Tag: news
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Former state Rep. Ronald Ryckman appointed to the Kansas state Senate
The Republican precinct committees of Kansas Senate District 38 appointed Ronald Ryckman (R) to the state Senate on March 4. Ryckman replaces Bud Estes (R), who passed away on Feb. 13. Since the vacancy occurred before May 1 of the second year of Estes’ term, a special election will be held in November 2022. The…
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New Jersey Supreme Court justice schedules retirement
New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Jaynee LaVecchia scheduled her retirement for August 31, 2021. LaVecchia’s replacement will be Governor Phil Murphy’s (D) second nominee to the seven-member supreme court. Under New Jersey law, when a vacancy occurs, justices of the New Jersey Supreme Court are nominated by the governor. One week after the public notice…
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John Blake resigns from Pennsylvania state Senate
Pennsylvania state Sen. John Blake (D) resigned on March 8 to take a position on U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright’s (D) staff. Cartwright represents Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District in Congress. Blake represented District 22 in the state Senate, which includes Lackawanna County and parts of Luzerne and Monroe Counties. “It has been a very difficult and…
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Candidates backed by Democratic Socialists of America sweep Nevada Democratic Party leadership elections; professional party staff subsequently resign
On March 6, 2021, the Democratic Party of Nevada conducted elections for its five leadership positions. Candidates endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America won all five posts: Judith Whitmer as chairwoman, Jacob Allen as first vice chairman, Zaffar Iqbal as second vice chairman, Ahmad Ade as secretary, and Howard Beckerman as treasurer. Shortly thereafter,…
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SCOTUS grants review in one case for its 2021-2022 term
On March 8, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) accepted one case for review during its 2021-2022 term. With the addition of this case, the court has granted review in a total of eight cases for the term, which is scheduled to begin on October 4, 2021. Thompson v. Clark concerns the Supreme…
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Utah to vote in 2022 on increasing the limit on appropriations the state legislature can make in an emergency session
The Utah State Legislature adjourned its 2021 session on March 5, 2021, after approving a constitutional amendment that would increase the limit on appropriations the state legislature can make in an emergency session. It would increase the limit on appropriations from 1% to 5% of the total amount appropriated by the Legislature for the immediately…
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SCOTUS issues 8-1 opinion, Chief Justice Roberts dissents
On March 8, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued an opinion in the case Uzuegbunam v. Preczewski, which concerned nominal damages claims and whether they provide legal standing in federal cases. Nominal damages claims are when a judge finds in favor of one party in a lawsuit but concludes that no real…
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Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) will not seek re-election in 2022
Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) announced on March 8 that he would not run for re-election in 2022. First elected to the Senate in 2010, Blunt is the top Republican on the Committee on Rules and Administration and one of 20 members of Congress to sit on the Select Committee on Intelligence. He was last elected…
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Changes to ballot access procedures in the 2021 election cycle
In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the two states conducting regular state-level elections in 2021—New Jersey and Virginia—have both made temporary modifications to their candidate ballot access procedures. Ballot access procedures dictate whether a candidate or political party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are implemented and enforced at the state level.…
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Mississippi lifts mask restrictions; Texas, Alabama announce dates for ending requirements
Thirty-nine states issued statewide mask requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic. This week, the governors of Alabama and Texas announced dates for lifting statewide mask requirements, and the governor of Mississippi lifted the state’s regional mask requirement. As a result, six of the original thirty-nine states with statewide mask requirements have now lifted or announced dates…