CategoryState

New Jersey statewide primary to be held June 6

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
May 19, 2023 at 1:01 PM

The statewide primary election for New Jersey is on June 6, 2023. The filing deadline to run was on March 27. Candidates are running in elections for the following offices: 

  • New Jersey State Senate
  • New Jersey General Assembly
  • Ballotpedia is also covering local elections in the following areas:
    • Essex County
    • Hudson County

Candidates are competing to advance to the general election scheduled for Nov. 7, 2023. 

New Jersey utilizes a semi-closed primary process, in which the selection of a party’s candidates in an election is generally limited to registered party members. Unaffiliated voters can register as party members at the polls on primary election day. Otherwise, a voter must indicate his or her party preference (e.g., via an updated voter registration) no later than the 55th day preceding the primary in order to vote in that party’s primary.

New Jersey’s statewide primary is the seventh to take place in the 2023 election cycle. The next primary is on June 20 in Virginia. 


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Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey: Indiana roundup

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
May 18, 2023 at 6:45 PM

Indiana is holding elections, including for Indianapolis City Council, on Nov. 7, 2023. A number of candidates running in these elections completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office.

Below is a selection of responses from the candidates who filled out the survey as of May 18. To read each candidate’s full responses, click their name at the bottom of the article.

Brienne Delaney (D) is running for election to Indianapolis City Council District 2 and the general election is on Nov. 7. Here’s how Delaney responded to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

“Crime Prevention and Infrastructure (utilities, streets, sidewalks, bridges).”

Click here to read the rest of Delaney’s answers.

William Jackson (D) is running for election to Indianapolis City Council District 20 and the general election is on Nov. 7. Here’s how Jackson responded to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

“One of the more pressing areas is access to affordable housing. Indianapolis is currently facing a housing crisis, and we must find innovative ways to help alleviate the burden on renters. … [including] … stronger tenant protection ordinances … safeguards against rent rises and discriminatory practices … inclusionary zoning.”

Click here to read the rest of Jackson’s answers.

If you’re an Indiana candidate or incumbent, click here to take the survey. The survey contains over 30 questions, and you can choose the ones you feel will best represent your views to voters. If you complete the survey, a box with your answers will display on your Ballotpedia profile. Your responses will also populate the information that appears in our mobile app, My Vote Ballotpedia.

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Governor Tony Evers (D) issues three executive orders from May 8-14

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
May 18, 2023 at 4:59 PM

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) issued three executive orders from May 8-14. As of May 14, Evers has issued 20 executive orders in 2023 — seven more than he did at this point a year ago. The orders are: 

  • Executive Order #199, where the governor ordered that the flag of the United States and the flag of the state of Wisconsin be flown at half-staff as a mark of respect for St. Croix County Sheriff’s Deputy Kaitie Leising.
  • Executive Order #200, where the governor ordered that the flag of the United States and the flag of the state of Wisconsin be flown at half-staff in honor of Hmong-Lao veterans.
  • Executive Order #201, where the governor ordered that the flag of the United States and the flag of the state of Wisconsin be flown at half-staff as a mark of respect for peace officers who have given their lives in the line of duty.

Governors use executive orders to manage executive branch operations. During the week of May 8-14, the nation’s governors issued 18 executive orders. Evers issued the most with three. Governors in 36 states issued the fewest orders with zero. Republican governors issued 10 of the 18 orders, while Democratic governors issued eight.

Evers has served as governor since Jan. 7, 2019. He issued 31 executive orders in 2022 and 49 in 2021. Nationally, governors issued at least 1,565 executive orders in 2022. Governors have issued 591 executive orders in 2023. Republican governors issued 386, while Democratic governors issued 205. Wisconsin is a divided government, meaning neither party holds trifecta control.

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Governor Phil Murphy (D) issues one executive order from May 8-14

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
May 18, 2023 at 4:41 PM

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) issued one executive order from May 8-14. As of May 14, Murphy has issued 16 executive orders in 2023 — three fewer than he did at this point a year ago. The order is: 

  • Executive Order No. 329, where the governor ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in recognition and mourning of Deptford Township Police Officer Robert Shisler.

