Welcome to the Tuesday, March 19, Brew.
By: Andrew Kronaizl
Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:
- Washington’s Democratic-controlled Legislature approves historic number of GOP-backed ballot initiatives
- Here’s the latest on congressional and state legislative redistricting
- Eight candidates are running in the Republican primary for Indiana’s 3rd Congressional District
Washington’s Democratic-controlled Legislature approves historic number of GOP-backed ballot initiatives
Washington legislators approved three citizen initiatives into law this legislative session—the most ever for a single year. From 1912, when the state’s initiative process was established, to 2023, just six Initiatives to the Legislature (ITLs) received legislative approval.
An Initiative to the Legislature is what the state of Washington calls indirect initiated state statutes. While a direct initiative is placed on the ballot once supporters file the required number of valid signatures, an indirect initiative is first presented to the state legislature. Legislators can adopt the indirect initiative into law. Should legislators take no action or reject the initiative, it is put on the ballot for voters to decide.
The conservative PAC Let’s Go Washington sponsored six Initiatives to the Legislature this year, including the three that were approved. State Rep. Jim Walsh (R-19), who also chairs the Washington Republican Party, filed the initiatives. Brian Heywood, CEO of Taiyo Pacific Partners, founded the PAC.
Let’s Go Washington Initiatives, 2024
Washington has a Democratic trifecta. Democrats have a 29-20 majority in the state Senate and a 58-40 majority in the state House. Washington has been a Democratic trifecta since 2017.
Lawmakers approved the following three initiatives:
- Initiative 2111 prohibited the state from implementing an income tax. Washington does not have an income tax and state constitutional law and case law already prevent income taxes. The initiative was adopted with unanimous support from Republican legislators. In the House, Democrats were divided, with 37 in support and 21 opposed. In the Senate, Democrats were divided 18-11.
- Initiative 2113 removed restrictions on police chases. In the House, Democrats were divided 38-20. In the Senate, Democrats were divided 16-13.
- Initiative 2081 received the most support from Democrats. It provided parents with specific rights surrounding their children’s education, including the right to review materials, be notified of medical treatments offered or arranged for students, and the right to opt out of instruction on topics related to sexual activity. Democratic legislators said parents already have the rights under state and federal law. In the House, Democrats were divided 43-15. In the Senate, Democrats were unanimous in their support.
The legislature did not pass three additional initiatives—Initiative 2109, Initiative 2117, and Initiative 2124—meaning they will appear on the November ballot.
According to the Oregon Capital Chronicle, “Approval of the three initiatives marks a win for Republicans in the Legislature, who generally support all six of the measures and fought to get them hearings and floor votes. For Democrats, it has the advantage of halving the number of measures that will go before voters this November, which should enable the party and its allies to concentrate on defending their priority policies that the other three measures target.”
The Let’s Go Washington PAC has raised $7.82 million through Feb. 29. Brian Heywood has donated $6.24 million to the PAC. Let’s Go Washington spent $9.28 million, including $6.69 million on signature gathering, which is about $3.44 per required signature. This is higher than the $2.15 spent per required signature for Initiative 976 in 2019, which was the last Initiative to the Legislature that appeared on the ballot.
History of Initiatives to the Legislature
From 1912 through 2023, 2,133 Initiatives to the Legislature have been filed. Thirty-three have appeared on the ballot. Voters approved 17 (52%) and rejected 16 (48%). The legislature has approved nine, including this year’s three measures. Three of the indirect initiatives from previous years—Initiative 12 (1943), Initiative 164 (1995), and Initiative 1000 (2019)—faced veto referendum campaigns after approval by the legislature. In each case, voters rejected the indirect initiatives when they were later put on the ballot.
The Washington Legislature adjourned on March 7.
To learn more about Washington’s 2024 ballot measures, click here.
Here’s the latest on congressional and state legislative redistricting
After the 2020 census, every state completed its redistricting process and adopted new district boundaries before the 2022 elections. However, state and federal courts have overturned the congressional and/or legislative maps in several states. These states were required to redraw the invalid maps before the 2024 elections.
Here’s an update on where things stand.
Congressional redistricting
As of March 12, five states have adopted new congressional maps since the 2022 elections, and ongoing litigation means four other states have maps that are subject to change. For comparison, four states had to redraw and adopt new congressional maps after the 2012 elections.
