CategoryNewsletters

1. Arkansas’ 2020 filing deadline is today, Nov. 12
2. Colorado voters split on two statewide ballot measures in 2019
3. Register for tomorrow’s quarterly briefing on the presidential race

Arkansas’ 2020 filing deadline is today, Nov. 12

One week has passed since Election Day 2019 and already the second candidate filing deadline for 2020’s federal and state elections passes at noon today in Arkansas. Alabama’s candidate filing deadline was last week—on Nov. 8—and the filing deadlines for California, North Carolina, and Texas are in December. Here are the offices to be decided next year in Arkansas:

• One U.S. Senate seat

• All four U.S. House seats

• Seventeen of the 35 seats in the state Senate

• All 100 seats in the state House

• One of seven seats on the state Supreme Court

• Five of 12 seats on the Arkansas Court of Appeals—the state’s intermediate appellate court

• Three statewide ballot measures

Partisan primaries for the federal and state legislative seats—along with nonpartisan general elections for the judicial seats—will be held on March 3, 2020. Runoff primaries for legislative seats will take place on March 31 if no candidate receives a majority of the vote. The state uses an open primary system, in which registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party’s primary.

Alabama, California, North Carolina, and Texas are also holding primaries on March 3.

Arkansas’ filing deadline for independent candidates running for the U.S. Senate or U.S. House seats is May 1, 2020. General elections for legislative seats—and runoff elections for the judicial seats—will take place on November 3, 2020. Voters will also decide statewide ballot measures on that date.

In order to appear on the ballot for a state or federal office, a candidate must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. Partisan candidates for the U.S. Senate or House must pay a filing fee that ranges from $10,000 to $20,000 depending on the party and office. You can read more about candidate requirements here. 

The next five statewide filing deadlines—all in 2019—are: Illinois (12/2), California (12/6), Texas (12/9), Ohio (12/18), and North Carolina (12/20). You can view the full list of filing deadlines for the 2020 election cycle here.

Colorado voters split on two statewide ballot measures in 2019 

Colorado voters approved one and rejected one statewide ballot measure last week. Both measures were required to go before voters in accordance with the state’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR), passed in 1992. TABOR limits the amount of money the state of Colorado can take in and spend and it requires the state to refund revenue above a spending cap to taxpayers.

Colorado voters rejected Proposition CC, 54% to 46%. It would have allowed the state to keep revenue above the state spending cap to provide funding for transportation and education. The Colorado Legislative Council Staff estimated that the measure would have allowed the state to retain about $310 million in additional revenue in 2019-2020 and $342 million in 2020-2021. It would have required the state auditor to hire a private entity to conduct an annual financial audit regarding use of funds as provided under the measure. 

The Colorado State Legislature placed Proposition CC on the ballot along party lines. Legislative Democrats voted for the bill referring the measure to voters, while legislative Republicans voted against the bill. Gov. Jared Polis (D) supported Proposition CC. Supporters raised $4.45 million and opponents raised $1.75 million. 

Colorado voters approved Proposition DD, 51% to 49%. The measure legalizes sports betting in the state and authorizes the legislature to levy a tax of 10% on those conducting sports betting operations to fund state water projects. It required voter approval under TABOR since it proposed to implement a new tax. Colorado becomes the 14th state with an active sports betting industry. 

According to the legislature’s fiscal impact statement, the 10% tax on sports betting proceeds is expected to generate around $10 million in revenue for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020-21 and between $13.5 to $15.2 million for FY 2021-22. Revenue from the tax was designed to create and fund the Water Plan Implementation Cash Fund and to fund expenses related to the administration and regulation of sports betting in Colorado.  

November 12, 2019: Eric Holder and Deval Patrick are reportedly considering late 2020 presidential runs. Michigan released its initial candidate list, which included Michael Bloomberg.    

How many counties backed Donald Trump in 2016 after backing Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012?

• a. 57→

• b. 143→

• c. 206→

• d. 352→

1. Louisiana voters to decide governor, House veto-proof majority Nov. 16
2. Alabama’s 2020 filing deadline is today, Nov. 8
3. You are amazing.

