Category: State
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Incumbent governors had a 100% re-election rate in 2020
Eleven states held elections for governor this year, including nine where the incumbent ran for re-election. All nine governors up for re-election won another term this year. Republicans had greater partisan risk in 2020; the eleven states electing a governor included seven with Republican governors and four with Democratic governors. Republicans won eight of those…
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Kansas governor announces appointment of new lieutenant governor after current LG becomes treasurer
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) announced on Dec. 14 that she would appoint David Toland to the position of lieutenant governor to fill the vacancy created by her appointment of Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers (D) as state treasurer. Toland will take office after Rogers is sworn in as treasurer on Jan. 2, 2021. Toland is…
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Summary of Nov. 3 state appeals court elections — Democrats win seats in Texas, Republicans gain in North Carolina
Democrats won eight of the 24 seats up this year in Texas’ intermediate appellate courts, all of which were held by Republican judges heading into the election. Republicans made gains in North Carolina, winning all five intermediate appellate court seats up this year, four of which were held by Democratic or Democratic-aligned justices. The Republican…
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Voters approved 62 constitutional amendments in 29 states in 2020
Every state but Delaware requires voters to ratify proposed changes to a state’s constitution. There are four ways that proposed constitutional amendments can be proposed and put on the ballot: Through legislatively referred constitutional amendments. Through citizen-initiated constitutional amendments put on the ballot through signature petition drives. Eighteen states allow this method of amendment. Through…
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Todd Eddins joins Hawaii Supreme Court
Todd Eddins was sworn in to the Hawaii Supreme Court as an associate justice on Dec. 11. Founded in 1959, the Hawaii Supreme Court is the state’s court of last resort and has five judgeships. Of the five current justices, Democratic governors appointed four, and a Republican governor—Linda Lingle—appointed one. Gov. David Ige (D) appointed…
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Louisiana House of Representatives District 35 special election set for March 20, 2021
A new state legislative special election has been added to our list. The special election is for the District 35 seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives on March 20, 2021. The primary is on February 6, and the filing deadline is on January 8.
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Kansas governor appoints Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers to become state treasurer
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) announced Dec. 10 that she will appoint Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers (D) to the position of state treasurer to fill the vacancy created by Jacob LaTurner’s (R) election to the U.S. House. Rogers will be sworn in on Jan. 2, 2021, and will serve until the position is up for…
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Rhode Island governor nominates two justices to state supreme court
Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) made her first and second nominations to the state Supreme Court on December 8, 2020. Raimondo nominated Erin Lynch Prata to succeed Justice Gilbert Indeglia, who retired on June 30, 2020, and Melissa Long to succeed Justice Francis Flaherty, who is retiring on December 31, 2020. Selection of Supreme…
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Voters to decide special election runoff in Texas State Senate District 30
A special general election runoff is being held on December 19 for District 30 of the Texas State Senate. Shelley Luther (R) and Drew Springer (R) advanced to the general runoff. The winner will serve until January 2023. A candidate needed to earn more than 50% of the vote to win in the general election.…