Category: Federal
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New apportionment data released – six states gain congressional seats, seven states lose seats
The United States Census Bureau released its post-2020 census apportionment counts on April 26, 2021. Apportionment is the process whereby the 435 districts in the U.S. House of Representatives are allotted to the states on the basis of population. Six states gained seats. Texas gained two, while Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina, and Oregon gained…
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Democratic and Republican Party committee total fundraising about even, according to April FEC filings
Six party committees have raised a combined $206 million over the first three months of the 2022 election cycle. The committees raised about $83 million in March, according to April filings with the Federal Election Commission. Here’s a closer look at this month’s filings: The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) raised $9.3 million and spent…
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SCOTUS issues rulings in three cases argued this term
On April 22, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) issued opinions in three cases argued during the 2020-2021 term. Jones v. Mississippi originated from the Mississippi Court of Appeals and was argued before SCOTUS on November 3, 2020. The case concerned sentencing juveniles to life imprisonment without parole. In a 6-3 vote, the court ruled that…
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Troy Carter wins special election in Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District
Troy Carter (D) won the special election for Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District on Saturday, April 24. Carter received 55.2% of the vote, and fellow Democrat Karen Peterson received 44.8%. The two advanced to the general election from the March 20 all-party primary. Carter was elected to the state Senate in 2015 and has previously served…
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Supreme Court accepts new case for its 2021-2022 term
On April 19, the U.S. Supreme Court accepted one new case for review during its 2021-2022 term. With the addition of this case, the court has agreed to hear 11 cases during the term, which is scheduled to begin on Oct. 4. Hemphill v. New York concerns a criminal defendant’s constitutional right to be confronted…
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Absentee/mail-in ballot rejection rates decreased in at least 20 states between the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections
Ballotpedia’s analysis of 2020 election data shows that at least twenty states rejected a lower percentage of absentee/mail-in ballots during the 2020 presidential election than they did in 2016. At least seven states rejected a greater percentage and four states’ rejected the same percentage. Nineteen states have not yet released data making a comparison possible…
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Rep. Steve Stivers will resign from the House of Representatives on May 16
Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio) announced on April 19 that he would resign from the House of Representatives to become President and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. Stivers represents Ohio’s 15th Congressional District and said his resignation would be effective as of May 16. In a tweet announcing his resignation, Stivers said, “For the…
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Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District special election to be held April 24
Troy Carter (D) and Karen Peterson (D) are running in a special runoff election to represent Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House on April 24, 2021. Carter and Peterson received the most votes in March 20 special primary election. They advanced to the general runoff under Louisiana’s majority-vote system, which stipulates that if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote…
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Early voting begins in special Congressional election in Texas
On April 19, early voting began in a special election to fill the seat representing Texas’ 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House. The special election will fill the vacancy left by Ronald Wright (R), who died from complications related to COVID-19. The election will take place on May 1, with a runoff taking place…