Category: State
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State legislative primaries were most competitive in 2022 out of past four election cycles
Primaries for state legislative incumbents in states with trifectas have become more competitive since 2016. A trifecta happens when one political party holds the governorship and majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. In 2016, the percentage of state legislative incumbents facing a primary challenger was 20.6%. In 2018, it was 21.9%, and in…
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Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez resigns from Colorado House
Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez (D) resigned from the Colorado House of Representatives on Aug. 4, 2023, to serve as an at-large member of the Denver City Council. Gonzales-Gutierrez most recently ran for re-election to the District 4 House seat in 2022, winning with 83% of the vote. She was later elected to the Denver City Council on April…
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Election legislation roundup: New Jersey State Legislature
As of July 30, members of the New Jersey State Legislature, which includes the New Jersey General Assembly and the New Jersey State Senate, have passed two bills related to election administration since the beginning of the year. Of those two bills, two have been enacted, with one being enacted during the week of July…
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Group submits signatures for veto referendum to overturn Arkansas LEARNS Act
Citizens for Arkansas Public Education and Students (CAPES) submitted signatures to place a veto referendum on the Nov. 2024 ballot to repeal the LEARNS Act, an education bill signed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R). CAPES turned in signatures on July 31 and said they expected to be about 500 signatures short of the requirement.…
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Maine voters to decide on state flag ballot measure in Nov. 2024
Maine voters will decide on whether to change the design of the state flag on Nov. 5, 2024. This is the first certified statewide measure for the Maine 2024 ballot. The ballot measure would replace the current Maine state flag, which features the state’s coat of arms, with the first official state flag called the…
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Arkansas laws opposing ESG take effect
Two new state laws in Arkansas creating an oversight committee to develop a list of companies using ESG in investment or boycott decisions go into effect on August 1. State and public entities “could no longer conduct business with the companies” on the list, according to The Center Square. Ballotpedia tracks support for and opposition…
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Ohio seeks to implement Medicaid work requirements
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (R) on July 4, 2023, signed a two-year state budget that seeks to implement work requirements for Medicaid recipients. The state budget requires the director of the Ohio Department of Medicaid to apply for a Section 1115 waiver from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The waiver, if approved…
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120 candidates filed for federal and statewide offices last week
One hundred twenty people declared candidacies for federal or statewide offices in the past week. All of these candidates declared before their state’s official filing deadline. Fifty-three of those candidates were Democratic, while 63 were Republican. Four are minor-party candidates. Ninety-eight candidates are running for Congress and 22 for state legislatures. Since the beginning of…
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Groups sue to allow absentee ballot drop boxes in Wisconsin
On July 20, the Elias Law Group sued the Wisconsin Elections Commission alleging that a 2022 Wisconsin Supreme Court decision prohibiting the use of drop boxes in the state violates voters’ rights. The Elias Law Group describes itself as a “mission-driven firm committed to helping Democrats win, citizens vote, and progressives make change.” In the…
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More than 80% of contributions to campaigns surrounding Ohio Issue 1 came from outside the state
Campaigns supporting or opposing Ohio Issue 1 have raised a combined $32.25 million. More than 80% of contributions for and against Issue 1 came from out-of-state donors. Issue 1, which is on a special election ballot for Aug. 8, 2023, would make three changes to the ballot measure process in Ohio, including increasing the voter…