Category: State
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54.98% of state legislators are Republican, 44.38% Democratic
At the end of May 2024, 54.98% of all state legislators in the United States are Republican while 44.38% are Democratic. There are 7,386 state legislative seats in the country. Republicans control 56 chambers, while Democrats hold 41. Two chambers (Alaska House and Alaska Senate) were organized under multipartisan, power-sharing coalitions. Democrats hold 847 state…
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Largest state pension fund announces punitive action against ExxonMobil
The California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS), the largest public pension fund in the country, announced on May 21 that it has chosen to take action against ExxonMobil at the company’s May 29 annual shareholder meeting. Because of a lawsuit filed by Exxon against two small shareholders – Arjuna Capital and Follow This – CalPERS…
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Arizona sees fewer contested state legislative primaries this year
Arizona has 29 contested state legislative primaries this year, down 24% from 2022. Of these, there are 12 for Democrats and 17 for Republicans. For Democrats, this is down from 15 in 2022, a 20% decrease. Contested Republican primaries are down 26% from 23 in 2022. Twenty-nine incumbents—14 Democrats and 15 Republicans— face primary challenges,…
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Number of contested state legislative primaries jumps in Montana, candidates vie for newly drawn districts
Montana has 60 contested state legislative primaries in 2024, a new high and an increase of 36% from the preceding cycle. This is also the first election for which the new state legislative maps, finalized in February 2023, take effect. Fifteen of the 60 contested primaries are for Democrats, up 15% from 2022. Forty-five primaries…
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Oklahoma becomes sixth state to put a constitutional amendment on Nov. 2024 ballot providing that only U.S. citizens can vote in elections
Oklahoma voters will join Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina, and Wisconsin voters in deciding on ballot questions to add language to their respective state constitutions to provide that only U.S. citizens can vote in elections. All six ballot questions were placed on the Nov. 2024 ballot by Republican-controlled state legislatures. Similar measures were on the…
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State supreme court vacancy count for May 2024
In this month’s state supreme court vacancy update, Ballotpedia tracked announced retirements, nominations, appointments, confirmations, and swearings in of justices from May 1, 2024, to May 31, 2024. Ballotpedia tracks court vacancies in all 52 state supreme courts. Announced retirements: On May 21, 2024, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont (D) announced that Chief Justice Richard Robinson…
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Jeff Crank and Dave Williams are running in the Republican primary for Colorado’s 5th Congressional District
Jeff Crank (R) and Dave Williams (R) are running in the Republican primary for Colorado’s 5th Congressional District on June 25, 2024. The district is open because incumbent U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn (R) is not running for re-election. Former President Donald Trump (R) endorsed Williams, and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R) endorsed Crank.…
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Louisiana state legislature refers two constitutional amendments to Dec. 7 ballot related to state legislative processes
The Louisiana State Legislature referred two constitutional amendments to the ballot that voters will decide on Dec. 7. Rep. Tony Bacala (R-59) sponsored both amendments, House Bill 48 and House Bill 49, in the State House. House Bill 48, passed unanimously by the legislature, would add a 48-hour waiting period before a concurrence vote on…
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Kansas enacts state-level REINS Act
The Kansas State Senate voted 27-12 on April 29, 2024, to override Governor Laura Kelly’s (D) veto of House Bill 2648—a bill to require legislative approval of administrative rules with implementation and compliance costs of $1,000,000 or more over a five-year period. The bill is a REINS-style state law, which is a legislative proposal modeled…
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Rhode Island House of Representatives advances bills to amend LEOBOR
The Rhode Island House of Representatives on May 9, 2024, voted 58-14 with bipartisan support to pass two bills aimed at amending the state’s Law Enforcement Officer Bill of Rights (LEOBOR). LEOBORs are a set of legal provisions that establish the due process rights of police officers during internal misconduct investigations. LEOBORs are enacted as…