Category: State
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Gov. Greg Abbott (R) appoints John Scott (R) as secretary of state
On Oct. 21, 2021, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott appointed John Scott as secretary of state. Scott replaces Ruth Ruggero Hughs, who resigned in May of 2021 after the Senate Nominating Commission refused to take up her nomination. Texas is one of nine states where secretaries of state are appointed by the governor. Scott’s appointment will…
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Top five donors to Democratic and Republican candidates in Virginia House battleground districts
Elections for all 100 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates are taking place on November 2, 2021. Democrats hold 55 seats and Republicans hold 45 seats. This is the first election cycle since 1999 with Democrats defending a majority in the chamber. Ballotpedia has identified 22 battleground races in these elections. Sixteen are in…
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Texas voters to decide on an increase to the homestead exemption from school district property taxes in May 2022
On Oct. 18, the Texas State Legislature voted to refer to the ballot a constitutional amendment that would increase the homestead exemption for school district property taxes from $25,000 to $40,000. Voters will decide the measure on the May 2022 ballot. It would take effect for the 2022 tax year. The Legislative Budget Board estimated…
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Kyle Bailey resigns from Maine state House
Maine state Rep. Kyle Bailey (D-27) resigned on Oct. 15, citing a new job opportunity. “Due to an exciting professional opportunity that has arisen recently, I am unable to complete my full term as state representative,” Bailey said in a statement. Bailey was first elected to represent Maine’s 27th House District in 2020, defeating Roger…
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Roundup of noteworthy court challenges involving redistricting (Oct. 19)
Here’s a summary of recent court challenges involving redistricting. Former Republican elected officials file lawsuit challenging Oregon’s congressional map On Oct. 11, four former Oregon elected officials—former Oregon Secretary of State Bev Clarno (R), former Oregon House Republican leader Gary Wilhelms (R), former Mayor of The Dalles James Wilcox, and former Oregon House Speaker Larry…
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Nelson (R) and Eisner (D) advance to New Hampshire Rockingham 6 special general election
A special primary was held on Oct. 19 for the Rockingham 6 District seat in the New Hampshire House of Representatives. Jodi Nelson (R) and Mary Eisner (D) advanced to the general election. Nelson defeated Neil Wetherbee and Thomas Cardon in the Republican primary. Eisner was unopposed in the Democratic primary. The general election is…
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Redistricting update: Virginia redistricting commission’s legislative map deadline passes, Arkansas congressional redistricting veto referendum campaign announced
Here’s a summary of recent redistricting updates from Virginia and Arkansas. In Virginia, the Redistricting Commission did not meet the Oct. 10 deadline to submit state legislative maps to the General Assembly. Under state law, the commission is given a 14 day extension to submit maps after “its initial failure to submit a plan to…
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Voters in Cheshire County to decide New Hampshire House district special election on Oct. 26
A special election will be held on Oct. 26 to fill a vacant seat in the Cheshire 9 District of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. Andrew Maneval (D) and Rita Mattson (R) are facing off in the special election. Mattson advanced to the special election after defeating Lucille Decker in the Sept. 7 Republican…
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House District 12 tops Virginia battleground fundraising list with nearly identical candidate donation totals
Elections for all 100 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates are taking place on November 2, 2021. Democrats hold 55 seats and Republicans hold 45 seats. This is the first election cycle since 1999 with Democrats defending a majority in the chamber. Ballotpedia has identified 22 battleground races in these elections. Sixteen are in…
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A look back at government responses to the coronavirus pandemic, October 19-23, 2020
Although the first case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was confirmed on Jan. 21, 2020, it wasn’t until March when the novel coronavirus upended life for most Americans. Throughout the year, states issued stay-at-home orders, closed schools, restricted travel, issued mask mandates, and changed election dates. Here are the policy changes that happened October 19-23,…