Category: Federal

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

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    The U.S. Senate confirmed Aileen Cannon to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida by a 56-21 vote on November 12, 2020. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. After…

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

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    The U.S. Senate confirmed James Knepp to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio by a 64–24 vote on November 10, 2020. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. After…

  • Tillis defeats Cunningham in U.S. Senate election in N.C.

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    Portrait photo of Senator Thom Tillis

    Incumbent Thom Tillis (R) defeated Cal Cunningham (D), Kevin Hayes (Constitution Party), and Shannon Bray (L) in the U.S. Senate election in North Carolina. Tillis was first elected in 2014. The race drew the most satellite spending of any congressional election in history at around $229 million. Top spenders on the Republican side included the…

  • One-sixth of U.S. House retirees in 2020 won re-election in 2018 by less than six points

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    Of the 36 U.S. House incumbents that did not run for re-election in 2020, six (16.7%) won re-election in 2018 by less than six points. That’s a higher percentage than in both 2018 (10.3%) and 2016 (7.3%). Exactly one-third of 2020 retirees won re-election in 2018 by more than 36 points. That’s a higher percentage…

  • Number of Republican-majority federal circuit courts has doubled in Trump administration

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    Image of the south facade of the White House.

    Since Donald Trump (R) took office in January 2017, he has appointed 52 judges to the 13 federal circuit courts. At the time of his inauguration, a majority of members on four of those courts were appointed by Republican presidents. Before the 2020 election, a majority of members on eight of those courts were appointed…

  • Analyzing margins of victory in the 206 Pivot Counties nationwide

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    Voters in 206 Pivot Counties across the country backed Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and Donald Trump (R) in 2016. How did these counties vote in 2020? We have split the Pivot Counties into two categories based on the unofficial results:  Retained Pivot Counties, which voted for Trump again in 2020, and  Carousel…

  • Van Duyne declared winner in Texas’ 24th Congressional District

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    Beth Van Duyne (R) defeated Candace Valenzuela (D) and three other candidates in the general election for Texas’ 24th Congressional District. Incumbent Rep. Kenny Marchant (R), who was first elected in 2004, did not run for re-election. Van Duyne worked as a regional administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the…

  • U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear Appointments Clause challenge to Social Security Administration ALJs

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

    On November 9, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear Carr v. Saul, a case involving the president’s appointment and removal power and whether people may raise Appointments Clause arguments in court that they did not make during administrative proceedings. The Social Security Administration (SSA) denied Willie Carr’s application for Social Security disability benefits and…

  • Legislation would block Trump executive order to change civil service classifications

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    On Oct. 27, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) introduced the Saving the Civil Service Act (H.R. 8687) to block President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 13957. The executive order, issued on Oct. 21, aims to give agency heads greater flexibility in the appointment of staff members who serve in policy-related positions and make it easier for agency…

  • Abigail Spanberger (D) wins re-election in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District

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    Incumbent Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D) defeated challenger Nick Freitas (R) in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District. Spanberger was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018, defeating incumbent Rep. Dave Brat (R) 50% to 48%. Preliminary results indicate Spanberger won re-election by a similar 51% to 49% margin. The 7th District was one of…