Author: Janie Valentine

  • Ballotpedia’s review of the top 10 races in 2019

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    Here’s what happened in the top 10 races we watched in November 2019, including races for state executive and legislative offices, municipal elections, and statewide ballot measures.   Governors:   Kentucky: Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear (D) defeated Gov. Matt Bevin (R) and John Hicks (L) in Kentucky’s gubernatorial election. Beshear’s victory meant that Kentucky…

  • Republicans win 68-35 majority in Louisiana House, two seats short of a veto-proof supermajority

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    Republicans secured a 68-35 majority with two independent members in the November 16 general election, after maintaining their majority in the Louisiana House of Representatives during the October 12 primaries. Heading into the primaries, Republicans held a 60-39 majority with five independent members and one vacancy in a seat previously held by a Republican. The 2019…

  • National Democratic Redistricting Committee contributes $300,000 to Louisiana races ahead of Saturday elections

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    The House Democratic Campaign Committee of Louisiana reported a $100,000 contribution from the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC) in a report filed on November 2. The NDRC also contributed $100,000 each to the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee of Louisiana and Louisiana Democrats.   The NDRC is a 527 group chaired by former U.S. Attorney General…

  • New York senator introduces bill to allow felons to vote while incarcerated. What are your state’s rules?

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    Sen. Kevin Parker (D) introduced a bill in the New York State Senate on October 30 that would allow felons to vote while incarcerated. If passed, the bill would make New York the third state allowing inmates to vote, along with Maine and Vermont.   Voting rights for convicted felons vary substantially from state to…

  • Thirteen candidates vie for Houston ISD school board seats on Nov. 5

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    Four out of nine school board seats in the Houston Independent School District (HISD) are up for election on November 5. Thirteen candidates are running:   – District II (open seat): Katherine Blueford-Daniels, Jevon German, John Gibbs Sr., Cristin Moses, and Chloe Veal are running. – District III: Incumbent Sergio Lira and Daniela Hernandez are…

  • General election for Louisiana House of Representatives will determine whether Republicans secure veto-proof majorities in House and Senate

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    Heading into the Nov. 16 general election, Republicans are seven seats short of a 70-seat supermajority in the Louisiana House of Representatives.   Louisiana has a two-round electoral system, sometimes referred to as a jungle primary or majority electoral system. All candidates, regardless of party affiliation, face off in the primary election. If a candidate…

  • Commission on Presidential Debates announces 2020 general election debate schedule

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    The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) announced the dates of three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate for the 2020 general election. The CPD has sponsored every presidential and vice presidential general election debate since 1988.   Presidential debates are scheduled for the following dates in 2020: September 29 at the University of Notre…

  • Plastic bag ban preemption conflict ongoing in Florida

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    Preemption occurs when law at a higher level of government is used to overrule authority at a lower level of government. A recent sequence of events in Florida provides an example of the conflict that can emerge between state and local governments over the idea of preemption.   In August 2019, the Florida Third District Court…

  • School board elections happening amidst uncertainty in Houston, Texas

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    Four out of nine seats on the Houston Independent School District (HISD) board of education are up for general election on November 5, 2019. Heading into the election, the HISD school board faces the possibility of being replaced by a state-appointed board of managers. If the state appoints a board of managers, elected school board…

  • Half of the 50 largest cities in the U.S. have adopted local climate action plans

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    Half of the 50 largest cities in the U.S. by population have adopted local climate action plans. These plans include goals like community-wide and municipal operations greenhouse gas reduction and renewable energy use, mostly with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.   Opponents say that such plans increase living costs and cause economic harm.…