Daily Brew: November 29, 2018

November 29, 2018

Today's Brew gives you a look at our newest email update + an update on flipped House seats   Welcome to the Thursday, November 29 Brew. Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Results in the 38 Trump-Democrat and Clinton-Republican House districts Lawsuit filed to halt Idaho Medicaid expansion initiative Sign up for Ballotpedia's newsletter on Chicago elections Twenty-four of 38 2016 split-ticket U.S. House seats flipped Heading into the midterms, there were 38 U.S. House districts held by the party opposite from the presidential candidate who won the district in 2016. At least 21 of the 25 Republican-held districts that Hillary Clinton (D) won flipped, with voters electing a Democratic representative (one race is pending). Three of the 13 Democratic-held districts that Donald Trump (R) won flipped, with voters electing a Republican representative. Seven of the 25 split-ticket districts that had backed Clinton were in California. Six of them flipped and results in the seventh, California's 21st Congressional District, are still pending. Although they were scattered across the country, nine of the 13 split-ticket districts that had backed Trump were located in the midwest or the northeast, with five being in Minnesota or Pennsylvania. More on Trump-Democrat districts More on Clinton-Republican districts Lawsuit filed in Idaho Supreme Court to block voter-approved Medicaid expansion On November 21, 2018, Brent Regan, Kootenai County Republican Central Committee chairman and head of the Idaho Freedom Foundation’s board of directors, filed a lawsuit in the Idaho Supreme Court seeking to block Proposition 2.  Proposition 2 was approved by a vote of 60.58 percent to 39.42 percent. It was designed to expand Medicaid eligibility to those under sixty-five years old whose income is at or below 133 percent of the federal poverty level and who are not eligible for other state insurance coverage, which would effectively increase the coverage level to 138 percent under the provisions of the Affordable Care Act. The lawsuit alleges that the measure violates the state constitution by delegating too much power to the state Department of Health and the federal government. The filing says that Proposition 2 "delegated to the federal government for its future determination Idaho’s percentage of financial contribution and therefore Idaho’s share of the costs Idaho will be forced to pay for Medicaid expansion." Initiative sponsor and organizer Luke Mayville said "We view the lawsuit as a political stunt. It’s unfortunate to see the Idaho Freedom Foundation continue to play political games with people’s health care. Medicaid expansion was approved by Idaho voters with over 60 percent of the vote. The IFF has already lost the argument with the voters and now they’re almost certain to lose the argument with the courts." Learn more about this lawsuit→ First delivery of Ballotpedia's Chicago newsletter, the Deep Dish Municipal elections in Chicago around right around the corner, less than two months away. Windy City voters head to the polls Feb. 26, where they will select a new mayor and decide all 50 city council seats as well as choosing a treasurer and city clerk. For all offices on the ballot, runoff elections will be held April 2 for races in which no candidates receives more than 50 percent of the vote. Twenty-one candidates filed to run in the race to replace outgoing two-term mayor Rahm Emanuel. Stay on top of the races in America's third largest city with Ballotpedia's new weekly newsletter, the Deep Dish. The winner of the open mayoral race will be tasked with taking on the city's debt burden, pension system shortfalls, property tax rates, crime rates, economic and racial divisions, and concerns around police use of force, among other issues. We'll be watching how candidates approach the issues, and how voters decide on them at the polls. The first issue gets delivered today, so sign up now! Click here to sign up→   Or read more about it→