Welcome to the Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, Brew. 

By: Lara Bonatesta

Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:

1. 58 minor party candidates received more votes than the margin of victory in the 2024 federal, state, and local elections 
2. Tennessee and BlackRock reach disclosure deal
3. Seven states ban or limit cellphones in K-12 public schools—here’s where similar policies could follow in 2025

58 minor party candidates received more votes than the margin of victory in the 2024 federal, state, and local elections 

Of the more than 75,000 elections Ballotpedia covered last year, at least 58 minor party or independent candidates received more votes than the margins of victory between the winning candidates in their elections, potentially altering the outcome. This was more than in 2022, when there were 56 such candidates, and fewer than in 2020, when there were  77.

Those 58 candidates include:

• 12 in congressional races, including seven who ran for U.S. Senate and five who ran for U.S. House
• 17 in elections for statewide offices
• 28 state-level, district elections
• One in a local election within Ballotpedia’s coverage scope.

In total, these candidates ran in 40 elections. Here’s a breakdown of those elections by level of government.

There were seven congressional elections in 2024 in which at least one minor party or independent candidates’ votes exceeded the margin of victory between winning candidates. Democrats won five of these elections, and Republicans won two. The charts below show a breakdown of winners by chamber and a comparison to previous years. 

In 2024, the largest group of candidates to win more votes than the margin of victory were independents. 21 independent candidates won more votes than the margin of victory. In 2020 and 2022, Libertarian Party candidates held that distinction.

Here are some notable congressional and statewide elections where minor party candidates received more votes than the margin of victory:

• U.S. Senate in Michigan: Elissa Slotkin (D) defeated Mike Rogers (R) 48.6%-48.3%, a margin of 0.3 percentage points. Three minor party candidates received more than 0.3% of the vote. They included Joseph Solis-Mullen (L) (1%), Douglas Marsh (G) (1%), and Dave Stein (U.S. Taxpayers Party) (0.7%).
• U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania: David McCormick (R) defeated incumbent Bob Casey Jr. (D) 48.8%-48.6%, a margin of 0.2 percentage points. Three minor party candidates received more than 0.2% of the vote. They were John Thomas (L) (1.3%), Leila Hazou (G) (1%), and Marty Selker (Constitution Party) (0.3%).
• U.S. House, Colorado District 8: Gabe Evans (R) defeated incumbent Yadira Caraveo (D) 49.0%-48.2%, a margin of 0.8 percentage points. Two candidates received more than 0.8% of the vote. They were Chris Baum (Approval Voting Party) (1.7%) and Susan Hall (Unity Party of Colorado) (1.1%).
• U.S. House, Ohio District 9: Incumbent Marcy Kaptur (D) defeated Derek Merrin (R) 48.3%-47.6%, a margin of 0.7% percentage points. One candidate – Tom Pruss (L) – received 4.1% of the vote. 
• Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina: Rachel Hunt (D) defeated Hal Weatherman (R) 49.4%-47.8%, a margin of 1.6 percentage points. One candidate – Shannon Bray (L) – received 1.9% of the vote.
• Oregon Treasurer: Elizabeth Steiner Hayward (D) defeated Brian Boquist (R) 49.5%-43.4%, a margin of 6.1 percentage points. One candidate – Mary King (Pacific Green Party of Oregon) – received 7.3% of the vote.

To see other races where minor party candidates received more votes than the margin of victory, click here.

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Tennessee and BlackRock reach ESG disclosure deal  

A version of this story appeared in Ballotpedia’s Economy and Society newsletter on 1/21. Economy and Society covers the intersection of business and politics and includes developments in the world of ESG. Click here to sign up.

On Jan. 17, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti (R) announced that his office reached an agreement with BlackRock—the world’s largest asset manager— regarding its policies on environment, social issues, and corporate governance (ESG). The agreement will require the firm to disclose more about its approach to voting on corporate policies and its reasons for voting against management recommendations on ESG resolutions.

ESG investing is a type of stakeholder investing that says shareholder returns should not be the only goal. Stakeholder investing contrasts with traditional approaches, which are also known as shareholder investing. To learn more about ESG and commonly considered investing factors, click here.

The agreement settles a lawsuit Skrmetti filed on Dec. 18, 2023, alleging BlackRock made misleading statements about its ESG investment considerations, preventing consumers from making informed investment choices. 

The consumer protection lawsuit –  which Skrmetti said was the first of its kind – is one of multiple lawsuits that Republican-led states have filed against BlackRock and other asset management companies over ESG in recent years. On Nov. 27, 11 Republican-led states sued BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street, arguing the firms violated antitrust laws and saying that the firms’ collective ESG engagement hurt coal production, raising consumer energy costs.

