Tag: pennsylvania
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Measures to ban solitary confinement, no-knock warrants approved in Allegheny County and Pittsburgh
In Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, voters approved a ballot initiative to prohibit solitary confinement in the county jail. The ballot initiative received 70% of the vote. In Pittsburgh, which is also located in Allegheny County, voters approved a ballot initiative to prohibit the police from executing warrants without knocking or announcing themselves. It received 81% of…
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Pennsylvania voters pass constitutional amendments to limit governor’s emergency orders without legislative support
On May 18, Pennsylvania voters approved two constitution amendments on the governor’s emergency powers, which were a point of conflict between the Republican-controlled Legislature and Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf during the coronavirus pandemic. According to unofficial results on May 19, both Question 1 and Question 2 received 54% of the statewide vote. Voters also approved…
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Edward Gainey wins the Democratic primary for mayor of Pittsburgh, advances to November general election
State Rep. Edward Gainey (D) defeated incumbent Bill Peduto, Tony Moreno, and Michael Thompson in the May 18, 2021, Democratic primary for mayor of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Gainey received 46.18% with 98% of precincts reporting as of May 19. Peduto received 39.29% of the vote, while Moreno and Thompson received 13.12% and 1.2% respectively. No Republicans…
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Flynn wins special election for Pennsylvania State Senate District 22
Pennsylvania State Senate District 22 held a special general election on May 18. Martin Flynn (D) won the special election with 51.5% of the vote and defeated Chris Chermak (R), Marlene Sebastianelli (G), and Nathan Covington (L). The filing deadline passed on March 29. The special election became necessary when John Blake (D) resigned to…
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Special elections to be held in four Pennsylvania legislative districts on May 18
Special elections are being held on May 18 for two seats in the Pennsylvania State Senate and two seats in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Voters will decide on representation in District 22 and District 48 of the state Senate as well as District 59 and District 60 of the state House. In Senate District…
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Minnesota, Pennsylvania announce plans to lift face covering requirements
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) announced May 6 that he will end the statewide mask mandate on July 1. Walz said the mask mandate could be lifted earlier if 70% of residents age 16 and older receive at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf (D) said on May 4 he…
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Here’s a round-up of this week’s redistricting news: May 5, 2021
Last week, the U.S. Census Bureau released apportionment counts for the U.S. House of Representatives, kicking off the 2021-2022 redistricting cycle. Throughout this year and next, policymakers (including state legislators, governors, and special redistricting commissions) will draft and implement new state legislative and congressional district maps, which will remain in force for the next 10 years.…
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New apportionment data released – six states gain congressional seats, seven states lose seats
On April 26, 2021, the U.S. Census Bureau released it post-2020 census apportionment counts. Six states—Texas (two seats), Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina, and Oregon—gained seats. Seven states—California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia—each lost a seat. Of the six states that gained congressional seats, three are Republican trifectas (Texas, Florida, and…
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Pennsylvania’s May 18 primary ballot will feature four ballot measures, the most since 1981
At the primary election on May 18, 2021, Pennsylvania voters will decide four ballot measures alongside legislative special elections, municipal and school district elections, and judicial elections. It is the most measures on a Pennsylvania ballot since 1981. During the last two decades, the average number of measures on the ballot in Pennsylvania per year…
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Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 60 special election set for May 18
Election officials have scheduled a special election for the District 60 seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on May 18, 2021. The seat became vacant after Jeffrey Pyle (R) resigned on Mar. 16 due to health issues. There are no primaries, and candidates will be nominated directly by political parties.