Year: 2024

  • California committee advances bill proposing unemployment benefits for striking workers (2024)

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    The California Senate Labor, Public Unemployment and Retirement Committee advanced Senate Bill 1116 on Apr. 24, which proposes allowing workers to claim unemployment insurance benefits after striking for two weeks. The bill now heads to the Senate Committee on Appropriations for further consideration.  California lawmakers passed similar legislation in 2023, but Gov. Gavin Newsom (D)…

  • Three states — Idaho, Illinois, and Pennsylvania — have fewest number of state legislative incumbents retiring since 2010

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    So far, in 2024, Ballotpedia has processed candidate filing information for congressional offices in 23 states. We also have data for 27 state legislative chambers across 14 states. We’ve looked at 2,614 total races so far — about 44% of the ~6,000 races we anticipate covering in 2024. Looking at retirements across the state legislatures,…

  •  Early filing deadlines show fewer state legislative incumbents retiring than in previous years

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, May 1, Brew.  By: Ethan Sorell Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Fewer state legislative incumbents retiring than in previous years   Ballotpedia’s 2024 state primary election competitiveness data analyzes all state legislative, state executive, and congressional elections taking place this year. Today, let’s look at trends…

  • 71% of April’s elections were uncontested

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    Throughout April, Ballotpedia covered 4,596 elections in 21 states, 71% of which were uncontested. That’s down from March, when 77% of the 6,995 covered were uncontested. Ballotpedia defines an uncontested election as one where the number of candidates running is less than or equal to the number of seats up for election. This analysis does…

  • 118th Congress sees its lowest-ever average approval rating in April

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    At the end of April, approval polling averages showed President Joe Biden (D) at 40% approval. Fifty-six percent of voters disapproved of his performance. This was the same approval rating he received at the end of March. Throughout April, Biden’s approval rating fluctuated between 40% and 41%. The lowest approval rating he’s received during his…

  • Economy and Society April 30, 2024: U.S. ESG funds see record outflows

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    ESG developments this week Economy and Society is Ballotpedia’s weekly review of the developments in corporate activism; corporate political engagement; and the environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) trends and events that characterize the growing intersection between business and politics. Around the world Norwegian sovereign wealth fund plans to expand ESG investing approach The executives…

  • Oklahoma voters to decide constitutional amendment to allow for public infrastructure districts within municipalities

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    The Oklahoma State Legislature passed a constitutional amendment to create a process for establishing public infrastructure districts within municipalities. Voters will decide on the amendment on Nov. 5, 2025. Public infrastructure districts would be governed by a Board of Trustees, which would have the authority to levy a special assessment of up to 10 mills…

  • States enact fewer election-related bills this year than last, more than in 2022

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    Welcome to the Tuesday, April 30, 2024, Brew.  By: Ethan Rice Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: States enact fewer election-related bills this year than last, more than in 2022 Since the start of 2024, legislators have considered nearly 3,500 election-related bills, and 31 states have adopted 175 new election-related…

  • Nebraska bill removing voting rights restoration waiting period for people convicted of a felony passes without governor’s signature

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    On April 17, 2024, Nebraska’s LB 20 became law without the signature of Gov. Jim Pillen (R). The bill changes the timeline for restoring voting rights to people convicted of a felony by removing a two-year waiting period after the completion of a sentence before rights are restored. Under the new law, voting rights are…

  • Primary competition remains steady in Oklahoma’s legislative races for third straight election cycle

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    There are 125 seats up for election this year in Oklahoma’s legislature—24 in the Senate and 101 in the House. There are 51 total contested primaries in 2024 (six Democratic and 45 Republican). This is in line with the numbers from the past two cycles (49 in 2022 and 52 in 2020). Incumbents facing primary challengers follow a…