Category2022 elections

A look at contested state legislative primaries in Wyoming

By Douglas Kronaizl
In 2022 elections
July 13, 2022 at 2:33 PM

Wyoming has 48 contested state legislative primaries this year, 31% of the total number of possible primaries, and a 4% increase from 2020.

A primary is contested when more candidates file to run than there are nominations available, meaning at least one candidate must lose.

Of the 48 contested primaries, there are two for Democrats and 46 for Republicans. For Democrats, this is down from six in 2020, a 67% decrease. For Republicans, the number increased 15% from 40 in 2020.

Twenty-eight primaries feature an incumbent, representing 49% of all incumbents who filed for re-election. This is down from 2020, when 31, or 52% of incumbents, faced contested primaries.

All 28 incumbents in contested primaries this year are Republicans. No Democratic incumbents who filed for re-election face a contested primary.

Overall, 168 major party candidates—27 Democrats and 141 Republicans—filed to run. All 62 House districts and 16 of the state’s 31 Senate districts are holding elections. This includes two new House districts and one new Senate district created following redistricting.

Twenty-one of those districts are open, meaning no incumbents filed. This guarantees that at least 23% of the legislature will be represented by newcomers next year.

Wyoming has had a Republican trifecta since 2010 when the party gained control of the governorship. Republicans have controlled both legislative chambers since 1977 and currently hold a 28-2 majority in the Senate and a 51-7 majority in the House with two districts represented by third-party or independent incumbents.

Wyoming’s state legislative primaries are scheduled for August 16, the 14th statewide primary date of the 2022 state legislative election cycle.

Additional reading:

Wyoming State Senate elections

Wyoming House of Representatives elections, 2022



State legislative primaries in Michigan increase compared to recent election cycles

By Douglas Kronaizl
In 2022 elections
July 13, 2022 at 2:26 PM

Michigan has 139 contested state legislative primaries this year, 47% of the total number of possible primaries, the highest rate of contested primaries in the state over the past five election cycles.

A primary is contested when more candidates file to run than there are nominations available, meaning at least one candidate must lose.

The Michigan House holds elections every two years. The Senate holds elections every four years during midterm election cycles.

Of the 139 contested primaries, 58 are for Democrats, and 81 are for Republicans. For Democrats, this is down from 67 in 2018—the last time both chambers held elections—marking a 13% decrease. For Republicans, the number increased 37% from 59 in 2018.

Forty-three primaries feature an incumbent: 18 Democrats and 25 Republicans. This represents 52% of all incumbents who filed for re-election, another high of the past five election cycles.

Overall, 548 major party candidates—256 Democrats and 292 Republicans—filed to run for the state’s 110 House and 38 Senate districts. 

Sixty-seven of those districts are open, guaranteeing that at least 45% of the legislature will be represented by newcomers next year.

Michigan has had a divided government since the election of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) in 2018. Republicans currently hold a 22-16 majority in the Senate and a 56-53 majority in the House with one vacant district.

Michigan’s state legislative primaries are scheduled for August 2, the 11th statewide primary date of the 2022 state legislative election cycle.

Additional reading:

Michigan State Senate elections, 2022

Michigan House of Representatives elections, 2022



Contested state legislative primaries in Ohio increase from 2020

By Douglas Kronaizl
In 2022 elections
July 13, 2022 at 2:17 PM

Ohio has 56 contested state legislative primaries this year, 24% of the total number of possible primaries, and 40% more that the 40 contested primaries in 2020.

A primary is contested when more candidates file to run than there are nominations available, meaning at least one candidate must lose.

Of the 56 contested primaries, there are 23 for Democrats and 33 for Republicans. For Democrats, this is up from 17 in 2020, a 35% increase. For Republicans, the number increased 43% from 23 in 2020.

Twenty-six primaries feature an incumbent: eight Democrats and 18 Republicans. This represents 30% of all incumbents who filed for re-election, the highest rate of incumbents in contested primaries compared of the preceding five election cycles.

Overall, 261 major party candidates—120 Democrats and 141 Republicans—filed to run. All of the state’s 99 House districts and 17 of the 33 Senate districts are holding elections this year.

Thirty-one of those districts are open, guaranteeing that at least 23% of the state legislature will be represented by newcomers next year.

Ohio has had a Republican trifecta since 2010 when the party won control of the governorship and state House. Republicans currently hold a 25-8 majority in the Senate and a 64-35 majority in the House.

Ohio’s state legislative primaries are scheduled for August 2, the 11th statewide primary date of the 2022 state legislative election cycle, and the state’s second statewide primary this year. Voters previously decided state executive and congressional primaries on May 3, with state legislative primaries delayed due to litigation regarding redistricting.

