On Feb. 18, Arkansas state Senator Jim Hendren announced he was leaving the Republican Party to become an independent. According to a statement issued by his organization, Common Ground AR, Hendren said, “This comes after many sleepless nights; a lot of serious consideration; and it comes with sadness and disappointment. But it’s clear-eyed. I’m making…
The special primary election for California Senate District 30 is on March 2, 2021. Seven candidates are competing to advance to the general election scheduled for May 4. The filing deadline to run passed on January 7. California holds top-two primary elections. The two candidates who receive the most votes in the primary advance to…
On Feb. 13, Kansas Sen. Bud Estes (R) died after being hospitalized with an illness. Estes was first elected to state Senate District 38 in 2016, serving until his death. Before that, Estes was a member of the Kansas House of Representatives, representing District 119 from 2013 to 2017. Estes ran for re-election to the…
On Feb. 6, two new state legislators were appointed to fill vacancies in the Illinois state Senate. Doris Turner (D) was appointed by the Democratic county chairs of the 48th Legislative District Committee to fill the seat formerly occupied by Andy Manar (D). Manar left office in January in order to take a position as…
Sen. Heather Steans (D) resigned from the Illinois state Senate on Jan. 31. She represented District 7 from 2008 to 2021. Steans ran uncontested for re-election on Nov. 3, 2020. According to ABC 7, Steans said she was resigning because “it’s time for fresh faces and new energy…I’ve benefited tremendously from the many perspectives of…
According to Ballotpedia’s January partisan count of the 7,383 state legislators across the United States, 54.27% of all state legislators are Republicans and 44.86% are Democrats. Ballotpedia did not provide partisan counts for December 2020 because the number and partisan affiliation of state legislators fluctuated as officeholders were sworn in and out of office following…
Following the Nov. 3, 2020, elections, there were 19 states where either Democrats, Republicans, or both had a net gain of seats in both the state House and Senate. Democrats had a net gain in both chambers of six states, seeing their largest net gains in Connecticut, where Democrats picked up a net of six…
Election officials have scheduled a special election for the District 48 seat in the Pennsylvania State Senate for May 18, 2021. The seat became vacant when David Arnold (R) died from brain cancer on Jan. 17. There is no primary, and candidates will be nominated directly by political parties.
Election officials have scheduled a special election for the District 8 seat in the Michigan State Senate on Nov. 2, 2021. The seat became vacant when Peter Lucido (R) was sworn in as Macomb County prosecutor. The primary is on Aug. 3, and the filing deadline is on April 20. Additional reading: Michigan State Senate,…
Election officials have scheduled a special election for the District 28 seat in the Michigan State Senate on Nov. 2, 2021. The seat became vacant when Peter MacGregor (R) was sworn in as Kent County treasurer. The primary is on Aug. 3, and the filing deadline is on Apr. 20. Additional reading: Michigan State Senate…