Category: State
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January 2021 breakdown of state legislative party membership: 54.27% Republicans, 44.86% Democrats
According to Ballotpedia’s January partisan count of the 7,383 state legislators across the United States, 54.27% of all state legislators are Republicans and 44.86% are Democrats. Ballotpedia did not provide partisan counts for December 2020 because the number and partisan affiliation of state legislators fluctuated as officeholders were sworn in and out of office following…
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California Supreme Court upholds removal of judge following sexual misconduct charges
On Jan. 27, the California Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal by Jeffrey Johnson, a former justice of the 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 1. The state Commission on Judicial Performance removed Johnson from office, effective July 2, 2020, after charging him with nine counts of misconduct. The charges against Johnson included sexual…
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Julie Vargas sworn in to New Mexico Supreme Court
On January 25, Julie Vargas was sworn in as a justice on the New Mexico Supreme Court. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) appointed Vargas on December 19, 2020, to succeed Justice Judith Nakamura (R), who retired on December 1. Prior to her appointment, Vargas was a judge on the New Mexico Court of Appeals. She…
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Three candidates file to run in Louisiana House District 82 special election
Candidates interested in running in the special election for the District 82 seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives had until January 27, 2021, to file. The primary is scheduled for March 20, and the general election, if needed, is set for April 24. Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the…
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Dickey defeats Stewart in Iowa Senate District 41 special election
A special general election was held for Iowa State Senate District 41 on January 26, 2021. Adrian Dickey (R) won the special election with 55.3% of the vote and defeated Mary Stewart (D). The special election was called after Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R) resigned effective January 2 to be seated in the U.S. House of Representatives.…
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Four candidates file to run for two Louisiana appellate judgeships
A special primary election for two of the 53 seats on the Louisiana Circuit Courts of Appeal is scheduled for March 20, 2021. The filing deadline passed on January 22. Elections to the court are partisan, and a full term is 10 years. If needed, a general election is scheduled for April 24, 2021. Louisiana…
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19 states saw at least one party with a net gain of seats in both state legislative chambers
Following the Nov. 3, 2020, elections, there were 19 states where either Democrats, Republicans, or both had a net gain of seats in both the state House and Senate. Democrats had a net gain in both chambers of six states, seeing their largest net gains in Connecticut, where Democrats picked up a net of six…
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Three-hundred and forty-four elected officials at the state and federal levels sought another office in 2020
In 2020, Ballotpedia tracked 344 officials in Congress and state legislatures who ran for a different office than the one to which they were elected. Of those 344 officials, 162 (47%) won election to a new position. Fourteen members of the U.S. House and eight members of the U.S. Senate sought election to a different office. Four…
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Pennsylvania State Senate District 48 special election set for May 18, 2021
Election officials have scheduled a special election for the District 48 seat in the Pennsylvania State Senate for May 18, 2021. The seat became vacant when David Arnold (R) died from brain cancer on Jan. 17. There is no primary, and candidates will be nominated directly by political parties.
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Judith French appointed Ohio Director of Insurance
Director of Insurance Judith French (R) was appointed by Gov. Mike DeWine (R) on Jan. 19, to succeed interim director Tynesia Dorsey. The director is a cabinet-level executive position in the Ohio state government and the chief officer of the Department of Insurance. The director is responsible for ensuring the laws and regulations related to…