Category: Federal

  • Percent of U.S. House races contested by both major parties reaches a century high

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    More than 95% of elections for U.S. House (415 of 435) in 2020 are contested by candidates from both the Democratic and Republican parties, according to Ballotpedia’s Annual Congressional Competitiveness Report. This is an increase over the four preceding election cycles and the highest percentage of contested races for U.S. House since at least 1920.…

  • Franklin, Hall advance to runoff in Georgia’s 5th Congressional District special election

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    Robert Franklin (D) and Kwanza Hall (D) will advance to a December 1, 2020 runoff in Georgia’s 5th Congressional District special election. As of 9:25 p.m. EST, The New York Times called the race with 70% precincts reporting. Franklin had received 27.1% of the vote and Hall had received 32.4%. Mable Thomas (D) received 19.7%…

  • Presidents lose an average of 81 same-party members of the U.S. House during their first term

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    On average, presidents from Lyndon Johnson (D) through Donald Trump (R) took office with 241 members of the same political party serving in the U.S. House. An average of 81 same-party members did not run for re-election at the time of the next presidential election, creating an average U.S. House member attrition rate of 33.4…

  • When do election winners take office?

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    Image of several stickers with the words "I voted"

    With the 2020 election cycle coming to a close, voters may be wondering how quickly those they elected will take office. At the federal level, members of Congress will be sworn in on January 3, 2021, and the president will be sworn in on January 20, 2021. Wondering about state-level offices? Check out Ballotpedia’s page,…

  • Georgia U.S. Senate candidate Jon Ossoff completes Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connections survey

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    Jon Ossoff, the Democratic nominee in the regularly-scheduled U.S. Senate election in Georgia, recently completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connections survey. Ossoff faces incumbent David Perdue (R) and Shane Hazel (L) in the general election for U.S. Senate. Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey so voters can discover what motivates them…

  • Special election called in Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District after candidate’s death

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    The general election for Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District has been postponed after the death of Legal Marijuana Now Party candidate Adam Weeks. A special election for the seat is scheduled for February 9, 2021. According to Minnesota law, if a major party candidate dies within 79 days of the general election, a special election must…

  • President Trump announces nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to Supreme Court

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    Image of the front of the United States Supreme Court building.

    President Trump (R) announced his nomination of appellate judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court Saturday to fill the vacancy opened by the death of Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Barrett is currently a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, the federal appellate court with jurisdiction over Illinois,…

  • New York Times, CNN report Trump selects Amy Coney Barrett for Supreme Court

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    President Trump (R) will nominate appellate judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court Saturday to fill the vacancy opened by the death of Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, according to CNN and the New York Times. Barrett is currently a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, the federal appellate…

  • U.S. Senate confirms Hinderaker to federal district court judgeship

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    The U.S. Senate confirmed John Hinderaker to the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona by a 70-27 vote. The U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. After Hinderaker receives his federal judicial commission…

  • Judicial nominee confirmed to U.S. Court of Federal Claims

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    On September 22, 2020, the United States Senate confirmed the nomination of Edward Meyers to a federal judgeship on the United States Court of Federal Claims by a 66-27 vote. Meyers will join the court upon receiving his judicial commission and taking his judicial oath.  Meyers was originally nominated to the seat by President Donald…