Programming note: We will not be publishing the Brew this Monday, November 11. Happy Veterans Day to all who have served in our armed forces!

Louisiana voters to decide governor, House veto-proof majority Nov. 16

The 2019 election season isn’t over yet! Louisiana voters will head to the polls Nov. 16 to vote in general elections for statewide and local races. The state is holding elections for the following offices, in addition to other elections beyond Ballotpedia’s coverage scope:

• Governor;

• Secretary of state;

• One of 11 seats on the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education;

• Five of 39 seats in the state Senate;

• 19 of 105 seats in the state House of Representatives;

• A special election for Louisiana Supreme Court District 1; and

• A special election for the 19th Judicial District Court, Section 2, Division L.

Headline races in Louisiana include the gubernatorial election and the state House of Representatives elections. Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) and businessman Eddie Rispone (R) advanced from the primary with 46.6% and 27.4% of the vote, respectively. Edwards is the only Democratic governor in the Deep South. The Democratic Governors Association and the Republican Governors Association spent more than $5 million combined toward the race as of late September, and President Donald Trump (R) held a rally for Rispone and another Republican candidate ahead of the primary. If Edwards wins, the state will maintain a divided government. If Rispone wins, Louisiana will be a Republican trifecta, meaning the GOP will control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature.

Republicans secured a majority in the state House in the primaries. The general election will determine whether they also gain a veto-proof majority of 70 seats in the chamber or whether Democrats and independents win enough seats to prevent that. Heading into the general election, Republicans control 63 seats. The seven state House general elections feature one Republican and a candidate of a different affiliation. In the state Senate primaries, Republicans won 27 seats—one more than is needed to override a gubernatorial veto.

Voters in New Orleans will also decide four local ballot measures.

Louisiana held primary elections on Oct. 12 for all candidates, regardless of party affiliation. Candidates who received more than 50 percent of the primary vote won outright. The general election is being held for the top two vote-getters who did not reach that threshold in each race. 

Early in-person voting for Louisiana’s Nov. 16 general elections, which began on Nov. 2, ends Saturday, Nov. 9. Voters wishing to cast an absentee ballot must apply for one by 4:30 p.m. Central Time Nov. 12.

Louisiana voters must have an accepted reason to vote absentee. Examples include working offshore, residing in a nursing home, or being sequestered because of jury duty. You can read the full list here. Voters may fill out an application online or submit a printed application through the mail, in person, or by fax to their parish’s registrar of voters. The registrar must receive completed absentee ballots by 4:30 pm Central Time Nov. 15.

Learn more
        

Alabama’s 2020 filing deadline is today, Nov. 8

Since I’m still riding the high of covering this week’s elections, it’s hard to believe the first filing deadline of 2020 is already here! Even though 2019 isn’t quite over, we’ve officially crossed the starting point for the 2020 cycle. Alabama’s 2020 filing deadline for presidential primary candidates and partisan candidates for U.S. Senate and U.S. House seats is today, Nov. 8. Below you can find a quick rundown of the offices up for election next year:

• One U.S. Senate seat

• All seven U.S. Congressional seats

• Five state executive offices

• Two seats on the state Supreme Court

• Four seats on the state’s intermediate appellate courts

• Five statewide ballot measures

The filing deadline for independent candidates running for the U.S. Senate or U.S. House seats from Alabama is March 3, 2020. Alabama’s primary election will also be held on that day, with a primary runoff election, if needed, on March 31. The state uses an open primary system, in which registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party’s primary.

For a candidate to appear on the ballot for a state or federal office, they must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. Partisan candidates for the U.S. Senate or House must pay a $3,480 filing fee (2% of base salary). You can read more about candidate requirements here. 

The next five statewide filing deadlines are Arkansas (11/12), Illinois (12/2), California (12/6), Texas (12/9), and Ohio (12/18). You can view our full list of filing deadlines for the 2020 election cycle here.

You are amazing. 

I just wanted to take a moment to say, “Thank you!”

