Category: State

New York’s legislature sent a firearms regulation bill to Governor Cuomo earlier this week.   The New York State Legislature approved SB 2451 along party lines on January 29. According to the New York State Senate website, the bill “establishes extreme risk protection orders as a court-issued order of protection prohibiting a person from purchasing,…

America’s three most popular governors throughout 2018 remained the most popular in the fourth quarter of the year, according to a poll of gubernatorial approval ratings conducted by Morning Consult. The quarterly poll measures approval ratings for all 50 state governors.   For the eighth consecutive quarter, Gov. Charlie Baker (R-Mass.) was the most popular…

On January 25, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced special elections to fill three state House seats left vacant after the previous occupants joined his gubernatorial administration. A special primary is set for April 9, and the special general election is on June 18. The filing deadline for candidates is February 8.   The three…

Former New Mexico state Rep. Henry “Kiki” Saavedra (D) died on January 28, 2019, from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. He was 82 years old.   He served in the New Mexico House of Representatives for 37 years from 1977 to 2014. He left office in 2014 when he decided to not seek re-election. While in…

The Alaska House of Representatives still does not have a working majority, leaving it unable to elect a permanent speaker, conduct legislative business, or appoint members to standing committees. The House has been deadlocked since the session began on January 15. If it does not establish a majority by February 6, it will pass the…

North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Martin is retiring on February 28, 2019. Martin is leaving the court to become the dean of Regent University Law School in Virginia Beach, Virginia.   Because Martin is retiring midterm, Gov. Roy Cooper (D) will select a successor. Martin’s successor will be Gov. Roy Cooper’s (D) first…

Special elections for the District 79 and District 145 seats in the Texas House of Representatives were held on January 29. The race for the District 79 seat was decided outright when Democrat Art Fierro defeated two challengers with 50.8 percent of the vote, according to unofficial election night results. The race for the District…

Kentucky’s 2019 gubernatorial election will either preserve the state’s Republican trifecta or return it to divided government. Kentucky has been a Republican trifecta since the start of the 2017 legislative session. Gov. Matt Bevin is a Republican and Republicans control both chambers of the legislature.   Since 1992, there have been 11 years of trifecta…

Four of the twelve states holding gubernatorial elections in 2020 have not seen the office change hands since the 20th century.   The longest winning streak on the 2020 ballot is in Utah, where Republicans have won the past 10 gubernatorial elections. Should Republicans win their 11th consecutive gubernatorial election in the state, they would…

Virginia Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth McClanahan is retiring on September 1, 2019. Under Virginia law, the Virginia General Assembly selects the justices of the supreme court. If the legislature is out of session, the governor appoints an interim justice who must be approved by the legislature. The Republican-controlled Virginia General Assembly will choose a successor.…