Additional reading:

Ohio State Senate elections, 2022

Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2022



Signatures submitted for abortion rights initiative in Michigan

By Nicole Fisher
In 2022 elections, Ballot measures
July 12, 2022 at 8:26 PM

On July 11, the campaign Reproductive Freedom for All submitted 753,759 signatures for the ballot initiative, which would appear on the ballot in Michigan this November.

In Michigan, the campaign Reproductive Freedom for All submitted 753,759 signatures for a ballot initiative related to abortion rights on July 11. At least 425,059 of the signatures need to be valid.

If enough signatures are verified, Michigan voters will decide on the initiative to create a constitutional right to reproductive freedom in November. The term reproductive freedom would be defined to include “prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, contraception, sterilization, abortion care, miscarriage management, and infertility care.”

The national ACLU and the ACLU of Michigan support the proposal, and are among the top donors to the Reproductive Freedom For All PAC. The ACLU gave $851,905 in both cash and in-kind contributions, while the ACLU Fund of MI and ACLU of Michigan gave $596,318.80 and $179,996.72 in total contributions, respectively.

“The vast majority of Michiganders know that abortion is healthcare: Michigan is on the right side of history as we lead the way with Reproductive Freedom for All and intend to ask Michigan voters on November 8 to protect abortion and reproductive rights in Michigan,” said Loren Khogali, executive director of ACLU of Michigan.

The group opposing the measure, Citizens to Support MI Women and Children, received $108,187.22 in total contributions, and said they will work to convince voters to oppose the measure.

“If they end up on the ballot, we look forward to convincing any of those signers to vote no,” said Christen Pollo of Citizens to Support Michigan Women and Children, “And we believe we will because even those who support abortion aren’t likely to support the things hidden in the amendment text.”

This year, there are currently four other abortion-related measures on the ballot for 2022:

  • California: Proposition 1 would provide that the state cannot “deny or interfere with an individual’s reproductive freedom in their most intimate decisions,” including decisions to have an abortion or to choose or refuse contraceptives.
  • Kansas: The measure would amend the Kansas Constitution to state that nothing in the state constitution creates a right to abortion or requires government funding for abortions. The amendment would also declare that the legislature has the power to pass laws regarding abortion.
  • Kentucky: The measure would amend the Kentucky Constitution to state that nothing in the state constitution creates a right to abortion or requires government funding for abortions.
  • Montana: LR-131 would require medical care be provided to infants born alive after an induced labor, cesarean section, attempted abortion, or another method. The ballot measure would establish a $50,000 fine and/or 20 years in prison as maximum penalties for violating the law.
  • Vermont: Proposal 5 would amend the Vermont Constitution to provide that “an individual’s right to personal reproductive autonomy is central to the liberty and dignity to determine one’s own life course.”

If the initiative is certified for the ballot, it will join at least one other measure currently on the ballot – a constitutional amendment to change term limits requirements for state legislators and financial disclosure requirements for state executive and legislative officials.

Another campaign, Promote the Vote 2022, also submitted signatures on July 11 to qualify an initiative, which would make changes to voting policy in Michigan.

Additional reading:

Michigan 2022 ballot measures



Campaign in North Dakota submits signatures for marijuana legalization initiative

By Jackie Mitchell
In 2022 elections, Ballot measures
July 12, 2022 at 9:35 AM

In North Dakota, a campaign behind a marijuana legalization initiative reported submitting 25,672 signatures on July 11, 2022. New Approach North Dakota Chairman Dave Owen said, “This signature drive showed us that, from Williston to Grand Forks, people all across our state are ready for responsible cannabis policy reform… We’re looking forward to all of our hard work paying off when we receive the official word that we’re on the ballot.” Of the signatures submitted, 15,582 signatures must be valid for the initiative to appear on the ballot in November.

Along with North Dakota, campaigns submitted signatures for marijuana legalization initiatives targeting the November ballot in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.

The measure would legalize the personal use of cannabis for adults 21 and older and allow individuals possess up to one ounce of marijuana and grow up to three cannabis plants. The measure would require the Department of Health and Human Services, or another department or agency designated by the state legislature, to establish an adult-use cannabis program to regulate the production and distribution of adult-use marijuana by October 1, 2023. Under the measure, the department could license seven cultivation facilities and 18 cannabis retailers. Marijuana would be taxed at the state’s 5% sales tax rate.

David Owen was also the chairman of LegalizeND, the committee that sponsored a marijuana legalization initiative that voters rejected in 2018. Owen said that the biggest difference between Measure 3 of 2018 and this initiative is that “[this initiative] is restricted, regulated, controlled, legal marijuana. This is a marijuana program that is very, very similar to the one that passed the North Dakota State House.”

Currently, 19 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized the possession and personal use of marijuana for recreational purposes. Eleven states and D.C. had legalized marijuana through the ballot initiative process.

