our last edition.
We make it easy for you to stay on top of public sector union policy news. Check out our latest edition here or click below to subscribe!