This has been an exciting week for Ballotpedia. We’re humbled by how many of you and your neighbors came to Ballotpedia to be informed about the 2019 elections.

You know we’re always good for some data, so here are some fun stats to show you what good company you’re in. Over 200,000 voters looked up their sample ballot at Ballotpedia on November 5 alone. All told, in 2019 we’ve seen the sample ballot used over 800,000 times!

If you average the number of website visits we’ve seen over the last month, you’ll find Ballotpedia was in the top 325 most-visited sites in the United States! That means readers have come to Ballotpedia more than the LA Times, Newsweek, the NHL, Nordstrom, Priceline, Apartments.com, Cars.com, Walgreens, or Fandango!

Thank you so much for trusting us to deliver your election information. We don’t take this responsibility lightly, and are striving to continue to help you through 2020 and beyond.

If you have any ideas, questions, feedback, we’re always here for you! Just reply to this email to drop me a line. I read them all. 

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,
Dave, 
and the rest of the over-caffeinated Ballotpedia team

1. More election results from out west and there’s still time to register for today’s briefing on 2019’s ballot measures
2. Groups submit signatures for two 2020 marijuana initiatives in South Dakota
3. Local Elections Roundup

More election results from out west and there’s still time to register for today’s briefing on 2019’s ballot measures

In case you missed it, yesterday’s Brew detailed 10 observations from Tuesday. After some sleep and more caffeine, I wanted to update you on the results of certain late-reporting elections:

Seattle City Council

None of Seattle’s seven city council races have been called since Washington holds elections by-mail.  Officials will continue counting ballots that are postmarked on or before Nov. 5. and will certify election results Nov. 26. Three incumbents are running for election among the seven district seats.

These races saw satellite spending of more than $4 million, which was more than 5 times the amount spent in 2015, the last time the same seven council seats were up for election. Amazon contributed $1.5 million to the local chamber of commerce’s PAC, which endorsed candidates in each race, including challengers to two incumbents. PACs affiliated with labor groups endorsed and spent in support of candidates opposing those backed by the chamber in most races. 

Based on unofficial results as of Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. CT, four candidates supported by the Chamber of Commerce are leading in their districts and three candidates supported by another PAC—the Civic Alliance for a Progressive Economy (CAPE)—are ahead in their races. Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have both tweeted support for candidates endorsed by CAPE and opposition to the Chamber of Commerce’s efforts. 

San Francisco District Attorney 

The results of San Francisco’s district attorney election are too close to call. Under the city’s system of ranked-choice voting, voters may select multiple candidates, ranking their preferences from among their options. If no candidate receives a majority of the first-choice vote, the last-place candidate is eliminated and their voters’ votes are allocated to their next preferred candidate. This process is repeated until one candidate has a majority. 

With partial results reported from just under 100% of precincts, Chesa Boudin led with 33.0% of the first-choice vote, followed by Suzy Loftus with 30.9%, Nancy Tung with 20.8%, and Leif Dautch with 15.4%. This is the first open-seat election for San Francisco District Attorney since 1909. The race attracted national attention, with presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Kamala Harris making endorsements. Sanders endorsed Boudin and Harris—who held the office herself before being elected California attorney general—endorsed Loftus.

Colorado Proposition CC

Colorado voters rejected Proposition CC—54.7% to 45.3%—which would have allowed the state to keep revenue above the state spending cap to provide funding for transportation and education. Under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR), passed in 1992, the state is required to refund revenue above the spending cap to taxpayers. The Colorado State Legislature placed Proposition CC on the ballot along party lines. Legislative Democrats voted for the bill referring the measure to voters, while legislative Republicans voted against the bill. 

And just a reminder that we’re hosting another briefing later today on 2019’s ballot questions. We covered 32 statewide ballot measures in seven states, as well as 141 local measures that appeared on the ballot in North Carolina and California, as well as those within the 100 largest cities in the U.S. by population. Our ballot measures expert—Josh Altic—will break down the results of all the key statewide and local measures and discuss trends that are emerging nationwide. The briefing is at 1:30 p.m. Central Time, and you can click the button below to reserve your spot. As always, if you can’t watch it live, we’ll send you a link to the recording when it’s available so you can catch up on your schedule.

