Tag: pennsylvania

  • Pennsylvania enacts new legislative maps

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    Pennsylvania enacted new state legislative districts on Feb. 4, 2022, when the Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission voted to approve new maps. The maps will take effect for Pennsylvania’s 2022 state legislative elections. The commission approved the maps in a single 4-1 vote. House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R) voted no, while Senate Majority Leader Kim…

  • Pennsylvania Supreme Court rules against 2019 Marsy’s Law Crime Victims Rights Amendment

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    In 2019, 74% of voters at the election on Nov. 5, 2019, voted to approve the Pennsylvania Marsy’s Law Crime Victims Rights Amendment. Results were never certified because the Commonwealth Court enjoined then-Acting Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar from certifying election results pending litigation. On Dec. 21, 2021, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, in a 6-1 ruling,…

  • Pennsylvania House passes five constitutional amendments; bill heads back to state Senate

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    The Pennsylvania House of Representatives approved a bill that contains five constitutional amendments, which voters would decide as distinct ballot measures, on Dec. 15. In April, the state Senate approved the bill as a single constitutional amendment. Since the House changed the bill to include more constitutional amendments, the bill returns to the Senate for…

  • Welby wins Pennsylvania House 113 in Nov. 2 special election

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    A special general was held for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 113 on Nov. 2. Thom Welby (D) won the special election with 9,191 votes, defeating Dominick Manetti (R) and Bonnie Flaherty (L).  The candidate filing deadline passed on Sept. 13. The special election was called after Martin Flynn (D) won a special election…

  • Kevin Brobson (R) defeats Maria McLaughlin (D) in Pennsylvania Supreme Court election

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    Kevin Brobson (R) defeated Maria McLaughlin (D) in the general election for a seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. As of 3:00 a.m. EST, The New York Times reported that Brobson had received 52.6% of the vote to McLaughlin’s 47.4%. Justice Thomas Saylor (R), who joined the court in 1998, did not run for another term because…

  • Redistricting timeline updates: Colorado and Utah face deadlines, Pennsylvania holds public hearings

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    Here’s a summary of recent redistricting timeline updates from Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Utah. Colorado: After the Colorado Independent Legislative Redistricting Commission approved state legislative map proposals to be sent to the Colorado Supreme Court for review on Oct. 11 (House map) and 12 (Senate map), the deadline for the court to either approve or send…

  • Major party candidates selected in Pennsylvania House special election

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    Party executive committees for the Democratic Party and Republican Party in Lackawanna County have nominated candidates in the special election for District 113 of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Republicans nominated Dominick Manetti in an executive committee meeting on July 29. Thom Welby was nominated by the Democratic executive committee on July 1. The official…

  • Margo Davidson resigns from Pennsylvania House of Representatives

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    Margo Davidson (D) resigned from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on July 23 after state Attorney General Josh Shapiro (D) filed criminal charges against Davidson on July 22. The charges included theft, solicitation to hinder apprehension, and election code violations.  According to Politics PA, Shapiro’s office said Davidson allegedly “‘requested overnight expenses for nights she…

  • Redistricting review: Michigan Supreme Court declines to extend redistricting deadlines

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    In this week’s Redistricting Review, we cover news out of Michigan, New York, and Pennsylvania. Michigan: On July 9, the Michigan Supreme Court rejected the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission’s request to extend the constitutional deadlines for adopting new redistricting plans. The constitutional deadlines – presentation to the public by Sept. 17 and adoption by…

  • Pennsylvania, Oregon end statewide face-covering requirements

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    Two states ended statewide public mask requirements for vaccinated and unvaccinated people between June 25 and July 1. Pennsylvania Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam lifted the statewide mask requirement for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals on June 28. In accordance with CDC guidelines, vaccinated and unvaccinated people still have to wear masks on public transportation and…