Skrmetti said the settlement “assures that the money Tennesseans invest with BlackRock is managed consistent with the funds’ disclosures.”

A BlackRock representative said, “BlackRock has consistently acted in the best interests of our clients, and we welcome the opportunity to demonstrate that fact through even greater transparency about our practices.”

Companies like BlackRock that invest money on behalf of their clients often cast votes in shareholder elections that can influence how companies are run.

ESG opponents like Skrmetti have argued that companies like BlackRock have made conflicting statements about their goals, creating confusion for investors. He said, “Some public statements show a company that focuses exclusively on return on investment, others show a company that gives special consideration to environmental factors. Ultimately, I want to make certain that corporations, no matter their size, treat Tennessee consumers fairly and honestly.”

ESG supporters such as BlackRock have argued environmental considerations can boost investing returns. Their website says, “The popular notion that tackling climate change comes at a net cost to the global economy is wrong, we believe. Avoiding climate-related damages will help prevent economic deterioration and improve risk-asset returns, in our view. We see the ‘green’ transition to a carbon-neutral world rewarding companies, sectors and countries that adjust and penalizing others.”

On Jan. 9, BlackRock announced that it was leaving the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative (NZAM), an international group of asset management companies that, according to its website, is “committed to supporting the goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or sooner.” On Jan. 13, NZAM announced it was suspending activities. The Wall Street Journal’s Jack Pitcher wrote, “Companies have been broadly pulling back from initiatives related to climate change and diversity equity and inclusion ahead of the second Trump administration.”

Ballotpedia covers state, federal, academic, media, and think tank activity opposing ESG. To see that coverage, click here. To learn more about policy support for ESG, click here.

Most opposition to ESG investing in public policy comes from Republican government officials. Between 2020 and 2024, 21 out of 23 Republican trifecta states passed legislation opposing ESG. In that same time, 10 out of 17 Democratic trifecta states passed legislation supporting ESG. To learn more about enacted ESG legislation, click here.

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Seven states ban or limit cellphones in K-12 public schools—here’s where similar policies could follow in 2025

A more detailed version of this story comes out in Ballotpedia’s Hall Pass later this afternoon. Hall Pass is our weekly newsletter on school board politics and education policy. Click here to sign up!

With 2025 legislative sessions underway, lawmakers and state officials in at least 10 states have already proposed legislation banning or limiting phones in schools this year. 

Here is a look at where lawmakers are proposing legislation in 2025 and which states already restrict phones in schools. Head to our page about state policies on cellphone use in K-12 public schools to learn more and stay up to date on the latest news. 

Legislation and proposed changes in 2025

• Lawmakers in Alabama (Republican trifecta), Idaho (Republican trifecta), Maryland (Democratic trifecta), Nebraska (Republican trifecta), New Hampshire (Republican trifecta), and Utah (Republican trifecta) have introduced or pre-filed bills on cell phone use in schools.
  • In Alabama, Rep. Pebblin Warren’s (D) bill would require school boards to adopt policies around cell phones and assess fines on students who repeatedly use their phones in class. 
  • On Jan. 27, Utah Rep. Lincoln Fillmore (R) introduced SB 178, which would prohibit phones in schools statewide with exceptions for emergencies.
• New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) included funding for a cell phone ban in her proposed $252 billion budget released on Jan. 21. New York has a Democratic trifecta.
• Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) released proposed legislation on Jan. 25 that would require the Iowa Department of Education to establish minimum cellphone standards for districts. Districts would also be required to provide social media training to students in sixth through eighth grades. Iowa has a Republican trifecta.
• During his State of the State Address on Jan. 14, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) said he would back legislation to restrict cellphones in schools. New Jersey has a Democratic trifecta.
• Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell (D) co-sponsored the STUDY Act on Jan. 17. The legislation would limit cell phones during the school day, set standards for social media companies, and require schools to educate students on social media. Massachusetts has a Democratic trifecta. 

Seven states have passed laws or policies banning or limiting cell phones in schools. Six states passed such laws in 2024, and five others issued guidance encouraging districts to do so. In 2023, Florida became the first state to pass a law limiting cell phone use in K-12 public schools. 

In addition to the states shown in the map above, Minnesota passed a law in 2024 requiring schools to create and implement policies around cell phone usage by March 15, 2025. The law does not require schools to take any particular approach.  

Officials have also considered cell phone use policies at the district level. 

• The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) board voted 5-2 in 2024 to prohibit students from accessing cell phones during the school day. The LAUSD is the second-largest district in the country, with over half a million students. 
• In 2024, New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) supported banning phones in New York City schools but ultimately backed away from the proposal, saying, “We’re not there yet. We want to make sure we have parents on board.” New York City Public Schools is the largest district in the country. 

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