Category: State

Republicans secured a 68-35 majority with two independent members in the November 16 general election, after maintaining their majority in the Louisiana House of Representatives during the October 12 primaries. Heading into the primaries, Republicans held a 60-39 majority with five independent members and one vacancy in a seat previously held by a Republican. The 2019…

Following a recanvass of election results, Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin (R) conceded the Kentucky gubernatorial election to state Attorney General Andy Beshear (D). Beshear’s victory will break Republican trifecta in the state and keep the state under divided triplex control. Beshear is the son of former Gov. Steve Beshear (D), who served until 2015.  …

The tobacco age restriction increased to 21 in New York Wednesday, making it the sixteenth state to increase its tobacco age to 21 in the 21st century. Hawaii was the first state to do so, enacting its increase in June 2015.   The first tobacco age limit in U.S. history was imposed in 1883 in…

The House Democratic Campaign Committee of Louisiana reported a $100,000 contribution from the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC) in a report filed on November 2. The NDRC also contributed $100,000 each to the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee of Louisiana and Louisiana Democrats.   The NDRC is a 527 group chaired by former U.S. Attorney General…

Sen. Kevin Parker (D) introduced a bill in the New York State Senate on October 30 that would allow felons to vote while incarcerated. If passed, the bill would make New York the third state allowing inmates to vote, along with Maine and Vermont.   Voting rights for convicted felons vary substantially from state to…

Washington Referendum 88 was too close to call as of Wednesday morning, with ballots counted so far split 48.2% in favor of Initiative 1000 and 51.8% opposed. The measure was behind by about 20,000 votes and an estimated 332,000 ballots were left to be counted. The results must be certified by December 5.   The…

On November 5, Democrats flipped six Republican-held seats to win a 54-45 majority in the Virginia House of Delegates, while one race was too close to call. Heading into the election, Republicans held a 51-48 majority with one vacancy. The next legislative session will be the first where Democrats have a majority since 1997. Democrats…

On November 5, Democrats gained a 21-19 majority in the Virginia State Senate. Heading into the election, Republicans held a 21-19 majority. The next legislative session will be the first where Democrats have a majority since 2014. Democrats also gained a majority in the House of Delegates which, alongside Democratic governor Ralph Northam, will give…

Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin (R) state Attorney General Andy Beshear (D), and John Hicks (L) ran in Kentucky’s gubernatorial election. With 100 percent of precincts reporting at midnight EST, Beshear had received 49.2% of the vote, Bevin 48.9%, and Hicks 2.0%, though the race was too close to call.   According to election night returns,…

Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves defeated state Attorney General Jim Hood (D), Bob Hickingbottom (Constitution), and David Singletary (I) in Mississippi’s gubernatorial election. Reeves will be Mississippi’s third consecutive Republican governor. Reeves had received 52.2% of the vote to Hood’s 46.5% with 99% of precincts reporting.   Reeves said that he had cut taxes and lowered…