Author

Marielle Bricker

Marielle Bricker is a staff writer at Ballotpedia. Contact us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Eight state supreme court vacancies announced by mid-March 2023

By Marielle Bricker
In State
March 21, 2023 at 6:20 PM

As of March 14, there have been eight state supreme court vacancies or vacancy announcements in 2023 for judges whose replacements are chosen via appointment instead of election. Alaska, California, North Dakota, and Tennessee each have one state supreme court vacancy. Delaware and Missouri each have two state supreme court vacancies.

Two judges vacated their seats after being appointed to different offices. The remaining six judges retired or plan to retire in 2023. Two vacancies have been filled, and two appointments have been made but the replacement judges have not yet taken office. The remaining four vacancies have not yet been filled.

Three vacancies are in states where a Democratic governor makes the appointment. Five vacancies are in states where a Republican governor makes the appointment.

From 2019 to 2022, there were 89 state supreme vacancies for judges whose replacements are chosen via appointment instead of election. The vacancies were created when five judges were appointed to different offices, 79 judges retired, four judges died, and one judge lost a retention election. During those years, 37 vacancies were filled by a Democratic governor, 48 vacancies were filled by a Republican governor or Republican-controlled state legislature, and four vacancies were filled by a nonpartisan state supreme court.

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Two cities added to Ballotpedia’s coverage scope following 2020 census

By Marielle Bricker
In Uncategorized
February 25, 2022 at 2:49 PM

Ballotpedia provides comprehensive coverage of all elections within the 100 largest cities in the United State based on population. Following the 2020 census, two cities—Spokane, Washington, and Santa Clarita, California—entered the top 100 and another two cities—San Bernardino, California, and Birmingham, Alabama—did not make the cut. As a result, Ballotpedia has added coverage of Spokane and Santa Clarita, although we plan to continue our existing coverage of San Bernardino and Birmingham as well.

Within the top 100 cities, Irvine in California saw the largest change in rank, jumping 19 spots up from the 84th-largest city based on population in 2013 to the 65th-largest in 2020. Irvine experienced the 11th-largest increase in population between 2015 and 2020 of any city in the top 100.

Between 2015 and 2020, 80 of the cities saw their population increase. The city with the largest increase was New York, which added 377,447 people since 2015 to reach its 2020 population of 8,804,190. New York maintained its rank as the largest city in the United States by population.

Detroit had the largest decrease, losing 50,963 people from 2015 to 2020. Detroit went from the 19th-largest city in the country to the 26th-largest city with a total population of 639,111 in 2020 according to the census.

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First 2022 state supreme court vacancy announced

By Marielle Bricker
In State
September 9, 2021 at 9:17 AM

Wyoming State Supreme Court Justice Michael K. Davis is retiring on Jan. 16, 2022, upon reaching the state court’s mandatory retirement age of 70 years. The vacancy created by Davis’ retirement is the first state supreme court vacancy to be announced for 2022. Davis’ replacement will be Governor Mark Gordon’s (R) first nominee to the five-member supreme court.

Under Wyoming law, justices of the Wyoming Supreme Court are selected through the assisted appointment method. When a vacancy occurs, the governor appoints a replacement from a list of three names provided by a nominating commission. Newly appointed judges serve for at least one year, after which they must stand for retention in the next general election. If retained, a judge will finish the remainder of his or her predecessor’s unexpired term. Subsequent terms last eight years.

Davis first became a member of the Wyoming Supreme Court when he was appointed by Gov. Matt Mead (R) on Aug. 30, 2012, to succeed Michael Golden. Davis previously served as a judge on the First District Court in Laramie County, Wyoming. From 1980 to 2008, he was a partner at Yonkee and Toner. He has also been a judicial fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Following Davis’ retirement, the Wyoming Supreme Court will include the following members:

  1. Lynne Boomgaarden, appointed by Gov. Matt Mead (R) in 2017
  2. Kate M. Fox, appointed by Mead (R) in 2013
  3. Keith G. Kautz, appointed by Mead (R) in 2015
  4. Kari Gray, appointed by Mead (R) in 2018

In 2021, there have been 16 court vacancies in 14 of the 29 states where replacement justices are appointed instead of elected, as of Sept. 8. The vacancies have been caused by retirements.

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Maine House District 86 filing deadline passed Sept. 1

By Marielle Bricker
In State
September 3, 2021 at 2:24 PM

Candidates interested in running in the special election for Maine House of Representatives District 86 had until Sept. 1 to file. The general election is scheduled for Nov. 2. Raegan LaRochelle (D) and James Orr (R) are competing for the seat.

The special election was called after Justin Fecteau (R) left office on July 4 due to moving outside the district. Fecteau served from 2018 to 2021. 

As of September, 58 state legislative special elections have been scheduled for 2021 in 20 states. Between 2011 and 2020, an average of 75 special elections took place each year. Maine has held 15 state legislative special elections from 2010 to 2020.

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Colorado school district filing deadline is this week

By Marielle Bricker
In State
August 24, 2021 at 10:20 AM

The filing deadline to run for election to Colorado school boards is on Aug. 27. Ballotpedia is covering prospective candidates who file to run in the following school districts:

  1. Academy School District 20
  2. Adams 12 Five Star Schools
  3. Aurora Public Schools
  4. Bennett School District
  5. Cherry Creek School District
  6. Cheyenne Mountain School District 12
  7. Colorado Springs School District 11
  8. Denver Public Schools
  9. Douglas County School District
  10. Falcon School District 49
  11. Harrison School District Two
  12. Jeffco Public Schools
  13. Manitou Springs School District 14
  14. School District 27J
  15. St. Vrain Valley School District
  16. Widefield School District 3

The general election is scheduled for Nov. 2.

