Author: Joel Williams
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Biden issues no pardons or commutations through Sept. 30
From his inauguration through Sept. 30, President Joe Biden (D) issued no pardons or commutations. Since 1902, the other presidents not to issue a pardon or commutation in that same window of time were Barack Obama (D), George W. Bush (R), Bill Clinton (D), and Richard Nixon (R). Bush and Clinton did not issue a…
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Nine state legislative seats changed party hands on Nov. 2
On Nov. 2, 2021, control of at least nine state legislative seats flipped from one political party to another. Eight of those seats flipped from Democratic to Republican control and the other flipped from Republican to Democratic control. There are 14 outstanding races still to be called, so these numbers could still change. The nine…
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Seven incumbents lose in state legislative elections on Nov. 2, bringing the total for the year to 15
At least seven state legislative incumbents lost their re-election campaigns on Nov. 2, 2021. All seven of those legislators were Democrats—five in Virginia and two in New Jersey. This brings the total number of incumbents defeated in the 2021 elections to 15. Incumbents ran in 203 of the 220 state legislative elections this year, meaning…
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Democrats lose majority in Virginia House
Based on unofficial returns with four races still uncalled, Republicans have won control of at least 50 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates. The 100-seat chamber will either be split 50-50 or Republicans will have a majority at the start of the 2022 legislative session. Democrats have lost at least five seats in the…
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Republicans gain a triplex in Virginia
Virginia will have a Republican triplex as a result of the 2021 state executive elections. It entered the election with a Democratic triplex. A political party has triplex control in a state when it holds the offices of governor, attorney general, and secretary of state. Glenn Youngkin (R) defeated Terry McAuliffe (D) in the election…
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Jeffco County Education Association-backed slate wins election to Jeffco Public Schools in Colorado
The District 1, 2, and 5 seats on the Jeffco Public Schools school board in Colorado were up for general election on Nov. 2, 2021. Incumbents Brad Rupert (District 1), Susan Harmon (District 2), and Ron Mitchell (District 5) did not run for re-election. Danielle Varda defeated Jeffrey Wilhite in District 1. Paula Reed defeated David Johnson and Theresa Shelton in District 2. Mary Parker defeated Kathy Miks in District 5. Those victories maintained the board’s 4-1 majority of…
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Challenger defeats two-term incumbent for Des Moines city council seat
On Nov. 2, Indira Dixon Sheumaker defeated Councilman Bill Gray and Marcus Coenen in the general election for the Ward 1 position on the Des Moines, Iowa, City Council. Dixon Sheumaker received 46.4 of the vote while Gray received 36.3% and Coenen received 16.8%. Gray was first elected to the council in 2014. According to WHO13,…
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Republicans flip TX HD 118 in special election on Nov. 2
Republicans picked up a seat in the Texas House of Representatives on Nov. 2. In a special general runoff election in District 118, John Lujan (R) defeated Frank Ramirez (D) 51.2 percent to 48.8 percent. Once Lujan is sworn in, Republicans will hold an 84-66 majority in the chamber. District 118 is located in San…
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Pureval wins Cincinnati mayoral election
Hamilton County Clerk of Courts Aftab Pureval defeated Cincinnati Councilman and former mayor David Mann in the general election for mayor of Cincinnati on November 2, 2021. Pureval received 66 percent of the vote and Mann received 34 percent of the vote. Pureval will serve a four-year term. The two advanced from a six-person primary…
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Bovo wins primary for mayor of Hialeah
Esteban “Steve” Bovo Jr. defeated Isis Garcia-Martinez, Fernando Godo, Julio Martinez, and Juan Santana in a nonpartisan primary election for mayor of Hialeah, Florida on November 2, 2021. With 88 percent of precincts reporting, Bovo received 59 percent of the vote, meaning he won outright. If no candidate had received a majority of the votes,…