In North Dakota, a total of 115 ballot measures appeared on the statewide ballot during even-numbered election years between 1986 and 2020. Fifty-seven ballot measures (49.57%) were approved, and 58 ballot measures (50.43%) were defeated.



Contested state legislative primaries down in Kansas House this year

By Douglas Kronaizl
In 2022 elections
July 11, 2022 at 6:41 PM

Fifteen percent (38) of 125 possible contested state House primaries in Kansas this year are contested by multiple candidates. One-hundred and twenty-five state House seats are up for election this year.

A primary is contested when more candidates file to run than there are nominations available, meaning at least one candidate must lose.

The 38 contested primaries this year include 12 Democratic primaries and 26 Republican primaries. For Democrats, this is the same as in 2020. For Republicans, that number decreased 10% from 29 in 2020 to 26 in 2022.

Seventeen of the 38 contested primaries feature an incumbent, representing 17% of incumbents who filed for re-election. This is the lowest rate of incumbents in contested primaries in the chamber of the past five election cycles.

Overall, 228 major party candidates—93 Democrats and 135 Republicans—filed to run for the state’s 125 House districts.

Twenty-three House districts are open this year, meaning no incumbents filed. This guarantees that at least 18% of the chamber will be represented by newcomers next year.

Kansas has had a divided government since voters elected Gov. Laura Kelly in 2018. Republicans currently hold a 29-11 majority in the Senate and an 86-39 majority in the House.

Kansas’ primary elections are scheduled for Aug. 2. The Kansas Senate holds elections every four years during presidential election cycles.

Additional reading:

Kansas House of Representatives elections, 2022



Alaska’s U.S. House top-four primary is on Aug. 16

By Amee LaTour
In 2022 elections
July 11, 2022 at 6:33 PM

A top-four primary will take place on Aug.16, 2022, in Alaska’s At-Large Congressional District to determine which four candidates will run in the district’s general election on Nov. 8, 2022.

All candidates will appear on the same ballot with their affiliations listed next to their names. The general election will use ranked-choice voting.

Former Rep. Don Young (R) died in March 2022. The regularly scheduled election is one of two elections, alongside a special election, for Alaska’s at-large House district in 2022.

Twenty-two candidates are on the regular primary ballot: nine undeclared or nonpartisan candidates, nine Republicans, one Democrat, and three third-party candidates.

Fifteen of the candidates also ran in the special primary election to fill the remainder of Young’s term. Nicholas Begich III (R), Sarah Palin (R), and Mary Peltola (D) advanced from the June 11 special primary. Al Gross (I) also advanced but withdrew from the race. Begich, Palin, and Peltola are running in both the special general election and the regular primary election on Aug. 16. Tara Sweeney (R) placed 5th in the special primary and is also running in the regular primary.

Young was first elected to the U.S. House in 1973.

Additional reading:

United States House of Representatives special election in Alaska, 2022



Thirty-six candidates are running for the U.S. House from Tennessee

By Juan Garcia de Paredes
In 2022 elections
July 11, 2022 at 6:28 PM

The filing deadline for candidates running for Congress in Tennessee this year was April 7, 2022. Thirty-six candidates are running for Tennessee’s nine U.S. House districts, including 13 Democrats and 23 Republicans. That’s four candidates per district, less than the five candidates per district in 2020 and the 5.44 in 2018.

Here are some other highlights from this year’s filings:

  • This is the first election to take place under new district lines following the 2020 census. Tennessee was apportioned nine districts, the same number it was apportioned after the 2010 census.
  • The 36 candidates running this year are the fewest candidates running for Tennessee’s U.S. House seats since 2012, when 36 candidates ran as well. Forty-five candidates ran in 2020, 49 in 2018, 48 in 2016, and 39 in 2014.
  • One district—the 5th—is open. That’s down from two open seats in 2020, 2018 and 2016. There were no open seats in 2014 or 2012. 
  • Rep. Jim Cooper (D), who represents the 5th district, is retiring. 
  • Ten candidates—one Democrat and nine Republicans—are running to replace Cooper, the most candidates running for a seat this year.
  • There are eight contested primaries this year—four Democratic and four Republican. That’s the same number as in 2020 and five fewer than in 2018, when there were 13 contested primaries. There were ten contested primaries in 2016, 11 in 2014, and ten in 2012. 
  • Five incumbents—all Republicans—are not facing any primary challengers.
  • Republican and Democratic candidates filed to run in all nine districts, so no seats are guaranteed to either party this year.

Tennessee is holding its congressional primaries on August 4, the 36th state to do so. Winners in primary contests in Tennessee are determined by plurality vote, meaning that the candidate with the highest number of votes wins even if he or she does not win more than 50 percent of votes cast.

