Welcome to the Friday, April 2, Brew. Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:
- All residents 16+ now eligible for coronavirus vaccine in 21 states
- Rita Hart (D) withdraws IA-02 election results challenge
- The Final Four (legged) round of Barking Brackets
All residents 16+ now eligible for coronavirus vaccine in 21 states
In last week‘s coronavirus vaccine update, we noted that all residents 16 and older were eligible to register for the coronavirus vaccine in seven states. Now, all residents 16+ are eligible for a vaccine in 21 states. Of those 21, five have Democratic governors and 16 have Republican governors.
Latest changes
Note: Below, we provide information on previous and current statewide eligibility by age group. We do not include information on eligibility for younger individuals deemed essential workers or those with underlying health conditions. Keep in mind many states and counties still have waitlists, so vaccines for everyone 16+ might not be immediately available.
Residents 16+ in the following states became eligible to register for vaccines since our last update:
The following states are currently scheduled to open vaccinations to everyone 16+ in the coming week:
- Florida: April 5
- Idaho: April 5
- Iowa: April 5
- Kentucky: April 5
- Michigan: April 5
- Nebraska: April 5
- Nevada: April 5
- New Mexico: April 5
- South Dakota: April 5
- Tennessee: April 5
- Wisconsin: April 5
- Delaware: April 6
- New York: April 6
- North Carolina: April 7
- Missouri: April 9
Vaccine eligibility is changing rapidly across the country. Our daily newsletter Documenting America’s Path to Recovery delivers the latest coronavirus-related updates to subscribers’ inboxes each weekday. Click here to subscribe.
Rita Hart (D) withdraws IA-02 election results challenge
The 2020 congressional election cycle has officially wrapped.
On March 31, Rita Hart (D) dropped her petition to the House Administration Committee to investigate last year’s election results in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District. House Administration Committee Chair Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D) said the committee would suspend its investigation.
Hart said she ended her challenge “after many conversations with people I trust about the future of this contest.”
“Despite our best efforts to have every vote counted,” Hart said, “the reality is that the toxic campaign of political disinformation to attack this constitutional review of the closest congressional contest in 100 years has effectively silenced the voices of Iowans.”
Here’s a quick reminder of how we got here.
- According to certified results, Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R) won the election by six votes.
- After the Nov. 3, 2020, general election, Iowa officials conducted three recounts. Secretary of State Paul Pate (R) first ordered recounts in two counties.
- On Nov. 13, Hart requested a full recount in all 24 counties in the district.
- After that recount, Miller-Meeks was certified as the winner on Nov. 30.
- On Dec. 2, Hart announced she would contest the election with the House Administration Committee. Her challenge said 22 ballots were wrongfully excluded and the recount didn’t comply with state law or the U.S. Constitution.
- Miller-Meeks was provisionally seated in the House on Jan. 3.
- On Mar. 10, the House Administration Committee voted 6-3 to consider Hart’s challenge.
The 2020 race in the 2nd District had the narrowest margin of victory in a U.S. House race since 1984, when Francis McCloskey (D) defeated Richard McIntyre (R) by four votes in Indiana’s 8th District.
According to a 2016 Congressional Research Service report, out of 107 election challenges filed with the House between 1933 and 2009, the candidate who contested the election won three times.
The Final Four(legged) round
Dogs have become one of the most pup-ular companions for presidents to have during their time in office. Whether they’re running around on the lawn, attending secret meetings, or getting dressed up for special events, First Dogs help to give a glimpse into life in the White House.
In the spirit of March Madness, Ballotpedia is hosting our first ever Barking Brackets tournament! We have four comPETitors who have advanced from the preliminary rounds. Take a look at these First Furiends and vote your favorite through to the cham-PAW-ionship!