Category: State

  • Two Democrats and two Republicans competing in Georgia House special election

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    The special election for District 176 of the Georgia House of Representatives is on February 12. Barbara Griffin (D), Barbara Seidman (D), James Burchett (R), and Franklin Patten (R) are running in the election. A runoff between the top two candidates will take place on March 12 if no candidate receives a majority of the…

  • Third time’s the charm? Judge orders another special election in Georgia House District 28

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    On February 1, 2019, a judge ordered a third election for Georgia House of Representatives District 28, ruling that the second primary election in December 2018 was invalid. Chris Erwin (R) challenged Rep. Dan Gasaway (R) in the original Republican primary for the seat on May 22, 2018. No Democratic candidate filed. Erwin won that…

  • Twenty-three state executive offices are on the ballot in 2019. What are they?

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    Three states are holding state executive elections in 2019—Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Each of them is holding an election for the office of governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and secretary of state. Other offices up for election include agriculture commissioner (KY, LA, MS), auditor (KY, MS), insurance commissioner (LA, MS), public service commissioner (MS), and…

  • One year ago this weekend: Filing deadlines in Indiana and Alabama

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    This Saturday marked the one-year anniversary of the state and federal candidate filing deadlines for Alabama and Indiana’s 2018 elections. Both states played host to high-profile elections last year. In Indiana, offices up for election in 2018 included one of the state’s seats in the U.S. Senate, all nine of its seats in the U.S.…

  • New Mexico Supreme Court upholds constitutionality of closed primaries

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    On February 5, 2019, the New Mexico Supreme Court dismissed a challenge to the legality of closed primaries in the state. The initial suit was brought by former attorney general Paul Bardacke (D), who argued that New Mexico’s closed primary process serves private organizations (in this case, political parties) in violation of a state law…

  • Speakman wins special Democratic primary for Rhode Island seat, will face current officeholder and two others

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    On February 5, June Speakman defeated Richard Ruggerio in the special Democratic primary for the Rhode Island House of Representatives District 68 seat. Speakman received 73.6 percent of the vote, according to unofficial election night results. She will face William Hunt Jr. (L) and two independents, Kenneth Marshall and James McCanna III, in the special…

  • Barton wins special runoff election for Georgia House seat

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    Former Calhoun Councilman Matt Barton (R) defeated attorney Jesse Vaughn (R) for the Georgia House District 5 seat in a special election runoff on February 5. The runoff came about after none of the six candidates in the special election on January 8 won more than 50 percent of the vote. Vaughn, who earned the…

  • What is a state government triplex?

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    A state government triplex is a term describing single-party control of three of a state’s highest executive offices: governor, attorney general, and secretary of state. Control of all three offices can help a party advance its governing agenda, while divided control can spark conflict within the executive branch.   Currently, there are 18 states with…

  • Jason Rarick (R) flips Minnesota State Senate District 11 seat in special election, Republican majority increases to three seats

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    Jason Rarick (R) defeated Stu Lourey (DFL) and Legal Marijuana Now candidate John Birrenbach in the special election for Minnesota State Senate District 11 on February 5. With all precincts reporting, Rarick received 52 percent of the vote to Lourey’s 46 percent.   Rarick’s win gives Republicans a three-seat majority in the Minnesota State Senate,…

  • California Public Utilities Commission gets new commissioner

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    Genevieve Shiroma joined the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC), the state body charged with regulating the state’s utility companies, on February 5. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) appointed Shiroma on January 22, 2019, to replaced Carla J. Peterman, who left the PUC in 2018. Shiroma is serving the remainder of Peterman’s term, which expires in December…