Below are the states that adopted new congressional maps since the 2022 elections:
- Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana adopted new congressional maps after previous maps were struck down for violating Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
- New York adopted a new congressional map after the New York Court of Appeals struck down the previous map because the state’s Independent Redistricting Commission did not fulfill its constitutional duties.
- North Carolina adopted a new congressional map after the North Carolina Supreme Court struck down the previous map due to partisan gerrymandering.
Florida, Ohio, South Carolina, and Utah still have maps that are subject to change due to active litigation.
Legislative redistricting
As of March 12, 2024, seven states have adopted new legislative maps since 2022, and ongoing litigation means three other states have maps that are subject to change. For comparison, four states had to redraw and adopt new legislative maps after the 2012 elections.
Below are the states that adopted new legislative maps since the 2022 elections:
- Georgia and North Dakota adopted new legislative maps after previous maps were struck down for violating Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
- New York adopted new legislative maps after the New York Court of Appeals struck down the previous maps because the state’s Independent Redistricting Commission did not fulfill its constitutional duties.
- North Carolina and Wisconsin adopted new legislative maps after previous maps were struck down for partisan gerrymandering.
- Ohio adopted new legislative maps. Since the state’s redistricting commission passed these boundaries along partisan lines, they can only remain in effect for four years. The state constitution requires the redistricting commission to enact newer legislative maps by 2026.
- Texas adopted new legislative maps with the same district boundaries as the ones adopted in 2021. The state’s Legislative Redistricting Commission decided to revisit the process in order to ensure compliance with the state constitution.
Louisiana, Michigan, and Tennessee still have maps that are subject to change due to active litigation.
Eight candidates are running in the Republican primary for Indiana’s 3rd Congressional District
Throughout the year, we’ll bring you coverage of the most compelling elections—the battlegrounds we expect to have a meaningful effect on the balance of power in governments or to be particularly competitive.
Last week, we previewed the April 23 Democratic primary for Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District. You can catch our previous coverage of other battleground races here.
Today, we’re looking at the May 7 Republican primary for Indiana’s 3rd Congressional District. Eight candidates are running in the primary, and four lead in fundraising and endorsements: Wendy Davis (R), Tim Smith (R), Marlin Stutzman (R), and Andy Zay (R).
This is the first open race in the district since 2016. Incumbent Jim Banks (R) is running for the U.S. Senate. As of March 5, The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter and Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rated the general election Solid Republican. Larry J. Sabato’s Crystal Ball rated the general election Safe Republican. These ratings indicate it is likely that the candidate who wins the Republican primary will also win the general election.
Davis served as a judge for the Allen County Circuit Court and later the Allen County Superior Court. Davis said her experience on the bench inspired her to run for Congress: “As a Judge, it was my duty to remain impartial and unbiased, so I could only react to the problems I saw. I’m ready to be proactive and go to Washington to actually solve the problems facing Hoosiers in the 3rd District, and America as a whole.” Value in Electing Women PAC and U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) endorsed Davis.
Smith’s professional experience includes work at the malpractice insurance company MedPro Group and as the CEO of the nonprofit organization Lasting Change, Inc. Smith said he is “a businessman, not a career politician that will conform to the demands of Washington’s political elite.” Smith has raised $1,060,007, the most of all candidates running. His total includes a $900,000 loan he made to his campaign.
Stutzman represented the 3rd District in Congress from 2010 to 2017 but ran for the U.S. Senate in 2016. In the Republican primary, then-Rep. Todd Young (R) defeated Stutzman 67.1% to 32.9%. Stutzman said district voters “know my strong, conservative record, so they know that in me, they will have an America-first champion who is tough enough to fight for them in Washington.” The House Freedom Fund and the Congressional Freedom Caucus PAC endorsed Stutzman.
Zay is a member of the Indiana Senate. He said his legislative experience would help him successfully fight for the district in Congress: “The process of knowing how committees work, knowing how amendments work, moving legislation, moving good ideas forward that become policy that’s good for everyone is a critical component of my background that will help.” Former U.S. Rep. Terry Miller (R-Ind.) endorsed Zay.
Also running in the primary are Grant Bucher (R), Michael Felker (R), Jon Kenworthy (R), and Eric Whalen (R).