Author: Janie Valentine
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Tracking mayoral partisanship in 2023
Forty mayoral elections are taking place in the 100 largest U.S. cities by population and the 50 state capitals in 2023. Ballotpedia has tracked the partisan affiliation of the mayors of the 100 largest U.S. cities since 2016, and we’ve tracked the partisan affiliation of state capital mayors since 2021. Of the 40 cities with…
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U.S. district judge strikes two Indiana laws affecting teachers union members
On March 30, Senior U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker struck down two Indiana laws passed in 2021 and 2022 that allowed teachers to resign from their union at any time and required annual authorization of union dues deductions. Barker wrote: “Here, SEA 251 and SEA 297 single out a specific group—union-supporting teachers—to subject to additional procedural requirements in order…
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Four states advance bills prohibiting union dues deductions
Four states have recently advanced Republican-sponsored bills prohibiting union dues deductions for certain public-sector employees. Here’s what those bills say and where they stand. Arkansas Arkansas lawmakers delivered Senate Bill 473 to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) on April 7 after the House passed the bill on April 6. SB 473 states: “A school district board of directors…
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Union Station: Four states advance bills prohibiting public-sector union dues deductions
In today’s Union Station: A look at bills advanced in four states to prohibit public-sector employers from deducting union dues from employee wages, A U.S. district judge strikes two Indiana laws affecting teachers union members, and Three public-sector union cases we’re watching at the Supreme Court. And as always, a rundown of every action taken…
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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) signs labor bill package, repealing Michigan’s right-to-work law
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) signed three labor policy bills on March 24, including a bill repealing the state’s 2012 right-to-work law. Votes for all three Democratic-sponsored bills were along party lines. Right-to-work is a term used to describe state laws prohibiting an employer from entering into a collective bargaining agreement that requires employees to financially…
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Protasiewicz, Kelly advance to April general election for Wisconsin Supreme Court
Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Janet Protasiewicz and former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly advanced from the nonpartisan primary for Wisconsin Supreme Court on Feb. 21, 2023, defeating Waukesha County Circuit Judge Jennifer Dorow and Dane County Circuit Judge Everett Mitchell. With 99% of votes counted, Protasiewicz had received 46.4% of the vote, and Kelly…
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Wisconsin Supreme Court primary less than three weeks away
The top two vote-getters in the Feb. 21 nonpartisan primary for Wisconsin Supreme Court will advance to a general election on April 4. Waukesha County Circuit Judge Jennifer Dorow, former Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly, Dane County Circuit Judge Everett Mitchell, and Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Janet Protasiewicz are running. Justice Patience Roggensack, whose term…
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Union Station: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) says he favors legislation prohibiting paycheck deductions for teachers union dues
Note: The next edition of Union Station will be on Jan. 6, 2023. Until then, happy holidays! Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) says he favors legislation prohibiting paycheck deductions for teachers union dues Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) spoke in favor of legislation that would prohibit paycheck deductions for teachers union dues in a speech…
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Former justice, three circuit court judges vying for open seat on Wisconsin Supreme Court
Jennifer Dorow, Daniel Kelly, Everett Mitchell, and Janet Protasiewicz are running in the nonpartisan primary for an open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court on Feb. 21, 2023. The filing deadline is Jan. 3. A nonpartisan general election will be held on April 4. Justice Patience Roggensack’s term will expire on July 31, 2023. Roggensack…