Category: State
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Single-party control of state executive offices at highest point in more than a decade
Forty-four states have single-party control of state executive offices as of June 2023, which is up from 30 in 2010. When a single party controls the offices of governor, attorney general, and secretary of state, it is known as a state government triplex. If a state does not have all three triplex offices, Ballotpedia considers…
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Michigan continues to lead in number of mayoral recalls
For the second consecutive year, Michigan has experienced the largest number of mayoral recalls in the country as of the mid-point of the year. Ballotpedia has tracked 29 recall efforts against 28 mayors in the first half of 2023, with 15 of those recalls targeting mayors in Michigan. Disputes related to wind turbines and solar…
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Texas school board races still more competitive during odd-year elections but % of incumbents who lost re-election may buck trend
Texas school board elections tend to see more candidates file per seat in odd-numbered years than in even-numbered years. Between 2018 and 2023, odd-numbered election years have averaged 2.08 candidates per seat, while even-numbered election years have averaged 1.78 candidates per seat. The highest average number of candidates per seat in Texas school board elections…
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Incumbent Andy Beshear (D) and Daniel Cameron (R) are running in the Kentucky gubernatorial election on Nov. 7
Incumbent Andy Beshear (D) and Daniel Cameron (R) are running in the Nov. 7, 2023, Kentucky gubernatorial election. The primary was May 16, 2023. The filing deadline was Jan. 6, 2023. According to CNN’s Eric Bradner, “The race between Beshear and Cameron, much like Virginia’s state legislative races this fall, carries significant implications for 2024’s elections, as…
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All candidates for Virginia House of Delegates District 15 complete Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey
All three candidates running in the June 20 Democratic primary election for Virginia House of Delegates District 15 — Laura Jane Cohen (D), Eric Schmidt (D), and Henri’ Thompson (D) — completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office. Here are…
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Texas has enacted the most election-related legislation so far this year
As of June 15, legislators across the country have enacted 208 election-related bills this year, 42 more than the 166 bills states had enacted at this point in 2022. Texas has enacted the most bills this year, with 20, surpassing Tennessee, which has enacted 17. In 2022, Tennessee enacted the most bills at this point…
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Language for veto referendum challenging the LEARNS Act is the longest ballot title in Arkansas history
Citizens for Arkansas Public Education and Students (CAPES) began filing ballot language for a proposed veto referendum with the Arkansas attorney general in May after the Arkansas State Legislature adjourned its 2023 legislative session. After two previous attempts were rejected, Attorney General Tim Griffin certified the ballot language submitted by CAPES. The ballot title contains…
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Unemployment insurance indexing bill fails in Arizona
The Arizona House of Representatives on June 12 voted against a bill 29-31 that would have indexed the length of unemployment insurance benefits to the state’s unemployment rate. During times when the unemployment rate was at or below 5%, unemployed workers would have been able to collect a maximum of 12 weeks of benefits under…
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State supreme courts issued 257 opinions from May 29-June 11
State supreme courts issued 257 opinions from May 29-June 11. The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia led the field with 27 opinions issued, followed by Mississippi with 20 and Delaware with 19. The last two weeks’ 257 opinions account for 9% of the year-to-date total of 3,013. West Virginia, again, leads with 228…
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Six legislative referrals on statewide ballots in 2023 received unanimous support from both parties, an increase from 2021 and 2019 sessions
Twenty-nine (29) legislative referrals were certified for statewide ballots in 2023 as of Jun. 15. Of that total, six received unanimous support from both parties; six received unanimous support from only Republicans; and 10 received unanimous support from only Democrats, which is higher than 2021 (4) and 2019 (5). One measure in New York—where legislative…