Author: Dave Beaudoin
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Kunselman, McCaffery running in May 16 Democratic primary for Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Deborah Kunselman and Daniel McCaffery are running in the Democratic primary for one judgeship on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on May 16. The winner will face the Republican nominee—either Patricia McCullough or Carolyn Tornetta Carluccio—in the general election on Nov. 7. The filing deadline for the primary was March 7. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is…
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North Carolina Supreme Court vacates state’s congressional, legislative maps
In a 5-2 decision on April 28, 2023, the North Carolina Supreme Court overturned a 2022 decision that the state’s enacted congressional and legislative maps were unconstitutional due to partisan gerrymandering. The court vacated the maps the legislature enacted in 2021 and the remedial maps used for the 2022 elections. In its ruling, the court…
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New York adopts revised State Assembly districts
New York enacted new State Assembly district boundaries on April 24, 2023, when Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed legislation establishing them for use starting with the 2024 elections. The State Assembly passed the bill earlier that day by a vote of 132-13, and it passed the state Senate by a vote of 59-1. The New…
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Nine candidates running in Democratic primary for mayor of Philadelphia
Nine candidates are running in the Democratic primary for mayor of Philadelphia on May 16, 2023. The winner will face David Oh—the only candidate who ran for the Republican nomination—in the general election on Nov. 7. Incumbent Jim Kenney (D), who was first elected mayor in 2015 and re-elected in 2019, is term-limited. Asha Prihar,…
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U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear challenge to Kansas’ congressional map
The U.S. Supreme Court announced on March 27 that it had denied certiorari in Alonzo v. Schwab, a lawsuit regarding Kansas’ congressional district boundaries. The Court did not release the vote results on the matter, and there were no published dissents to the decision. The Supreme Court’s action closes the case, which was the state’s only…
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Moore v. Harper petitioners, respondents submit briefs regarding SCOTUS’ next steps after North Carolina’s highest court re-hears case
The parties in Moore v. Harper filed supplemental briefs with the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) on March 20 at SCOTUS’ request after the North Carolina Supreme Court announced it would re-hear the case. Joseph Ax at Reuters wrote, “If the justices decide they no longer have jurisdiction, they could dismiss the case without issuing a ruling.” Moore…
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North Carolina Supreme Court re-hears case regarding state’s congressional districts
The North Carolina Supreme Court re-heard oral arguments on March 14 in Moore v. Harper, a lawsuit brought by North Carolina House Speaker Timothy K. Moore (R) challenging the state’s congressional district boundaries enacted after the 2020 census. The state’s supreme court had ruled 4-3 in February 2022 that the congressional boundaries the Republican-controlled legislature adopted…
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Ballotpedia determines trifecta status could change in four states in 2023 elections
Three states are holding gubernatorial elections in 2023, and four states are holding regularly scheduled legislative elections in eight of the country’s 99 state legislative chambers. As a result, five states’ trifecta status is at stake this year: Mississippi—one of 22 states with a Republican trifecta, New Jersey—one of 17 states with a Democratic trifecta,…
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Democrats will have one-vote majority in Pennsylvania House of Representatives after state legislator resigns
Pennsylvania State Rep. Mike Zabel (D) announced on March 8 that he would resign from the legislature on March 16. Earlier this month, three women—State Rep. Abby Major (R), Zabel’s former campaign manager, and a lobbyist—each accused Zabel of sexually harassing them in separate incidents over the past several years. In a series of text…
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Montana becomes last state to enact legislative districting boundaries after the 2020 census
Montana enacted new legislative district boundaries on Feb. 22 when the Montana Districting & Apportionment Commission submitted its final plan to the secretary of state. The maps will take effect for Montana’s 2024 state legislative elections. The commission had voted 3-2 to approve its final plan on Feb. 11. The commission’s nonpartisan chairperson, Maylinn Smith,…