Category: State
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Texas Democrats appeal absentee voting decision to U.S. Supreme Court
On June 16, the Democratic Party of Texas appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court an appellate court order staying a district court decision that had extended absentee voting eligibility in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. On May 19, Judge Samuel Frederick Biery of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas ordered that…
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Hudson becomes first African American commissioner on Virginia State Corporation Commission
Gov. Ralph Northam (D) appointed Jehmal Hudson to the Virginia State Corporation Commission on June 9, making Hudson the first African American commissioner to serve on that body. Hudson succeeds former commissioner Patricia West, who served on the commission from March 2019 until her term expired in January 2020. The Virginia State Corporation Commission consists…
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Two West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals justices win reelection
Three West Virginia Supreme Court seats were up for nonpartisan election on June 9. The general election for the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, along with West Virginia’s statewide primary election, was originally scheduled for May 12. Governor Jim Justice (R) postponed the election in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Two incumbent…
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New Hampshire’s stay-at-home order to expire on June 15
On June 11, Gov. Chris Sununu (R) announced that New Hampshire’s stay-at-home order will expire on June 15 at 11:59 p.m. When the order lifts, the following businesses are permitted to reopen: amateur sports, bowling, arcades, laser tag and billiard halls, charitable gaming, gyms and fitness centers (50% capacity), libraries, motorcycle rides, museums and art…
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Ballotpedia study examines statutes governing state-level judicial deference to agency interpretations
Two Ballotpedia surveys of all 50 state constitutions and administrative procedure acts (APAs) analyzed the different ways states approach judicial deference to administrative agencies. Judicial deference — the principle of judicial review in which a court yields to an agency’s interpretation of a statute or regulation — is one of five pillars key to understanding…
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Special election to be held June 23 for Kentucky Senate seat
A special election is being held on June 23 for District 26 of the Kentucky State Senate. Karen Berg (D) and Bill Ferko (R) are running in the special election. Party county executive committees choose nominees for state legislative special elections in Kentucky. The seat became vacant when Ernie Harris (R) retired from the legislature…
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Candidate filing period ends for state executive and legislative offices in three states
The filing deadline has passed to run for state executive and legislative offices in Connecticut, Florida, and New Hampshire. The deadline passed for Connecticut on June 11. For Florida and New Hampshire, it passed on June 12. Candidates filed for the following state executive and legislative offices: Connecticut: State Senate (36 seats) and State House…
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Voters decide state executive, legislative primaries in five states June 9
Five states held statewide primaries on June 9: Georgia, Nevada, North Dakota, South Carolina, and West Virginia. There were 684 seats on the ballot, including 23 state executive seats, 152 state senate seats, 493 state house seats, 14 state court seats, and two special state legislative seats. The following information was current as of June…
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Recall approved for circulation against Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
The Michigan Board of State Canvassers on June 8 approved the petition language for a recall against Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D). Supporters of the recall need to submit 1,062,647 signatures within a 60-day period to force a recall election. The 60-day period begins on the first day that signatures are collected. According to WTVB,…
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New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice Nakamura to retire in August
New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice Judith Nakamura is retiring on August 1, 2020. Nakamura joined the court in 2015 after being nominated by Gov. Susana Martinez (R). Before that, Nakamura was a judge on the New Mexico Second Judicial District Court and the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court. She also worked in private practice and for the State Land Office. She received…