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State Legislative Tracker: Republicans to run as Democrats in Wisconsin Senate recalls

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April 2, 2012

Edited by Greg Janetka

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Note: Ballotpedia has been publishing the Redistricting Roundup, a weekly report on redistricting news, every Friday. Beginning April 9, all redistricting updates will be added to the State Legislative Tracker.

This week's tracker features an update on the current special sessions in Virginia and Washington and a look at recent developments in the Wisconsin recalls.

Sessions

This week 29 out of 50 state legislatures are meeting in regular session. No states are scheduled to convene or adjourn this week.

Fourteen states have adjourned for the year, while four states - Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, and Texas - will not hold regular sessions in 2012.

Current sessions capture for the week of April 2, 2012

Regular sessions

See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions

The following states convened their regular legislative sessions:

The following states have ended their regular session:

Click here to see a chart of each state's 2012 session information.

Special sessions

Special sessions were a widespread occurrence in the state legislatures in 2011, in particular due to the necessity of states to conduct the redistricting of state legislative and congressional districts. Overall, in 2011 there were 45 special sessions in 28 states.

Thus far there have been five special sessions in 4 states. Two of which are ongoing.

Florida

Following the Florida Supreme Court's 5-2 decision on March 9 to reject the state's new Senate maps, the Senate reconvened in special session on March 14 in order to redraw its map.[1]

The session ended last Tuesday following the House's 61-47 vote to pass the Senate-drawn plan for new districts. The first map was rejected for failing to meet Fair District standards as required by a constitutional amendment that was passed by voters in 2010. The new map now goes to the court, who will have 30 days to approve or reject it.[2]

Virginia

The Virginia General Assembly remains in special session. It ended its regular session on March 10 without passing a new state budget. Thus, the same day that the Legislature adjourned, it also formally started a special session to address the issue.[3]

Democrats initially sought changes to spending priorities, as well as a power sharing agreement in the equally divided Senate.[4] Last week Democrats agreed to separate their quest for more power in the chamber from the budget process and the Senate passed a new $85 billion budget by a vote of 35-4. The measure then went to the House, who passed its own version in February. Negotiators are currently working to create a compromise between the two.[5]

Washington

Washington is currently in special session. Gov. Chris Gregoire (D) called for the session on March 8 after it was clear the Legislature was going to end its 60-day regular session without passing a supplemental budget plan. House Democrats passed a budget agreement by a 53-45 vote, but it included a delayed payment for schools, something that had previously failed in the Senate. While Democrats hold the majority in the Senate, three members broke from the party ranks to vote for a Republican plan that got rid of the delayed payment and focused instead on more spending cuts.[6]

Senate Republicans unveiled a new plan on March 15 that Gregoire said she had no knowledge of despite meetings between the governor and senate leaders of both parties. Angered at being kept in the dark, she said she would not sign most of the bills awaiting her signature and threatened to veto some of them in order to force lawmakers to break their stalemate.[7] Gregoire lifted her ban on bill signing last Thursday, saying, “In the next 48 hours, we could have an agreement. Then again, in the next 48 hours, it could all fall apart.”[8]

Indeed, lawmakers failed to reach an agreement and negotiations remain ongoing. The special session ends April 10 and Gregoire said that unless a compromise is made by tomorrow, there will likely not be enough time to complete all the work necessary by the deadline. If this happens, the governor can either call another special session or make across-the-board cuts to state programs on her own.[9]

In recess

As of today, April 2, 4 states' sessions are currently in recess:

  • Kansas - In recess from March 31 to April 24. Will return for wrap-up session April 25, scheduled to adjourn April 30.
  • New Jersey - In recess for budget hearings from March 16, 2012 through May 15, 2012[10]
  • North Carolina - Mid-term recess June 18, 2011 through May 12, 2012[10]
  • Wisconsin - In recess from March 17, 2012 through April 23, 2012. Will only return to conduct limited business.[10]
Snapshot of State Legislatures:
Monday, April 2, 2012
There are 7,384 Total State Legislators
Total Democratic state legislators 3,300 (44.7%)
Total Republican state legislators 3,963 (53.7%)
There are 99 Total State Legislative Chambers
Total Democratic Party-controlled chambers 36
Total Republican Party-controlled chambers 58
Total tied or nonpartisan chambers 5
2012 Session Information
Total Special Elections 16
Total Special Sessions 5

Elections

See also: State legislative elections, 2012 and State legislative elections results, 2012
2012 badge.jpg

A total of 86 of the 99 chambers will hold state legislative elections on November 6, 2012.

