Author: Ellen Morrissey

  • Pennsylvania Supreme Court enacts new congressional map

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    The Pennsylvania Supreme Court selected a new congressional district map, officially enacting that map as part of the post-2020 redistricting process on Feb. 23. Pennsylvania was apportioned 17 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, one fewer than it received after the 2010 census. This map will take effect for Pennsylvania’s…

  • Confirmation votes for SCOTUS justices appointed since 1967

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    President Joe Biden (D) said that he will name his nominee to replace Justice Stephen Breyer on the United States Supreme Court by the end of February. Whoever the nominee is, they are set to be the first to require confirmation from a United States Senate divided 50-50. Since 1967, when the U.S. Senate held…

  • Pennsylvania enacts new legislative maps

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    Pennsylvania enacted new state legislative districts on Feb. 4, 2022, when the Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission voted to approve new maps. The maps will take effect for Pennsylvania’s 2022 state legislative elections. The commission approved the maps in a single 4-1 vote. House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R) voted no, while Senate Majority Leader Kim…

  • Four states to end school mask mandates

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    Governors or agencies in four states announced they would end their school mask mandates on Feb. 7 New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) became the first governor to lift a statewide school mask requirement during the 2021-2022 school year. The requirement is set to end on March 7. New Jersey has required masks in school…

  • New York enacts new congressional and legislative maps

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    New York enacted new congressional and legislative districts on Feb. 3, 2022, when Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed legislatively approved proposals into law. New York was apportioned 26 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, one fewer than it received after the 2010 census. The congressional and legislative maps will take…

  • Year-End campaign finance reports show NRCC outraised DCCC in December for the first time in five months

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    Six party committees raised a combined $792 million in 2021. In December, the committees raised $76 million, according to recent filings with the Federal Election Commission. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) raised $11.2 million and spent $8.5 million in December, while the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) raised $10.1 million and spent $4.6 million.…

  • Rhode Island Reapportionment Commission approves new guidelines for counting of incarcerated individuals

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    On Jan. 5, 2022, the Rhode Island Reapportionment Commission voted 15-1 to approve new guidelines concerning the counting of incarcerated individuals for the purpose of redistricting. Under the new rules, people incarcerated for less than two years will be counted as residents of their former residences in future General Assembly and Congressional map drafts. Previously,…

  • New Mexico enacts new state Senate map

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    On Jan. 6, 2022, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) signed a new state Senate map into law, which will take effect for New Mexico’s 2022 legislative elections. The New Mexico State Senate voted 25-13 to approve the map on Dec. 16, 2021, and the New Mexico House of Representatives approved the map 38-22…

  • Connecticut Supreme Court appoints special master to assist in congressional redistricting

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    The Connecticut Supreme Court appointed Nathaniel Persily, a Stanford University law professor, as a special master to assist it in the congressional redistricting process on Dec. 23, 2021. On Dec. 28, the court rejected a request from the Republican members of the Connecticut Reapportionment Commission asking the court to select a different special master or…

  • New Mexico enacts new state House map

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    On Dec. 29, 2021, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) signed a new state House map into law, which will take effect for New Mexico’s 2022 legislative elections. The New Mexico House of Representatives voted 43-23 to approve the map on Dec. 10, and the New Mexico State Senate approved the map 24-13 on…