Tag: 2024 election coverage
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32% of last February’s elections were uncontested
Throughout February, Ballotpedia covered 346 elections in 15 states, 32% of which were uncontested. The rate has increased since January when 24% of the 25 covered were uncontested. Ballotpedia defines an uncontested election as one where the number of candidates running is less than or equal to the number of seats up for election. This…
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Texas legislature set to consider universal school choice legislation after 2024 elections replaced Republican opponents with Republican supporters
Texas State Senate Republicans introduced a universal school choice bill (Senate Bill 2) on Jan. 24, and the Senate Education Committee approved it 9-2 on Jan. 29. SB 2 was placed on the Senate’s intent calendar for a floor vote on February 4. SB 2 would create an education savings account (ESA) program that, subject…
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What to know about the margins of victory in 2024 state legislative elections
Across all 5,807 state legislative seats up for election in 2024, the average margin of victory was 27.3%. An electoral margin of victory (MOV) is the difference between the share of votes cast for the winning candidate and the second-place candidate in an election. Only races with more than one candidate were included in this…
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Fifty-eight minor party candidates received more votes than the margin-of-victory (MOV) in the 2024 elections
In 2024, 58 minor party or independent candidates received more votes than the margin of victory in their election. Margins of victory can be used to measure electoral competitiveness or political party or candidate strength. This page identifies those elections where the difference between the winning and losing candidates was smaller than the number of…
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303 state legislative incumbents lost re-election campaigns in 2024
There were 5,807 state legislative seats up for election on November 5, 2024, in 44 states. Across those elections, 303 incumbents lost their re-election bids: 134 in general elections and 169 in primaries. This was the second even-year election in a row that primary defeats outnumbered those in general elections. Across primary elections in 2024,…
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Missouri is the 39th state to legalize sports betting after ballot initiative approval. Where else is it legalized?
After Missouri voters approved Amendment 2 on Nov. 5, 2024, Missouri became the 39th state to legalize sports betting. After the results of the election were certified on Dec. 5, 2024, sports betting officially became legal in the state. Voters approved Amendment 2, with 50.05% voting in favor and 49.95% opposing. While sports betting is…
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Five states reject ranked-choice voting measures, Alaska retains system after recount
In 2024, voters decided on seven ballot measures related to ranked-choice voting, the most ever in a single year. While voters in one state—Alaska—retained RCV, five measures to adopt the system were rejected in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon. In Missouri, voters approved a constitutional amendment to prohibit RCV. Voters in five localities, including…
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Louisiana voters to decide on four constitutional amendments on Dec. 7
Voters in Louisiana will decide on four constitutional amendments on Dec. 7. The amendments address topics related to state courts, state legislative procedures, and property tax sales. They each received support from a majority of legislative Republicans and Democrats. Amendment 1 would make changes to the judiciary commission and discipline of judges, including: Amendment 2…
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Pamela Price first district attorney in Alameda County’s history to be recalled
Voters recalled Alameda County, California, District Attorney Pamela Price on Nov. 5 by a margin of 65.2%-34.2%. The office is nonpartisan, but Price is affiliated with the Democratic Party. This is the first time in the county’s history that voters recalled a district attorney. The county must certify election results no later than Dec. 5,…
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Sheng Thao first mayor in Oakland’s history to be recalled
Oakland, California, voters recalled Mayor Sheng Thao by a margin of 61.5%-38.5% on Nov. 5. The office is nonpartisan, but Thao is affiliated with the Democratic Party. This is the first time in the city’s history that voters recalled a mayor. Official results will be certified on Dec. 5, at which time Thao must vacate…