Register now        

---

Groups submit signatures for two 2020 marijuana initiatives in South Dakota 

And speaking of ballot measures, let’s look ahead a bit to 2020. Proponents of two 2020 marijuana initiatives in South Dakota submitted a combined 80,000 signatures to the Secretary of State on Nov. 4. One initiative would amend the state’s constitution while the other is an initiated state statute. 

The proposed constitutional amendment would legalize and regulate recreational marijuana and require the state legislature to pass laws providing for the use of medical marijuana and the sale of hemp by April 1, 2022. The measure was sponsored by former U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson and is supported by the committee, South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws. Proponents reported submitting 50,000 signatures. To qualify for the ballot, 33,921 valid signatures are required. 

South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws is also supporting an initiated state statute that would amend state laws to provide for a medical marijuana program. Proponents reported submitting 30,000 signatures for this measure. To qualify for the ballot, 16,961 valid signatures are required.

As of 2019, 11 states and the District of Columbia had legalized the possession and personal use of marijuana for recreational purposes. Nine jurisdictions had made such changes through statewide citizen initiatives, and two through bills approved by state legislatures and signed by governors. 

Of the 33 states —and Washington, D.C.—that had approved the legalization of medical marijuana, 17 states achieved legalization via statewide ballot measure and 15 states passed laws in their state legislatures. Additionally, 13 states had legalized the use of cannabis oil, or cannabidiol (CBD)—one of the non-psychoactive ingredients found in marijuana—for medical purposes.

Local Elections Roundup

ICYMI, I discussed on our recap briefing yesterday the 2,983 races we covered Tuesday. Here are the results of some other local races:

Houston

Incumbent Sylvester Turner and former Texas A&M Board of Regents member Tony Buzbee advanced from Tuesday’s mayoral election to a Dec. 14 runoff since none of the 12 candidates received a majority of the vote. Turner received 47 percent of the vote to Buzbee’s 28 percent. Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States and has a population of 2.2 million.

Houston Independent School District

Four of nine seats on the Houston Independent School District (HISD) school board were up for election and both of the incumbents running for re-election were defeated Tuesday. The two incumbents had been endorsed by a group that includes the Houston Federation of Teachers. The two open-seat races advanced to a Dec. 14 runoff since no candidate received more than 50% of the vote; one of the two races will feature a candidate backed by the same group. 

Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath informed the school district on Wednesday that the state would appoint both a new superintendent and a board of managers to oversee the district. In a letter, Morath said the action was taken due to what he described as a “failure of governance” by the school board and poor academic performance ratings at a high school in the district. The board of managers would assume the responsibilities of the school board and elected board members would not have any power until reinstated by the state. The HISD recently filed a lawsuit to prevent the state from taking control of the district. 

Philadelphia

The Working Families Party (WFP) won one of seven at-large seats on the Philadelphia City Council for the first time in city history, according to unofficial election returns. WFP candidate Kendra Brooks was in sixth place—trailing five Democratic candidates—and incumbent David Oh (R) was in seventh.  

City rules state that a political party may nominate only five candidates for the seven at-large seats, meaning that no one party can win every city council seat. Since Philadelphia’s charter was adopted in 1951, every council election has resulted in Democrats winning five at-large seats and Republicans winning two.

Boise

Boise will hold its first-ever mayoral runoff election December 3 after no candidate won a majority of votes in Tuesday’s general election. City council president Lauren McLean finished first—receiving 46% of the vote—and incumbent David Bieter—who is seeking his fifth term—was second with 30% in a seven-candidate field. McLean is seeking to become the city’s first female mayor.

Albuquerque

Voters in Albuquerque, New Mexico, approved 15 ballot measures and rejected one Tuesday. The measures approved included 10 bond measures for the city of Albuquerque, one bond measure for Albuquerque Public Schools, and one bond measure for Central New Mexico Community College. City voters also renewed a 0.25 percent gross receipts tax dedicated to road infrastructure, transit, and trails, a measure that made changes to the city’s public financing program for candidates, and approved the continuation of a property tax for school facilities and education technology improvements. Voters defeated a measure that would have created a program called Democracy Dollars, which would have provided residents with $25 vouchers that could be donated to participating candidates.