Governors use executive orders to manage executive branch operations. During the week of May 8-14, the nation’s governors issued 18 executive orders. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) issued the most with three. Governors in 36 states issued the fewest orders with zero. Republican governors issued 10 of the 18 orders, while Democratic governors issued eight.

Murphy has served as governor since Jan. 16, 2018. He issued 37 executive orders in 2022 and 66 in 2021. Nationally, governors issued at least 1,565 executive orders in 2022. Governors have issued 591 executive orders in 2023. Republican governors issued 386, while Democratic governors issued 205. New Jersey is a Democratic trifecta, meaning Democrats control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature. 

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State supreme courts issue 110 opinions between May 8-14

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
May 18, 2023 at 4:41 PM

State supreme courts issued 110 opinions between May 8-14. The North Dakota Supreme Court led the field with 12 opinions issued, closely followed by Pennsylvania with 11 and Arkansas with eight.

Last week’s 110 opinions account for 4% of the year-to-date total of 2,474. The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia still sits at the top of the yearly leader board with 178 opinions issued this year, followed by Pennsylvania with 170 and Delaware with 151.

Supreme courts in 18 states have issued fewer than 25 opinions since the start of the year.

Some of the state supreme court opinions issued this year include those in:

  1. Wisconsin, where the court affirmed that an arbitrator did not exceed his powers when disciplining a Green Bay Police Department detective;
  2. Texas, where the court “held that Texas courts have specific jurisdiction over German automobile manufacturers based on their intentional post-sale tampering with affected vehicles that were owned, operated, and serviced in Texas;” and,
  3. Iowa, where the court dismissed the Iowa Department of Human Services’ (DHS) appeal against a district court’s ruling that Iowa’s Medicaid program must pay for sex reassignment surgery.

Supreme courts in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Texas, and Delaware regularly end the year as some of the country’s most active courts. Collectively, they accounted for 26% of all opinions issued in 2021 and 2022, and, to date, 28% in 2023.

Every state and the District of Columbia have at least one supreme court, known as a court of last resort. Oklahoma and Texas have two courts of last resort, one for civil cases and one for criminal proceedings. Supreme courts do not hear trials of cases. Instead, they hear appeals of decisions made in lower courts. The number of justices on each state supreme court ranges between five and nine.



Governor Kathy Hochul (D) issues one executive order from May 8-14

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
May 18, 2023 at 4:32 PM

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) issued one executive order from May 8-14. As of May 14, Hochul has issued 15 executive orders in 2023 — seven fewer than she did at this point a year ago. The order is: 

  • Executive Order No. 28, where the governor declared a State Disaster Emergency for the entire state of New York relevant to the anticipated surge of migration into the United States and the imminent arrival in New York of significant numbers of individuals seeking shelter and humanitarian assistance.

Governors use executive orders to manage executive branch operations. During the week of May 8-14, the nation’s governors issued 18 executive orders. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) issued the most with three. Governors in 36 states issued the fewest orders with zero. Republican governors issued 10 of the 18 orders, while Democratic governors issued eight.

Hochul has served as governor since Aug. 24, 2021. She issued 64 executive orders in 2022 and 25 in 2021. Nationally, governors issued at least 1,565 executive orders in 2022. Governors have issued 591 executive orders in 2023. Republican governors issued 386, while Democratic governors issued 205. New York is a Democratic trifecta, meaning Democrats control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature.

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Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) issues one executive order from May 8-14

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
May 18, 2023 at 4:24 PM

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) issued one executive order from May 8-14. As of May 14, Lujan Grisham has issued 58 executive orders in 2023 — four more than she did at this point a year ago. The order is: 

  • Executive Order 2023-058, where the governor authorized additional emergency funds for the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management due to flooding in Grant County that resulted from a monsoon rain event that began on August 19, 2022.

