Daily Brew: January 10, 2019

January 10, 2019

   ← Jan 9

Jan 11 →   

Get your daily cup of news

Email *

Please complete the Captcha above

Today's Brew brings you a trifecta update + how well did you read yesterday's Brew?   Welcome to the Thursday, January 10 Brew. Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Democrats regain control of New York State Senate, making the state a Democratic trifecta Quiz: What percent of all state legislators were elected before the year 2000? 2019 Wisconsin school board elections see more primaries, higher number of candidates compared to 2018 Democrats regain control of New York State Senate, making the state a Democratic trifecta Yesterday, legislators in New York were sworn in. In the state Senate, this marks a change of power from a Republican-led coalition to a Democratic majority. Although Democrats have held a numerical majority in the chamber since 2012, a faction of Democrats known as the Independent Democratic Caucus aligned with the chamber's Republicans, helping create a coalition majority. Democrats now have 40 members in the chamber while Republicans have 23. Prior to the election, Democrats held a 32-31 numerical majority. New York was previously a Democratic trifecta from 2009 to 2010; in every other year since 1992 it has been under divided government. New York is one of six states to change from a divided government to a Democratic trifecta as a result of the 2018 elections. It joins Democratic pickups in Colorado, Illinois, Maine, New Mexico, and Nevada. Democrats also gained ground in four other states: Kansas, Michigan, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin. These states moved from Republican trifectas to divided government. Prior to the 2018 elections, 20 percent of Americans lived under a Democratic trifecta, 48 percent under a Republican trifecta, and 31 percent under divided government. Once all lawmakers elected in 2018 are sworn in, 35 percent of Americans will live under a Democratic trifecta, 42 percent under a Republican trifecta, and 24 percent under divided government. Over 75 percent of Americans will be living under a trifecta state government. Learn more Quiz: What percent of all state legislators were elected before the year 2000? Don’t cheat from yesterday’s Brew! 5.3 percent→ 9.7 percent→ 15.28 percent→ 19.6 percent→ 2019 Wisconsin school board elections see more primaries, higher number of candidates compared to 2018 This spring’s school board elections in Madison saw more candidate filing activity than usual. In the six school board elections Ballotpedia is covering in the Madison area of Wisconsin in 2019, the candidate filing rate is higher than 2018. A total of 30 candidates filed to run for the 18 seats on the ballot in 2019, an average of 1.67 candidates per seat. In 2018, 19 candidates ran for 15 seats up for election in the same school districts, an average of 1.27 candidates per seat. No primaries were held as no seat had more than three candidates file to run. Primaries for three of the seats will be held on February 19 to winnow the field down to two candidates per seat. The general election will be held on April 2. The Milwaukee Board of School Directors also has more candidates running than it did last time elections were held in 2017. Eleven candidates filed to run for five seats in 2019, an average of 2.2 candidates per seat. In 2017, eight candidates ran for four seats, an average of two candidates per seat. A primary for one of the seats will be held on February 19. No primaries were held in 2017. Learn more→