Year: 2024
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Missouri Democrats continue pushback against rule opposing ESG
Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (R) published a rule last July restricting the use of ESG in public investment strategies. The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) filed a lawsuit in August claiming that the regulation conflicted with federal law. Judge Stephen R. Bough of the U.S. District Court for the Western District…
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80 candidates filed for congressional and statewide offices last week
Eighty people declared candidacies for congressional or statewide offices in the past week, 25 fewer than last week. All of these candidates declared before their state’s official filing deadline. Thirty-three of those candidates were Democratic, while 45 were Republican. Two are minor-party candidates or running in nonpartisan races. Thirty-two candidates are running for Congress, 44…
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54.79% of all state legislators in the United States are Republican, 44.44% are Democratic
At the end of January 2024, 54.79% of all state legislators in the United States are Republican while 44.44% are Democratic. There are 7,386 state legislative seats in the country. Republicans held a majority in 56 chambers, and Democrats held the majority in 39 chambers. Two chambers (Alaska House and Alaska Senate) were organized under…
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Initiatives to provide a constitutional right to abortion and legalize marijuana qualify for the ballot in Florida pending court review
In November, voters in Florida will decide on two citizen-initiated ballot measures—Amendment 3 and Amendment 4—pending the state supreme court’s review. Amendment 3 would legalize marijuana, and Amendment 4 would provide a state constitutional right for abortion. To qualify for the ballot, 891,523 valid signatures were required for each initiative. Florida Amendment 3 Amendment 3,…
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Matt Dolan, Frank LaRose, and Bernie Moreno are running in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Ohio
Matt Dolan (R), Frank LaRose (R), and Bernie Moreno (R) are running in the Republican Party primary for U.S. Senate in Ohio on March 19, 2024. The winner of the primary will run against incumbent Sherrod Brown (D), who is running for a fourth term. Dolan is an attorney and state legislator who is running…
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What states allow citizens to initiate ballot measures?
In the U.S., 26 states provide for a statewide initiative process, referendum process, or both. Washington, D.C. also has an initiative and referendum process. These types of ballot measures are known as citizen-initiated ballot measures. Conversely, 24 states do not provide for statewide citizen-initiated ballot measures. However, municipal and local governments provide for local initiatives…
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Fifty-nine Republican primaries are taking place in the Texas House of Representatives this year
There are 59 Republican primaries for Texas House of Representatives on March 5, 2024, 45 of which have an incumbent on the ballot. Texas’ 2024 legislative elections feature more contested primaries than any other year since at least 2012. The 2024 elections are taking place in the context of two votes in 2023 that divided…
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Oregon Supreme Court upholds secretary of state’s interpretation of Measure 113 excluding 10 senators from seeking re-election after their walkout last May
The Oregon Supreme Court ruled that nine Republican state senators and one independent who participated in a legislative walkout in May 2023 could not seek re-election under Measure 113—a 2022 ballot initiative that makes legislators ineligible to be re-elected to a subsequent term if they accrue 10 or more unexcused absences. On May 3, 2023,…