Category: State
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Recall election moves forward in Jackson, Michigan
In Michigan, a recall election against Jackson Councilwoman Kelsey Heck is set to be on the May 5 ballot. The Jackson County Elections Clerk’s Office verified the signatures in the recall effort against Heck and posted an issuance of election on January 21. Resident Susan Murdie initiated the recall effort in July 2019. Petitions listed…
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Wisconsin Marsy’s Law Amendment received over $500,000 from the national organization, Marsy’s Law for All
In its January campaign finance filing, Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin, which is leading the campaign in support of Wisconsin Marsy’s Law Crime Victims Rights Amendment, reported receiving over $500,000 in loans from Marsy’s Law for All, the national foundation that has funded 12 statewide Marsy’s Law ballot measure campaigns. It was founded in 2009 by…
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Two Missouri state senators resign to take positions in Gov. Parson’s administration
Two former Missouri State Senators – Shalonn “Kiki” Curls (D) and Jason Holsman (D) – have resigned their seats to take state executive positions. Both were appointed by Gov. Mike Parson (R) and confirmed by their colleagues in the Senate. Curls, who previously represented District 9, assumed office as one of three commissioners on the…
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Idaho governor issues two executive orders on regulation
Idaho Governor Brad Little (R) on January 16 signed two executive orders aimed at streamlining regulatory review and minimizing the volume of regulations in the state. Little issued the executive orders on the heels of his 2019 regulatory reduction efforts, which resulted in state agencies cutting or simplifying 75% of the state’s regulatory code. The first…
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Massachusetts representative becomes Taunton’s first female mayor
On January 6, 2020, Shaunna O’Connell (R) resigned from the Third Bristol District seat in the Massachusetts State House after becoming the mayor of Taunton, Massachusetts. O’Connell defeated Taunton City Council member Estele Borges (D) to become Taunton’s mayor on November 5, 2019. Taunton’s incumbent mayor, Thomas Hoye Jr., did not run for re-election. Before…
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Idaho state representative convicted of fraud, removed from office
The Idaho House of Representatives voted 65-0 to remove former Rep. John Green (R) from his District 2B seat on January 16, 2020, following his conviction on federal tax fraud charges the day before. Five members of the chamber were absent. Green’s expulsion is a historic first for the Idaho legislature. The state constitution forbids…
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Jordan and Super advance to special general election for Minnesota House District 60A
On January 21, 2020, Sydney Jordan won the special Democratic-Farmer-Labor primary to serve as the party’s nominee for District 60A in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Jordan won 28.55% of the vote in an 11-candidate primary field, according to the unofficial results. In the Legal Marijuana Now party’s primary, Marty Super ran unopposed for their…
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Georgia House special election scheduled for Tuesday
A special general election is scheduled for January 28 for District 171 of the Georgia House of Representatives. The seat became vacant on November 25, 2019, after Jay Powell (R) passed away. A runoff election, if necessary because no candidate secures a majority of the vote, is scheduled for February 25, 2020. Jewell Howard (D), Tommy…
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Multnomah County commissioners appoint Lawrence-Spence to Oregon House
On January 17, 2020, Akasha Lawrence-Spence (D) was appointed by Multnomah County commissioners to fill the vacant District 36 position in the Oregon House of Representatives. Lawrence-Spence will assume office on the first day of the Oregon General Assembly legislative session on February 3, 2020. Her current term will end on January 10, 2021. Lawrence-Spence’s…
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Harmon elected new Illinois Senate president
The Illinois State Senate elected Sen. Don Harmon (D) to be its president for the upcoming legislative session. Harmon won the post over fellow senator Kimberly Lightford (D). In Illinois, the Illinois Senate president is the highest-ranking legislative officer, serving as the leader of the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly. He or she…