Tag: state senate
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Incumbent officeholder switches party affiliation
Mike McDonnell switches party affiliation to Republican. Senator McDonnell changed his party affiliation from Democratic to Republican on April 3, 2024. McDonnell said the Democratic Party “no longer felt like a place where he could reconcile his faith with his political affiliation.” Earlier this year, the Nebraska Democratic Party censured McDonnell. Democratic Party Chair Jane…
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Oregon Supreme Court upholds secretary of state’s interpretation of Measure 113 excluding 10 senators from seeking re-election after their walkout last May
The Oregon Supreme Court ruled that nine Republican state senators and one independent who participated in a legislative walkout in May 2023 could not seek re-election under Measure 113—a 2022 ballot initiative that makes legislators ineligible to be re-elected to a subsequent term if they accrue 10 or more unexcused absences. On May 3, 2023,…
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Washington State Senate introduces bill proposing unemployment insurance benefits for striking workers
Legislators in the Washington State Senate introduced a bill on January 8, 2024, that proposed allowing striking workers to claim unemployment insurance benefits. Washington Senate Bill 5777 passed the Senate Committee on Labor and Commerce on January 16, 2024, and advanced to the Rules Committee on January 17, 2024, for a second reading. Currently, New…
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54.86% of state legislatures are Republican, 44.29% Democratic
At the end of August 2023, 54.86% of all state legislatures in the United States are Republican while 44.29% are Democratic. There are 7,386 state legislative seats in the country. Republicans control 57 chambers, while Democrats hold 40. Two chambers (Alaska House and Alaska Senate) were organized under multipartisan, power-sharing coalitions. Democrats hold 851 state…
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Sixteen incumbents face challengers in Mississippi’s Senate primary
Sixteen incumbents in the 52-member Mississippi State Senate faced primary challengers on Aug. 8. As of Aug. 9, Sen. Philip Moran (R), of District 46, was the only incumbent defeated in the primary, while the race featuring Sen. Sarita Simmons (D), of District 13, was too close to call. Ballotpedia identified eight battleground primaries in…
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Texas Senate appoints committee to develop rules for upcoming impeachment trial
The Texas Senate appointed a committee on May 29 to develop proposed rules for the upcoming impeachment proceeding against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R). The committee, consisting of five Republicans and two Democrats, was directed to propose rules for the trial by June 20. The Senate also adopted a resolution on May 30 calling…
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One-fourth of Virginia State Senate incumbents are running in contested primaries
Democrats currently hold a 22-18 majority in the Virginia State Senate, which holds elections every four years rather than every two. The chamber is already poised to welcome at least 11 new members next year: ten incumbents are retiring, and two incumbents are running in the same district, leaving 11 districts open, over one-fourth of…
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Daniel Knodl (R) wins special general election for Wisconsin State Senate District 8, Senate Republicans regain supermajority
Daniel Knodl (R) defeated Jodi Habush Sinykin (D) in the special general election for Wisconsin State Senate District 8 on April 4, 2023. Knodl received 50.9% of the vote to Habush Sinykin’s 49.1%. Once Knodl is sworn in, Senate Republicans will have a 22-member supermajority, giving the party the votes necessary to speed up the…
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Election legislation roundup: New Jersey State Senate
As of March 5, Ballotpedia has tracked 47 election-related bills in the New Jersey State Senate since the beginning of the year. Of the 47, Ballotpedia tracked one from Feb. 27 to March 5. The bill was bipartisan. The bill is: NJ S2866: Establishes “Elections Transparency Act;” requires reporting of campaign contributions in excess of…
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Election legislation roundup: Florida State Senate
As of March 5, Ballotpedia has tracked seven election-related bills in the Florida State Senate since the beginning of the year. Of the seven, Ballotpedia tracked four from Feb. 27-March 5. Republicans sponsored three, while Democrats sponsored one. The four bills are: FL S0004: Statewide Prosecutor, Sen. Jonathan Martin (R). Provides that the Department of…