Additional reading:

List of U.S. Congress incumbents who are not running for re-election in 2022



Previewing Alaska’s RCV special general election for U.S. House

By Ballotpedia staff
In 2022 elections
July 11, 2022 at 6:21 PM

A special election to fill the seat representing Alaska’s at-large district in the U.S. House will be held on Aug. 16. Sarah Palin (R), Nicholas Begich III (R), and Mary Peltola (D) are running. Al Gross (I) also advanced from the June 11 top-four primary, but he withdrew from the race on June 20. In the special primary, Palin received 27% of the vote, Begich 19%, Gross 13%, and Peltola 10%.

Former Rep. Don Young (R) died in March.

Begich founded a technology development company and co-founded a company that invests in startups. He co-chaired the Alaska Republican Party Finance Committee and Young’s 2020 re-election campaign. Begich entered the regular U.S. House primary election before Young’s death. Begich is campaigning on his business background, saying he can “make the business case for Alaska effectively down in D.C.”

Palin served as governor of Alaska from 2006 to 2009 and was John McCain’s (R) vice presidential running mate in 2008. Palin is campaigning on her record as governor, which she says includes taking “meaningful steps toward energy independence, passing bipartisan ethics reform, and facilitating the biggest private sector infrastructure project in U.S. history.” Palin said after Young’s death, “As I’ve watched the far left destroy the country, I knew I had to step up and join the fight.”

Peltola served in the Alaska House of Representatives from 1999 to 2009 and is interim executive director of the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. Peltola calls herself a “[p]roven legislative leader and coalition builder.” She emphasizes her background in fishing and prioritization of marine resource management as a key campaign issue. Peltola also highlights that she is an Alaska Native woman.

The Alaska Republican Party endorsed Begich. Former President Donald Trump (R) backed Palin. Five primary candidates endorsed Peltola: independents Gross* and Santa Claus and Democrats Christopher Constant, Mike Milligan, and Emil Notti.

All 48 primary candidates ran on the same ballot. The 16 Republican primary candidates received 58% of the vote combined. The 22 candidates running as nonpartisans or undeclared received 24%. Six Democratic candidates received 17%. The remaining 1% of voters chose a third-party candidate. Gross, the nonpartisan candidate with the most votes, ran for U.S. Senate as a Democrat in 2020.

The special primary was the first top-four congressional primary in U.S. history. The special general election will use ranked-choice voting.

*Gross also endorsed Tara Sweeney (R), but the state supreme court ruled she could not advance to the general election.

Additional reading:

United States House of Representatives special election in Alaska, 2022 (June 11 top-four primary)

Alaska Ballot Measure 2, Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting and Campaign Finance Laws Initiative (2020)



Incumbent Meijer faces challenger Gibbs in Michigan’s 3rd Congressional District Republican primary

By Douglas Kronaizl
In 2022 elections
July 11, 2022 at 6:13 PM

Incumbent Peter Meijer and John Gibbs are running in the Republican primary for Michigan’s 3rd Congressional District on August 2, 2022. The winner of the primary will face Hillary Scholten (D) in the November general election.

Meijer was one of 10 Republicans who voted to impeach President Donald Trump (R) following the breach of the U.S. capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump endorsed Gibbs in this primary.

Regarding his impeachment vote, Meijer said, “I take the oath I swore to the Constitution, an oath I took under God, seriously and voted accordingly,” adding that he was focused on “checking the policies of the Biden Administration so that we can serve West Michigan families.”

Gibbs said, “By voting to impeach President Trump … [Republican in Name Only] Peter Meijer chose to be fawned over by the media & the DC establishment instead of doing what’s right & representing those who voted for him.”

Meijer was first elected to represent the 3rd District in 2020. Before entering office, Meijer worked as a conflict analyst in Afghanistan and served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 2008 to 2016. Meijer said he would “bring strong, stable, and effective representation to West Michigan” and described the three key issues of his campaign as protecting constitutional rights, economic freedom, and national security.

Gibbs worked as a software engineer and joined the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as a senior advisor in 2017 before Trump appointed him acting assistant secretary for community planning and development in 2020. Gibbs said, “No one else has fought in Washington like I have under President Trump,” and that he would “[reduce] government largess and overreach which threatens civil rights, civil liberties and our way of life.”

The 3rd District lines were redrawn during redistricting after the 2020 census. Previously, the district extended from Grand Rapids to the south and east. During redistricting, the district was drawn to include Grand Rapids to the west, including towns like Grand Haven and Muskegon. Michigan Radio‘ Nisa Khan and Emma Ruberg wrote that the change made the district more Democratic-leaning, saying it “could help Democrats swing this district for the first time in 45 years.”

As of July 5, three election forecasters rated the general election as a Toss-up.