November 7, 2019: Tulsi Gabbard is the tenth candidate to qualify for the fifth Democratic presidential debate. Rep. Ayanna Pressley endorsed Elizabeth Warren on Wednesday.

1. Join us for a briefing later today discussing yesterday’s results
2. Three top statewide executive offices may have flipped in Kentucky
3. Democrats win control of state Senate, House of Delegates in Virginia
4. New York City approves ranked-choice voting for city primaries
5. Reeves elected governor of Mississippi
6. North Carolina mayoral election decided by two votes
7. Incumbent Turner leads Houston mayoral race
8. Texas voters reject first constitutional amendment since 2011
9. Tucson voters reject sanctuary city initiative
10. New Jersey state Assembly races yet to be called

Join us for a briefing later today discussing yesterday’s results

Want a quick summary of yesterday’s key results? Join me as I sit down with Cory Eucalitto—one of Ballotpedia’s Managing Editors—to discuss the outcome of Tuesday’s elections and their effect on policymaking and redistricting. We’ll cover results from coast to coast starting at 1:30 p.m. Central Time. Register using the link below and if you can’t join us live, we’ll send you a link to the recording when it’s available so you can catch up on your schedule.

Register here
        

---

Three top statewide executive offices may have flipped in Kentucky 

Kentucky’s gubernatorial election was too close to call Tuesday night with 100% of precincts reporting. Attorney General Andy Beshear (D) received 49.2% of the vote to incumbent Gov. Matt Bevin (R)’s 48.9%, according to unofficial results. John Hicks (L) received 2.0%. Beshear declared victory but Bevin had not conceded the race.

Daniel Cameron (R) defeated Gregory Stumbo (D) in Kentucky’s attorney general election Tuesday night, 58% to 42%. The current attorney general is Beshear, who ran for governor, so Cameron’s win is a change in party. Democrats have controlled Kentucky’s Attorney General office since 1948. Republican Michael Adams won the race for secretary of state currently held by term-limited incumbent Alison Lundergan Grimes (D). 

If Beshear’s lead holds, Kentucky will remain under divided triplex control because partisan control of these three offices and the governorship will be split. Kentucky has been under divided triplex control since the 2015 elections. If Bevin wins, Republicans will have triplex control.

Republicans control both chambers of the Kentucky state legislature, which did not hold elections yesterday. If Beshear’s lead holds, Kentucky will have a divided government. It has been a Republican trifecta since the 2016 elections. If Bevin wins, Kentucky will remain a Republican trifecta. 

According to election night returns, Beshear won 23 counties and Bevin won 97. Seventeen counties were won by a different party this cycle than in the 2015 gubernatorial election. Thirteen of those counties flipped from Bevin (R) in 2015 to Beshear (D) in 2019. The other four counties flipped from Jack Conway (D) in 2015 to Bevin (R) in 2019. Beshear won in 21 counties that President Donald Trump (R) carried in the 2016 presidential election.

Democrats win control of state Senate, House of Delegates in Virginia 

Democrats flipped two seats to gain a 21-19 majority in the Virginia State Senate and gained at least five seats to win a 54-45 majority in the Virginia House of Delegates. One House race was too close to call. Heading into the election, Republicans held a 21-19 majority in the state Senate and a 51-49 majority in the House of Delegates. One Republican incumbent was defeated in the state Senate, and four Republican incumbents were defeated in the state House.

The next legislative session will be the first where Democrats have a majority in the House of Delegates since 1997 and in the state Senate since 2014. Along with Gov. Ralph Northam (D), Democrats will have trifecta control in Virginia for the first time since 1993. The House of Delegates elections were the first ones conducted using a remedial map after a federal district court ruled in June 2018 that 11 state legislative districts were an illegal racial gerrymander. The state Senate elections were held using district boundaries enacted in April 2011. 

