Author: Ellen Morrissey

  • Hawaii lifts last statewide school mask requirement in the nation

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    On August 1, 2022, Hawaii lifted its statewide school mask requirement, making it the final state in the nation to do so. The Hawaii Department of Health announced the change on July 12. Thirty-five states required masks in schools at some point since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some requirements specifically covered schools, while…

  • Biden White House has 474 employees, according to annual report

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    Photo of the White House in Washington, D.C.

    On July, 1, 2022, the White House released its annual report to Congress on personnel, which details White House staff members and their salaries.  The Biden White House includes 474 staff members according to the report. Sixty-three staff members are detailees temporarily assigned to the White House from another agency or department. The other 411…

  • New York’s 23rd Congressional District Republican primary features former gubernatorial nominee, state party chairman

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    Nicholas A. Langworthy and Carl Paladino are running in New York’s 23rd Congressional District Republican primary on August 23, 2022. Incumbent Rep. Christopher Jacobs (R) withdrew from the primary on June 3. Spectrum News 1’s Ryan Whalen wrote, “The election opened up […] when Rep. Chris Jacobs dropped out of the race. Jacobs faced immense pressure from…

  • Seventeen candidates running in New York’s 10th Congressional District Democratic primary

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    Seventeen candidates are running in New York’s 10th Congressional District Democratic primary on August 23, 2022. Candidates receiving significant media attention are U.S. Rep. Mondaire Jones, who was elected in 2020 to represent the 17th District and is running in the 10th after redistricting; former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio; prosecutor Daniel Goldman;…

  • President Joe Biden’s approval at 39%, the lowest of his presidency thus far

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    Recent polling averages show President Joe Biden’s (D) approval rating at 39% as of June 30, the lowest of his presidency thus far. Fifty-six percent of voters disapprove of his performance. Biden first received this rating earlier in the month on June 13. At the end of May, his approval rating was at 40%. The…

  • Darren Bailey wins Republican nomination for governor of Illinois

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    Photo of the Illinois State Capitol building

    Darren Bailey defeated Richard Irvin, Jesse Sullivan, and three other candidates in the Republican primary for governor of Illinois on June 28, 2022.  Bailey is a state senator and farmer who was first elected to office in 2020. A campaign ad said, “In Springfield, Darren stood up for working families and fought against every single…

  • National Republican Senatorial Committee reports highest monthly disbursements of the 2022 election cycle

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    Six party committees raised a combined $1.2 billion in the first seventeen months of the 2022 election cycle. In May, the committees raised $66 million, according to recent filings with the Federal Election Commission. Here’s a closer look at May’s fundraising numbers: In May, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) raised $11.9 million and spent…

  • Four candidates running in the Republican primary for governor of Maryland

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    Four candidates are running in the Republican primary for governor of Maryland on July 19, 2022. Incumbent Governor Larry Hogan (R) was term-limited and could not run for re-election. As of June 2022, Dan Cox and Kelly Schulz led the primary field in endorsements and media attention. Cox is an attorney and currently serves in…

  • Sam Peters wins Republican primary in Nevada’s 4th Congressional District

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    Sam Peters defeated Annie Black and Chance Bonaventura in the June 14 Republican primary for Nevada’s 4th Congressional District. Peters will face incumbent Rep. Steven Horsford (D) in the general election. The Democratic primary was canceled since Horsford was the only candidate to file in the race. Inside Elections and Sabato’s Crystal Ball rated the…

  • Karen Bass, Rick Caruso advance to general in Los Angeles mayoral election

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    Karen Bass and Rick Caruso advanced from the nonpartisan primary for mayor of Los Angeles, California, on June 7, 2022. Since neither candidate received more than 50% of the vote, the two will participate in a November 8 general election. Incumbent Mayor Eric Garcetti could not run for re-election due to term limits. Since 1933,…