Category: State
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New Mexico county commission recall effort fails to collect enough signatures to get on ballot
An effort to recall Couy Griffin (R) from his position as the District 2 representative on the Otero County Commission in New Mexico did not collect enough signatures to get on the ballot. Recall supporters had to collect 1,574 signatures from registered voters in District 2 by Sept. 28, but they announced that they had…
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Redistricting map updates: proposals, advancements, and enactments between Sept. 22 and 29
Redistricting map updates: proposals, advancements, and enactments between Sept. 22 and 29 At least eight states made progress in either proposing, advancing, or enacting new district maps between Sept. 22 and 29. Proposed New maps were proposed in Arkansas, Georgia, and North Dakota. Arkansas: Between Sept. 9 and 27, fifteen state legislators—nine Republicans and six…
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Signatures filed for veto referendums to repeal Arizona income tax bills
The campaign Invest in Arizona filed signatures on Sept. 28, 2021, for two veto referendums aimed at overturning bills designed to change income tax brackets and small business income taxes in Arizona. Both of the bills would impact tax revenue associated with Proposition 208, an initiative passed in 2020. Proposition 208 enacted a 3.5% income…
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Tennessee Supreme Court justice’s death leaves vacancy
Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Cornelia Clark passed away from cancer on Sept. 24. Her death created one vacancy on the five-member supreme court. Clark’s replacement will be Gov. Bill Lee’s (R) first nominee to the court. Under Tennessee law, midterm vacancies on the supreme court are filled via gubernatorial appointment with legislative approval. The appointed…
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Filing deadline approaches for Jacksonville special election
Candidates interested in running for a vacant seat on the Jacksonville City Council in Florida have until Oct. 1 to qualify via qualifying fee. The filing deadline to qualify via signature petitions was Sept. 21. The special election will be held on Dec. 7. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, a runoff…
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Oregon is first state to enact congressional maps after 2020 census
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) signed new congressional and state legislative maps into law on Sept. 27, making Oregon the first state to enact congressional maps in the current redistricting cycle. If the maps are not changed by the Oregon Supreme Court as a result of possible legal challenges, this would become the third time…
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Raquel Terán assumes office as Arizona state senator, creating vacancy in state House
Raquel Terán (D) assumed office as the senator for District 30 in the Arizona state Senate on Sept. 28. The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors appointed Terán (D) to the district on Sept. 15. The seat became vacant in August when former state Sen. Tony Navarrete (D) resigned after being arrested on suspicion of sexual…
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Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources Matthew Strickler resigns
Matthew Strickler resigned from his position as Virginia’s Secretary of Natural Resources in September 2021. The press release announcing Strickler’s departure stated he was leaving to pursue “new opportunities where he will continue his excellent work of protecting our nation’s resources.” Governor Ralph Northam (D) appointed Ann Jennings, Virginia’s deputy secretary of Natural and Historic…
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State legislative elections in 2021 are the most contested since at least 2010
Two hundred and twenty state legislative seats are up for election on Nov. 2, 2021, in three state legislative chambers: the New Jersey State Senate and General Assembly and the Virginia House of Delegates. According to Ballotpedia’s Annual State Legislative Competitiveness Report, state legislative elections in 2021 are the most competitive since at least 2010.…
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With early voting underway, Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial candidates share stances on economy, other issues
Hala Ayala (D) and Winsome Sears (R) are running in the general election for lieutenant governor of Virginia on Nov. 2, 2021. Early voting began in Virginia on Sept.17 and will continue on weekdays through Oct. 29 as well as on two Saturdays, Oct.23 and 30. The incumbent lieutenant governor, Justin Fairfax (D), ran for…