Category: State
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Van Pounds Challenges Incumbent Justice Thomas Balmer for Position 1 on the Oregon Supreme Court
Primaries are taking place for three positions on the Oregon Supreme Court on May 19, 2020. The Position 1 primary is the only contested primary, between current Justice Thomas Balmer and Van Pounds. If a justice wins over fifty percent of the vote in the primary election, then he secures a seat on the supreme…
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Voters to decide state executive, legislative, and judicial primaries in Oregon
The statewide primary election for Oregon is on May 19, 2020. The filing deadline to run passed on March 10. Candidates are running in elections for the following offices: • Secretary of State • Treasurer • Attorney General • 16 seats in the Oregon State Senate • All 60 seats in the Oregon House of…
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New Mexico governor issues modified stay-at-home order, allows most retail to reopen May 16
On May 14, 2020, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) announced during a news conference that the state’s stay-at-home order would be extended through May 31 but most retailers and places of worship would be allowed to reopen on May 16. That day, smaller retailers, offices, and call centers can reopen at 25 percent…
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State supreme court strikes down Wisconsin’s stay-at-home order
On May 13, the Wisconsin Supreme Court, in 4-3 ruling, struck down the state’s stay-at-home order. The court found that Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm overstepped her authority when she extended the state’s stay-at-home order through May 26 on behalf of Gov. Tony Evers (D). This marks the first instance of a…
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Idaho state representative dies
Idaho State Representative Thyra Stevenson (R)—who represented District 6A—died on May 11. She had been hospitalized after suffering a heart attack May 4. Stevenson held her district’s seat from 2012 to 2014 and from 2016 until her death. Stevenson was running for re-election to a fourth term in the state House against Aaron von Ehlinger.…
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Alaska Supreme Court rules Gov. Mike Dunleavy recall can proceed
The Alaska Supreme Court on May 8 affirmed a superior court ruling that the recall effort against Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) can move forward. In November 2019, Attorney General Kevin Clarkson (R) determined that the recall failed to meet any of the grounds for recall. In Alaska, a recall petition has to meet one of…
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One Kansas Supreme Court justice faces retention election in November
One Kansas Supreme Court justice, Eric Rosen, will face a retention election on November 3, 2020. He was appointed by a Democratic governor. Currently, two justices on the court were appointed by a Republican governor while four were appointed by a Democratic governor. The governor appoints the seven justices of the supreme court through a…
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Louisiana to lift stay-at-home order, reopen select businesses on May 15
Yesterday, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) unveiled the “Roadmap to a Resilient Louisiana” reopening plan, the first phase of which is set to take effect on May 15, 2020. Under the plan, the following businesses will be permitted to reopen at 25% capacity at that time: gyms and fitness centers; barber shops and hair/nail…
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Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker to self-quarantine after staff member tests positive for coronavirus
On May, 11, 2020, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) announced that he and members of his office would self-quarantine after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19 last week. All senior members of Pritzker’s staff have tested negative for the virus. Pritzker received a test Sunday, May 10, which also came back negative. Ballotpedia tracks…
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California to send mail-in ballots automatically to all registered voters in the general election
On May 8, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed an executive order directing county election officials to deliver mail-in ballots automatically to all registered voters in the November 3, 2020, general election. Newsom announced that in-person voting locations would also be available. Under normal circumstances, California allows any registered voter to cast a ballot by mail,…