Category: State
-
Voters in Texas House district to decide special election runoff on Feb. 23
A special general runoff election is being held on February 23 for District 68 of the Texas House of Representatives. Craig Carter (R) is facing David Spiller (R) in the runoff. Carter and Spiller advanced from the general election on January 23, earning 18% of the vote and 44% of the vote, respectively. Governor Greg…
-
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan resigns
Illinois state Rep. Michael Madigan (D) announced on Feb. 18 that he would resign from the Illinois General Assembly. Madigan has been a member of the state House since 1971, representing District 22. “Fifty years ago, I decided to dedicate my life to public service,” Madigan said in a statement. “Simply put, I knew I…
-
Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson announces resignation
On Feb. 15, Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson announced her intention to resign, citing health and family reasons. Lawson said she will be leaving office as soon as a successor appointed by Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) is ready to take office. “I have dedicated the last 32 years of my life to public service,”…
-
Jill Underly, Deborah Kerr advance from Wisconsin superintendent of public instruction primary
The statewide spring primary for Wisconsin was held on Feb. 16, 2021. If two or fewer candidates filed for each seat on the ballot, the primary was canceled and the candidates automatically advanced to the general election on April 6. The primary for the Wisconsin superintendent of public instruction was the only statewide nonpartisan race…
-
Iowa requires public schools to offer full-time, in-person instruction
On Feb. 15, Iowa public schools were required to start offering full-time, in-person instruction for all grades. Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed the bill enacting the mandate on Jan. 29. The bill, which passed the state House and Senate with the support of all Republicans and one Democrat, allows parents to request a hybrid or…
-
Alaska House of Representatives elects speaker for 2021 session
On Feb. 11, twenty-four days after the 2021 legislative session began on Jan. 19th, the Alaska House of Representatives elected a permanent speaker of the House. Members elected Rep. Louise Stutes (R) in a 21-19 vote. Since the start of the session, House members had been divided between supporters of a Republican-led majority and those…
-
Kansas state Senator Bud Estes dies
On Feb. 13, Kansas Sen. Bud Estes (R) died after being hospitalized with an illness. Estes was first elected to state Senate District 38 in 2016, serving until his death. Before that, Estes was a member of the Kansas House of Representatives, representing District 119 from 2013 to 2017. Estes ran for re-election to the…
-
Breaking down partisanship on the Delaware Supreme Court
Delaware is the only state in the country with a constitutional requirement mandating partisan balance on the state supreme court. In 1851, Delaware amended its constitution to include: “three of the five Justices of the Supreme Court in office at the same time, shall be of one major political party, and two of said Justices…
-
Previewing Wisconsin’s spring primary elections on Feb. 16
The statewide spring primary for Wisconsin is on February 16, 2021. The filing deadline to run passed on January 5. If two or fewer candidates filed for each seat on the ballot, the primary was canceled and the candidates automatically advanced to the general election scheduled for April 6. Wisconsin’s spring elections feature nonpartisan offices,…