Democrats will control the redistricting process after the 2020 Census. Virginia’s congressional and state legislative district boundaries are set by the state legislature and subject to veto by the governor. 

Virginia State Senate elections →
Virginia House of Delegates elections→

New York City approves ranked-choice voting for city primaries 

New York City became the most populous jurisdiction in the U.S. to approve the use of ranked-choice voting. Seventy-three percent of voters approved Question 1, which provides for ranked-choice voting in primary and special elections for mayor, public advocate, comptroller, borough president, and city council members. Question 1 allows voters to rank up to five candidates—including a write-in candidate—in order of preference and also makes changes to the timing of elections to fill vacancies and city council redistricting.

Reeves elected governor of Mississippi 

Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves defeated state Attorney General Jim Hood (D), Bob Hickingbottom (Constitution), and David Singletary (I) to become Mississippi’s third consecutive Republican governor. Reeves received 52% of the vote to Hood’s 47% with 99% of precincts reporting. Alongside the Republican majorities won in both chambers of the state legislature, Mississippi will remain a Republican trifecta. Mississippi Republicans also held the secretary of state’s office and gained the state attorney general’s office, winning a triplex—control of each of the top three executive offices—for the first time since 1876.

North Carolina mayoral election decided by two votes 

Incumbent Bluferd Eldreth was re-elected mayor of Jefferson, North Carolina, over challenger William Spencer by a margin of two votes, 20 to 18. Jefferson is located in the western part of the state about 85 miles northwest of Winston-Salem. For the first time ever, Ballotpedia covered all local elections across an entire state—North Carolina. This included races in 503 cities, towns, and villages, nine school districts, and 17 special districts—a total of 529 local elections!

Incumbent Turner leads Houston mayoral race 

Incumbent Sylvester Turner leads in Houston’s mayoral race but may fall short of the threshold needed to avoid a runoff election. As of 1 a.m. Central Time, Turner had received 47% of the vote with Tony Buzbee second with 30% of the vote in the 12-candidate field. If no candidate receives a majority, a runoff election will take place December 14. Policy debate in the race centered on Turner’s record during his first term, especially regarding his handling of the city’s budget and spending priorities.

Texas voters reject first constitutional amendment since 2011 

Texas voters rejected Proposition 1, which would have allowed elected municipal judges to hold office in multiple municipalities at the same time. With 99% of precincts reporting, the vote was 66% against and 34% in favor. Proposition 1 is the first constitutional amendment to be rejected in Texas since 2011, when three measures were defeated. It was put on the ballot by the state legislature, where it received unanimous support from Republicans and Democrats in both legislative chambers.

The current Texas Constitution was adopted in 1876. Voters had decided 677 proposed amendments before 2019, approving 74% of them. Ninety-one percent of proposed amendments have been approved since 1995.

Tucson voters reject sanctuary city initiative

Voters in Tucson, Arizona, decided against making their city the first in the state with sanctuary city policies, with over 70% of voters rejecting Proposition 205. The citizen initiative would have:

• declared in the city code that Tucson was a sanctuary city; 

• restricted law enforcement officers from actions to determine a person’s immigration status under certain conditions; 

• prohibited officers from contacting federal law enforcement agencies to determine a person’s immigration status; and

• prohibited city employees from inquiring about a person’s immigration status, among other policies.

New Jersey state Assembly races yet to be called 

Elections were held for all 80 seats in the New Jersey General Assembly, although media outlets had only declared winners in 52 seats as of 2 a.m. CT. Democrats had won 38 seats and were leading in at least six others. It takes 41 seats to gain partisan control of the chamber. Heading into the election, Democrats had a 54-26 majority. Democrats have held majorities in both houses of the New Jersey state legislature since 2004.

November 5, 2019: Julián Castro is firing staff in New Hampshire and South Carolina. Donald Trump held a rally Monday night in Lexington, Kentucky.        

How many noteworthy candidates were running for president at this point in the 2016 election?

• a. Eight→

• b. Fourteen→

• c. Twenty→

• d. Twenty-six→