Category: State
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California governor confirms Jenkins to state supreme court
The California State Commission on Judicial Appointments confirmed Martin Jenkins to the California Supreme Court on November 10, 2020. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) appointed Jenkins on October 5. Jenkins succeeds Justice Ming Chin, who retired on August 31. Jenkins is Newsom’s first appointee to the seven-member supreme court. Under California law, state supreme court justices…
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Wiley defeats Khanin in special election for Virginia House of Delegates District 29
A special general election was held for Virginia House of Delegates District 29 on November 3, 2020. Bill Wiley (R) defeated Irina Khanin (D), earning 63.7% of the vote to Khanin’s 36.2%. The special election was called after Chris Collins (R) resigned on June 28, 2020, to serve on the Virginia 26th Judicial District Court.…
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Ballotpedia study shows that 25 state APAs and constitutions specify qualifications for administrative agency leaders
A Ballotpedia survey of all 50 state constitutions and administrative procedure acts (APAs) revealed that 25 state APAs and constitutions specify qualifications for administrative agency leaders and the other half of the states do not specify any required qualifications as of November 2020. Administrative agency leaders are those who direct the activities of state agencies.…
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Signatures due Friday in Colorado governor recall effort
Supporters of the effort to recall Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) have until November 13 to submit 631,266 signatures to require a recall election. The recall was approved for circulation by Colorado’s secretary of state on September 14. The recall effort is being organized by Lori Ann Cutunilli and Greg Merschel. Last year, Merschel was…
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Two Alabama state legislative special elections on the ballot Nov. 17
Special elections for two seats in the Alabama State Legislature are on the ballot on November 17, 2020. In District 26 of the state Senate, six candidates are competing in a special Democratic primary to advance to the special general election on March 2, 2021. The Republican nominee, William Green, was the only candidate to…
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Arkansas Supreme Court clarifies deference prohibition
The Arkansas Supreme Court on October 29 clarified in American Honda Motor Co. v. Walther that state courts should not exercise deference to state agency interpretations of statutes. Instead, the court held that Arkansas state courts should review agency statutory interpretations de novo—without deference to a previous interpretation of the underlying statute in question. The court’s decision…
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33 committees supporting and opposing Colorado’s 11 November ballot measures raised over $59 million, spent over $57 million
Thirty-three committees registered to support and oppose the eleven measures that appeared on the Nov. 3 ballot in Colorado. The 33 committees raised $59,164,321.52 and spent $57,392,791.82 according to reports due on November 2 that covered election information through October 28. The next regular reports are due on December 3. Eight of these 11 measures…
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Justice on New York’s highest court schedules retirement
On November 3, 2020, State of New York Court of Appeals Justice Leslie Stein announced her retirement from the court, scheduled for June 4, 2021. At the time of the announcement, no reason for Stein’s retirement was given. Justice Stein joined the State of New York Court of Appeals in 2015. She was appointed to…
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Republican Kim Wyman wins third term as Washington Secretary of State
Incumbent Kim Wyman (R) defeated Gael Tarleton (D) in the election for Washington Secretary of State, winning a third term as the state’s top elections administrator. Wyman was first elected to the office in 2012 and won re-election over challenger Tina Podlodowski (D), 55% to 45%, in 2016. Preliminary results suggest Wyman won by a…
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Burgess defeats Lewis in special election for Florida State Senate District 20
Daniel Burgess (R) defeated Kathy Lewis (D) in the special general election for Florida State Senate District 20 on November 3. Burgess secured 54.9% of the vote to Lewis’s 45.1%. The special election was called after Tom Lee (R) announced his retirement, effective Nov. 3. Lee served from 2016 to 2020. Ballotpedia identified the Florida…