Category: State
-
Maine Supreme Judicial Court hears arguments about the role of ballot referenda in overturning state administrative agency decisions
On August 5, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court heard oral arguments in a case about whether voters may use the ballot referendum process to reverse actions taken by a state administrative agency. At issue is a ballot referendum set to appear on the November 2020 ballot that would overturn a state agency decision giving a…
-
Ballotpedia study shows that no states require administrative agencies to meet higher burdens of proof in proportion to the size of monetary penalties they seek to impose
A Ballotpedia survey of all 50 state constitutions and administrative procedure acts (APAs) revealed that no state constitutions or APAs require administrative agencies to meet higher burdens of proof in proportion to the size of monetary penalties they seek to impose following adjudication. Agency adjudication is a quasi-judicial process that takes place in the executive…
-
Four states to hold state executive and legislative primaries on August 11
The statewide primary election for Connecticut, Minnesota, Vermont, and Wisconsin is on August 11, 2020. A total of 689 seats are up for election, including six state executive seats and 683 state legislative seats. Candidates are running in elections for the following offices: Connecticut • State Senate (all 36 seats) • State House (all 151…
-
DeSantis appoints judge, attorney to Florida Court of Appeals
On July 29, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R ) filled two vacancies on the Florida Second District Court of Appeal. The court is one of five intermediate appellate courts in Florida. Intermediate appellate courts serve as an intermediate step between the trial courts and the courts of last resort in a state. The Florida District…
-
Davis joins Tennessee Court of Appeals after delayed confirmation
Over 60 days after Gov. Bill Lee (R) appointed Kristi Davis to the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Davis was confirmed and sworn into office. She resigned from her position on the state’s Sixth Circuit Court on July 31 and assumed office on the appellate court on August 3. Davis fills the vacancy created by the…
-
Five states hold state executive and legislative primaries August 4
Five states held statewide primaries on August 4, 2020: Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, and Washington. There were 690 state executive and legislative seats up for election. These included 22 state executive seats, 112 state senate seats, and 556 state house seats. Candidates competed to advance to the general election on November 3, 2020. The following…
-
Alaska State Rep. killed in airplane crash
Alaska House of Representatives District 30 member Gary Knopp (R) died in a plane crash near the city of Soldatna, Alaska, on August 1. The Juneau Empire reported that a plane piloted by Knopp collided with another plane just outside of the Soldatna airport. Knopp was running for re-election in 2020, and his name will…
-
Thirty-four states have statewide mask orders—what are the restrictions in your state?
Thirty-four states have statewide orders requiring individuals to wear masks in indoor or outdoor public spaces, as of August 6. All 24 states with a Democratic governor have statewide mask orders, while 10 out of 26 Republican states require face coverings. The mask requirements have been issued across five months: • Three orders have been…
-
Inslee and Culp advance from Washington’s top-two gubernatorial primary
Incumbent Gov. Jay Inslee (D) and Loren Culp (R) defeated 34 other candidates to advance in Washington’s top-two primary for governor on August 4, 2020. In a top-two primary, all candidates regardless of party affiliation run in the same primary. The top-two vote-getters advance to the general election. Eleven Republicans, five Democrats, five unaffiliated candidates, three independents, and 12 candidates affiliated with third parties…
-
Hawaii voters to decide state executive and legislative primaries
The statewide primary election for Hawaii is on August 8, 2020. The filing deadline to run passed on June 2. Candidates are competing to advance to the general election scheduled for November 3, 2020. Candidates are running in elections for the following state offices: • Office of Hawaiian Affairs (four seats) • State Senate (13…