Author: Samuel Wonacott

  • Hall Pass: Your Ticket to Understanding School Board Politics, Edition #47

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    Welcome to Hall Pass, a newsletter written to keep you plugged into the conversations driving school board politics and governance. In today’s edition, you’ll find: On the issues:  The debate over Florida’s decision to ban an AP African American studies course School board filing deadlines, election results, and recall certifications 240 school districts have boards…

  • 30 governors have given 2023 State of the State addresses

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    Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Thirty governors have given their State of the State addresses so far  Pennsylvania House adjourns, package of constitutional amendments won’t appear on the May ballot  Subscribe to Hall Pass to stay up to date on school board politics and education policy  Have a minute…

  • An early look at certified 2024 measures

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    Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: California and New York certify measures for 2024 related to fast-food working conditions, Equal Protection Clause Tallying error in Oakland, Calif., led to inaccurate election results  275 election-related bills introduced in state legislatures last week California and New York certify measures for 2024 related…

  • Five measures certified (so far) in three states for the 2023 ballot

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    Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Five measures certified in three states for the 2023 ballot   Willie Wilson leads Chicago mayoral candidates in fundraising while Mayor Lori Lightfoot leads in spending Learn how school board elections played out in the 2022 midterms with On the Ballot, our weekly podcast Five…

  • Wisconsin voters to decide three ballot measure questions on April 4

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    Welcome to the Monday, January 23, Brew.  By: Samuel Wonacott Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Wisconsin Legislature puts three ballot questions on the April ballot Over the last week, 236 election-related bills were introduced in state legislatures   An update on last week’s additions to the Federal Register Wisconsin Legislature…

  • Recapping 2022’s state legislative special sessions

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, January 18, Brew.  By: Samuel Wonacott Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: A look back at 2022 state legislative special sessions Two veto referendum campaigns and California executive departments disagree on when referendums suspend fast food workers and oil and gas laws Subscribe to Hall Pass…

  • Changes in initiative signature requirements following 2022 election

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    Welcome to the Tuesday, January 17, Brew.  By: Samuel Wonacott Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Signatures required for ballot initiatives decreased by 7.34% on average following the 2022 election The average margin of victory was higher in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House than in 2020  Over the last…

  • Special elections to fill three vacancies in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives scheduled for February 7

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    Special elections to fill vacancies in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Districts 32, 34, and 35 are scheduled for February 7, 2023. The Allegheny County Democratic Party voted to nominate the District 32 candidate on December 11 and the District 34 and 35 candidates on December 17. The Republican Committee of Allegheny County nominated the…

  • Rouse defeats Adams in special general election for Virginia State Senate District 7

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    Aaron Rouse (D) defeated Kevin Adams (R) in the January 10, 2023, special general election for Virginia State Senate District 7. Rouse’s victory gave Democrats a 22-18 majority in the state Senate. The special election was called after the previous incumbent, Sen. Jennifer Kiggans (R), resigned on November 15, 2022, after being elected to represent…

  • State Supreme Court balance at stake in Wisconsin

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, January 11, Brew.  By: Samuel Wonacott Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Former justice, three circuit court judges vying for open seat on Wisconsin Supreme Court A recent history of minority party and coalition control of state legislative chambers Biden currently leads PredictIt’s 2024 presidential general…