Category: State
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NC state Senator resigns
North Carolina legislator Andy Wells (R) resigned from his seat in the state senate on July 27. He had represented District 42 in the chamber since 2015 and previously represented District 96 in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 2013 to 2015. Wells did not file to run for re-election to his seat in…
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Special election primary to be held in Alabama House district
A special election primary is being held on August 4 for District 49 of the Alabama House of Representatives. Cheryl Patton is running in the Democratic primary. Russell Bedsole, James Dean, Donna Dorough Strong, Chuck Martin, Jackson McNeely, and Mimi Penhale are running in the Republican primary. A primary runoff is scheduled for September 1…
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All 50 states have active declared emergencies related to the coronavirus pandemic
All 50 states are currently operating under active states of emergency related to the coronavirus pandemic, with several set to last until rescinded by the governor. Starting in late February, governors across the country declared states of emergency as coronavirus cases climbed. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) was the first governor in the country to…
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Kansas education board blocks governor’s order delaying school start date
The Kansas State Board of Education on July 22 voted to block an executive order issued by Governor Laura Kelly (D) that would have delayed the start of public and private school instruction in the state until after Labor Day. Kelly issued the executive order on July 20 in light of Kansas’ recent spike in…
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Special election primary being held in Washington Senate district
A special election primary is being held on August 4 for District 38 of the Washington State Senate. June Robinson (D), Kelly Fox (D), and Bernard Moody (R) are running in the special election. The top two candidates in the primary will compete in a general election on November 3. Candidates are running to serve…
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Texas Supreme Court Justice Green to retire in August
Texas Supreme Court Justice Paul Green is retiring on August 31, 2020. Green joined the court in 2005 after winning election to the position on November 2, 2004. Before that, he served for 10 years as a justice on the Texas Fourth District Court of Appeals, taking the bench after being elected in 1994. He…
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Montana governor lawsuit challenges U.S. Bureau of Land Management director nomination
On July 20, Montana Governor Steve Bullock (D) filed a lawsuit aimed at prohibiting acting director of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) William Perry Pendley from exercising the director powers of the agency. The lawsuit argues that Pendley, who President Trump officially nominated to become director of BLM on June 30, 2020, serves…
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First 2022 state ballot measure qualifies in California
The first state ballot measure for 2022 qualified for the ballot in California on July 21, 2020. The ballot initiative would increase California’s cap on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice lawsuits based on changes in inflation since 1975, which is when the cap on noneconomic damages was enacted. In 2021, the damages cap of $250,000…
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Louisiana state executive and judicial filing deadline ends July 24
On July 24, 2020, the filing deadline passed to run for state executive and judicial offices in Louisiana. Candidates filed for the following offices: Louisiana Public Service Commission (two seats) Louisiana Supreme Court (two seats) Louisiana Circuit Courts of Appeal (13 seats) The primary is scheduled for November 3, and the general election will be…
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Keller appointed to Connecticut Supreme Court
On July 20, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) appointed appellate judge Christine E. Keller to the state supreme court. If confirmed by the Connecticut General Assembly, Keller will fill the vacancy created when former justice Richard Palmer reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 in May 2020. Keller has served on the Connecticut Court of…