Category: State
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Kentucky adopts new legislative district boundaries
Kentucky adopted new state House district boundaries on Jan. 20 after the general assembly overrode Gov. Andy Beshear’s (D) veto of the plan. The vote to override the governor’s veto was 24-10 in the state Senate with all votes in favor by Republicans and eight Democrats and two Republicans voting against. The override vote was…
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Two U.S. House members make endorsements in TX-28 Democratic primary
On Jan. 20, 2022, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) endorsed Jessica Cisneros in the Democratic primary for Texas’ 28th Congressional District. On Jan. 19, House Majority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) endorsed incumbent Henry Cuellar. Cuellar, Tannya Benavides, and Cisneros are running in the primary election on March 1. If no candidate receives a majority of…
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Redistricting map updates: proposals, advancements, and enactments between Jan. 12 and Jan. 19
Between Jan. 12 and Jan. 19, officials in at least seven states either proposed, advanced, or enacted new redistricting maps. Proposed Connecticut: On Jan. 18, Nathaniel Persily, the special master who the state supreme court appointed to handle redistricting, submitted his proposed map and report for the state’s congressional districts. The state supreme court chose…
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Arkansas’ congressional map goes into effect
Arkansas enacted new congressional districts on Jan. 14 after the statutes establishing the map went into effect without Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s (R) signature. Arkansas was apportioned four seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, the same number it received after the 2010 census. This map will take effect for Arkansas’ 2022…
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Iowa updates eligibility requirements for unemployment insurance program
The Iowa Department of Workforce Development issued a rule on January 10, 2022, that doubled the number of work search activities claimants have to conduct weekly from two to four. Work search activity refers to the requirement that an individual engages in documented efforts to search for work while receiving benefits through unemployment insurance. The…
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Tennessee Gov. Lee nominates supreme court justice
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) selected Sarah K. Campbell as his nominee to fill the vacant seat on the Tennessee Supreme Court. Lee’s announcement came on Jan. 12 after consideration of the three finalists put forward by the Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments: Campbell and Tennessee Court of Appeals Judges Kristi Davis and William Neal…
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Michigan governor signs executive order establishing unemployment fraud response team
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) on Dec. 29, 2021, signed Executive Order 2021-16, which established an unemployment fraud response team to recommend actions to the director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity and the heads of other executive departments for reducing the number of fraudulent unemployment insurance claims the state pays. The…
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Redistricting map updates: proposals, advancements, and enactments between Jan. 5 and Jan. 12
Between Jan. 5 and Jan. 12, officials in at least five states either proposed, advanced, or enacted new redistricting maps. Proposed Hawaii: On Jan. 6, the Hawaii Reapportionment Commission approved a motion to modify the legislative maps it originally approved for consideration on Oct. 28, 2021. The deadline to finalize maps is Feb. 27. This…
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New Hampshire Secretary of State William Gardner retires
On Jan. 10, 2022, New Hampshire Secretary of State William Gardner (D) retired. Gardner is the longest-serving secretary of state, having been first elected secretary by the state legislature in 1976. Before serving as secretary, Gardner served as a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 1973 to 1976. Deputy Secretary of State…