Governors use executive orders to manage executive branch operations. During the week of May 8-14, the nation’s governors issued 18 executive orders. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) issued the most with three. Governors in 36 states issued the fewest orders with zero. Republican governors issued 10 of the 18 orders, while Democratic governors issued eight.

Lujan Grisham has served as governor since Jan. 1, 2019. She issued 164 executive orders in 2022 and 68 in 2021. Nationally, governors issued at least 1,565 executive orders in 2022. Governors have issued 591 executive orders in 2023. Republican governors issued 386, while Democratic governors issued 205. New Mexico is a Democratic trifecta, meaning Democrats control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature.

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Governor Ron DeSantis (R) issues one executive order from May 8-14

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
May 18, 2023 at 4:13 PM

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) issued one executive order from May 8-14. As of May 14, DeSantis has issued 103 executive orders in 2023 — seven fewer than he did at this point a year ago. The order is: 

  • Executive Order Number 23-103, where the governor revoked the suspension of Kristen Tieshia Fitzgerald as city commissioner for the City of Lake Wales and directed that Fitzgerald shall be reinstated with full back pay and other allowances.

Governors use executive orders to manage executive branch operations. During the week of May 8-14, the nation’s governors issued 18 executive orders. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) issued the most with three. Governors in 36 states issued the fewest orders with zero. Republican governors issued 10 of the 18 orders, while Democratic governors issued eight.

DeSantis has served as governor since Jan. 8, 2019. He issued 272 executive orders in 2022 and 246 in 2021. Nationally, governors issued at least 1,565 executive orders in 2022. Governors have issued 591 executive orders in 2023. Republican governors issued 386, while Democratic governors issued 205. Florida is a Republican trifecta, meaning Republicans control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature.

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All candidates for New Jersey General Assembly District 5 complete Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
May 17, 2023 at 10:52 PM

Both of the candidates running in the June 6, 2023, Republican primary election for New Jersey General Assembly District 5 — Joe Miller and Yalinda Pagan — completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office.

Here are the candidates’ responses to the question: What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Miller:

  • “Joe stands for individual freedom and success.
  • Miller believes that your financial earnings belong to no one but yourself and your family.
  • Joe supports limited government interference in our day-to-day lives.”

Pagan:

  • “Parental rights are to be protected and not stripped away by government.
  • I fully support a limited government and individual liberty.
  • Our children’s education needs to be age appropriate and factual.”

Click on the candidates’ profile pages below to read their full responses to this and other questions.

We ask all federal, state, and local candidates with profiles on Ballotpedia to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Ask the candidates in your area to fill out the survey.

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New Jersey Supreme Court issues one opinion from May 8-14

By Mercedes Yanora
In State
May 17, 2023 at 10:36 PM

The New Jersey Supreme Court issued one opinion from May 8-14. As of May 14, the court issued 20 opinions — three fewer than this point a year ago. The opinion is below:

  • New Jersey v. Bullock, where the court “suppressed all of defendant’s statements, finding that he was in custody in the courtyard and should have been properly advised of his rights, which did not occur. The trial court also suppressed the statements defendant made at the police station because of improper administration and waiver of Miranda rights. The Appellate Division affirmed, agreeing with the trial court that defendant’s statements in the courtyard must be suppressed. The New Jersey Supreme Court concurred with the Appellate Division and affirmed suppression of defendant’s statements.”

From May 8-14, state supreme courts issued 110 opinions nationally. The North Dakota Supreme Court issued the most with 12. State supreme courts in 20 states issued the fewest with zero. Courts where judges are elected have issued 68 opinions, while courts whose members are appointed have issued 42.

The New Jersey Supreme Court is the state’s court of last resort and has seven judgeships. The current chief of the court is Stuart Rabner. The court issued 55 opinions in 2022 and 2021. Nationally, state supreme courts issued 7,423 opinions in 2022 and 8,320 in 2021. The courts have issued 2,474 opinions in 2023. Courts where judges are elected have issued 1,390 opinions, while courts whose members are appointed have issued 1,084. New Jersey is a Democratic trifecta, meaning Democrats control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature. 

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