Author: Mercedes Yanora

  • State supreme courts issue 6,722 opinions in 2023, fewer than 2022 and 2021

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    State supreme courts issued 6,722 opinions in 2023. The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia led the field with 528 opinions issued, followed by Texas with 446 and Delaware with 435. In comparison, state supreme courts issued 7,423 opinions in 2022 and 8,320 opinions in 2021. State supreme courts issued an average of 129…

  • Nation’s governors issue 1,514 executive orders in 2023, fewer than 2022

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    The nation’s governors issued 1,514 executive orders in 2023. In comparison, they issued 1,575 executive orders in 2022. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) led the field with 525, followed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) with 242 and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) with 145. Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) issued the fewest…

  • What’s next for a possible abortion ballot measure in Florida

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, January 10, Brew.  By: Mercedes Yanora Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: What’s next for a possible abortion ballot measure in Florida Floridians Protecting Freedom has submitted 911,169 valid signatures to place an initiative on the November 2024 ballot that would provide a constitutional right to…

  • Race for California’s Class I U.S. Senate seat begins to take shape

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    Twenty-nine candidates are running in the top-two primary for U.S. Senate in California on March 5, 2024. The primary will determine which two candidates will run in the state’s general election on Nov. 5, 2024. Incumbent Laphonza Butler (D) announced she would not run for re-election on Oct. 19, 2023. Governor Gavin Newsom (D) appointed Butler to…

  • Republican primary for Alabama’s 1st Congressional District to feature two incumbents: Jerry Carl and Barry Moore

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    Incumbents Jerry Carl (R) and Barry Moore (R) are running in the Republican primary on March 5, 2024, for Alabama’s 1st Congressional District. The election became an incumbent vs. incumbent primary following the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama’s approval of new congressional districts on Oct. 5, 2023. The new map redistricted…

  • Legislatures enacted 45 bills related to direct democracy in 2023 — exceeding the previous 5-year average of 32

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, January 3, Brew.  By: Mercedes Yanora  Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Legislatures enacted 45 bills related to direct democracy in 2023 — exceeding the previous 5-year average of 32 State legislatures enacted 45 bills and resolutions on ballot initiatives, referendums, and recalls in 2023. The…

  • Nearly half of seats in Kansas’ school board elections uncontested in 2023

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, December 20, Brew.  By: Mercedes Yanora Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Nearly half of seats in Kansas’ school board elections uncontested in 2023 Ballotpedia covered every school board election in seven states on Nov. 7: Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington. We’re continuing…

  • State governors issue 48 executive orders from Nov. 27-Dec. 10

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    State governors issued 48 executive orders from Nov. 27-Dec. 10. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) led the field with 25, followed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) with 13. Governors in 41 states issued the fewest orders with zero. Governors use executive orders to manage executive branch operations. The 48 account for 3% of the…

  • The next state in our series of school board elections analyses – Ohio

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, December 13, Brew.  By: Mercedes Yanora Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: The next state in our series of school board elections analyses – Ohio Ballotpedia covered every school board election in seven states on Nov. 7: Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington. We’re…

  • Seven new candidates declare in Texas

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    Ballotpedia tracked seven new state-level candidates in Texas between Nov. 27-Dec. 3. This was two more candidates than the prior week.  Four of those candidates are Democrats and three are Republicans. The seven candidates are running for the state legislature in 2024. Details on five of these candidates are below: Since the beginning of the…