These 16 school districts served a combined total of 533,272 students during the 2016-2017 school year. 

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Eight of nine Birmingham City Schools seats on the ballot Aug. 24

By Marielle Bricker
In Local
August 15, 2021 at 9:53 AM

The general election for Birmingham City Schools in Alabama is on Aug. 24. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, the two candidates with the most votes will advance to the general runoff election scheduled for Oct. 5. The filing deadline to run passed on July 10.

Candidates filed for all nine seats on the Birmingham Board of Education. The District 7 race was canceled, and incumbent Walter Wilson was declared re-elected without appearing on the ballot. Wilson won election to the seat in a special election earlier this year. All eight remaining districts will appear on the ballot.

Three incumbents did not file for re-election, meaning one-third of the school board seats are guaranteed to go to newcomers. Four seats will not go to a runoff election because two candidates filed, meaning one candidate will receive a majority of the vote in the general election. Of the remaining four seats, three have three candidates competing, and one has four candidates on the ballot.

By comparison, five incumbents did not seek re-election when the board was last up for election in 2017. After one incumbent was defeated, six seats, or two-thirds of the board, went to newcomers. Five races were decided in runoff elections.

Birmingham City Schools served 23,777 students during the 2017-2018 school year.

Additional reading:

Birmingham City Schools, Alabama

Birmingham City Schools elections (2017)



Primaries held in four states on Aug. 3

By Marielle Bricker
In State
August 6, 2021 at 2:44 PM

Ballotpedia covered primaries in Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, and Washington on Aug. 3. On the ballot were two state Senate special primaries and regular mayoral, city, and county primaries.

Democratic and Republican primaries were held for Michigan State Senate Districts 8 and 28. Both elections were called after the previous incumbents, Peter Lucido (R) and Peter MacGregor (R), were elected to county seats in the general election on Nov. 3, 2020. The general special elections for both districts will be held on Nov. 2.

Partisan primaries were held for three city council seats in Tucson, Ariz. Only Democratic candidates appeared on the ballot after no candidates filed to be on the ballot in the Republican primary. Candidates advanced to the general election on Nov. 2.

Nonpartisan primaries were held for mayors and city councils in Detroit; Seattle; Lansing, Mich.; and Topeka, Kan. Also on the ballot were nonpartisan city council primaries in Olympia, Wash. and Wichita, Kan. and county seats in King County, Wash. The primary winners are set to appear on the general election ballot on Nov. 2.

Additional reading:

Arizona elections, 2021

Kansas elections, 2021

Michigan elections, 2021

Washington elections, 2021



Two races to be decided in Aug. 3 primary in Topeka, Kan.

By Marielle Bricker
In Local
August 2, 2021 at 12:07 PM

The nonpartisan primary for Kansas’ capital city, Topeka, is on Aug. 3. Candidates are competing to advance to the general election scheduled for Nov. 2. The filing deadline to run passed on June 1.

Candidates filed for mayor and Districts 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 of the city council. Mayor Michelle De La Isla is not seeking re-election. Five candidates filed to replace her: Daniel Brown, Leo Cangiani, Patrick Klick, John Lauer, and Mike Padilla.

Municipal primaries in Kansas are canceled if three or fewer candidates file for each seat. District 3 is the only city council district to appear on the primary ballot after five candidates filed for the seat; all other city council seats automatically advanced to the general election.

Ballotpedia comprehensively covers the 100 largest cities in the United States by population. Our coverage also includes mayors, city councils, and district attorneys in the 32 state capitals that are not already part of our largest cities coverage. Please note that there may be more offices on the ballot in this capital city than those listed above. 

Ballotpedia is also covering the primaries in Wichita, Kan., scheduled for the same day.

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Candidate filing deadline for school board positions in Ohio is Aug. 4

By Marielle Bricker
In Local
July 27, 2021 at 10:58 AM

Candidates interested in running for their local school board in Ohio have until Aug. 4 to file, unless the district held a primary earlier in the year. The general election is scheduled for Nov. 2, and new board members will take office on Jan. 1, 2022.

Ballotpedia is covering elections in 20 Ohio school districts in 2021. Columbus City Schools’ filing deadline was Feb. 3. The remaining 19 districts are:

  • Berea City School District
  • Canal Winchester Local School District
  • Cincinnati Public Schools
  • Dublin City Schools
  • Euclid City School District
  • Gahanna-Jefferson City School District
  • Groveport-Madison Local School District
  • Hamilton Local School District
  • Hilliard City Schools
  • Maumee City School District
  • New Albany-Plain Local School District
  • Olentangy Local School District
  • Pickerington Local School District
  • South-Western City Schools
  • Sylvania City School District
  • Toledo Public Schools
  • Washington Local School District
  • Westerville City School District
  • Worthington Schools

These 19 school districts served a combined total of 220,070 students during the 2016-2017 school year. 

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Dane County holds special election July 13

By Marielle Bricker
In Local
July 12, 2021 at 11:43 AM

The special election for Dane County Board of Supervisors District 19 in Wisconsin is on July 13, 2021. A primary was scheduled for June 15, but it was not needed. The filing deadline to run passed on May 21. Two candidates, Kristen Morris and Timothy Rockwell, are on the ballot.

The special election became necessary when Teran Peterson resigned from the board on April 30 after moving out of the district.

The District 19 race is the third special election to the Dane County Board of Supervisors since the board’s last regular election on April 7, 2020. A fourth special election to the board will be held for District 20 on Aug. 10. All 37 board of supervisor seats will be up for regular election in April 2022.

Dane County had a population of 516,284 in 2014, according to the United States Census Bureau. 

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