1,267 (64.3%) of the country's 1,971 state senate seats are up for re-election in November 2012, and 4,712 (87.05%) of the country's 5,413 state house seats are up for re-election. Altogether, 5,984 (81.0%) of the country's 7,384 state legislative seats will be up for re-election during the presidential election year.

  • 43 of the 50 state senates are holding elections.
  • 43 of the 49 state houses are holding elections.

The 5,984 seats up for election is 146 fewer than the 6,125 that were contested in 2010.

Filing deadlines

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2012 state government elections and 2012 Elections preview: Comparing state legislative filing deadlines

Two states - Colorado and Tennessee - have signature filing deadlines this week.

So far, deadlines have passed in 22 states:


States with upcoming deadlines:

Primaries

See also: 2012 election dates

There are no state legislative primaries this week.

So far, primaries have taken place in two states:

Thus far, a total of five state legislative incumbents have been defeated in a primary.

States with upcoming primaries:

Note: Texas was originally scheduled to hold their primary on March 6. However, with newly drawn state legislative maps being fought in the courts, the date was moved to May 29.

Recalls

RecallBanner.jpg
Currently, 18 states permit the recall of state officials. Between 1913 and 2008, there were just 20 state legislative recall elections in five states. Of the 20 state legislative recall elections, 13 out of 20 resulted in the state legislator being recalled. In 2011, there were 11 state legislative recalls in three states, 4 of which resulted in the legislator being recalled.

Michigan

2011 saw a wave of recall attempts in Michigan. While most of those efforts dried up, at least two campaigns are continuing on (the recall of Paul Scott was successful on November 8, 2011). Organizers of the campaigns to recall Bruce Caswell (R) and Phil Pavlov (R) are aiming for the August 2012 ballot.

Wisconsin

See also: Timeline of events of the recall of Wisconsin State Senators in 2012

Democrats in Wisconsin filed recall petitions on November 15, 2011 against four Republican state senators - Pam Galloway, Scott Fitzgerald, Terry Moulton and Van Wanggaard.[11] Campaign organizers turned in more than the necessary number of signatures in each of the four races on January 17, 2012. Dane County Circuit Judge Richard Niess signed an agreement scheduling primaries for May 8 with general elections on June 5. If there is no primary the general election takes place on May 8.[12]

Last Friday state Republican Party officials announced plans to run Democratic candidates in all four recall primaries. According to GOP Executive Director Stephan Thompson, the move was done to ensure primaries in all races, which then guarantees all recalls will take place on the same day.[13] Candidates need to submit 400 valid signatures by April 10 in order to be on the ballot.

Because Wisconsin has an open primary system, voters do not have to be registered to a specific party in order to cast a vote in the primary. Therefore, Republican-leaning voters can cross over to the Democratic primary and vice-versa. Republicans used the same maneuver last year during the recall elections of six GOP state senators. The "fake" or "protest" candidates were all defeated in the primary, receiving between 29 and 44 percent of the vote.

Prior to the GOP's announcement, no known fake candidates had declared their intentions to run, however, questions have been raised about 28-year-old Andrew Mielke, who is running as a Democrat against Sen. Van Wanggaard. Former Democratic state Sen. John Lehman had already announced his intentions, setting up a primary between the two men. While Mielke has said he is not affiliated with the Republican Party, Democratic Party officials said he wasn't a registered member of their party and didn't sign the recall petitions against Wanggaard or Gov. Scott Walker.[14]

Matchups in the other races currently stand as follows:

Special elections

See also: State legislative special elections, 2012

There are two special elections scheduled to take place this week in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma House District 71

Daniel Sullivan (R) resigned effective November 30, 2011 in order to take a position as CEO of the Grand River Dam Authority. A special election has been scheduled for April 3, 2012 to select a replacement. A primary took place on February 14. The race is in the state's new legislative districts.[16][17]

Democratic Party Democratic Primary Candidates:
  • Dan Arthrell 581 Approveda
  • Robert J. Walpole 98
Republican Party Republican Primary Candidates:
  • Evelyn L. Rogers 22
  • Lydia M. D'Ross 43
  • Katie Henke 819 Approveda
  • Gerald J. Lovoi 135
  • Bonnie Huffines 41

General election candidates:

Democratic Party Dan Arthrell
Republican Party Katie Henke

Oklahoma Senate District 20

David Myers (R) passed away on November 11, 2011 after a battle with pneumonia. A primary election took place on February 14. The race takes place in the state's new legislative districts.[18][19]

Democratic Party Democratic Candidate:
  • Magnus Scott Sr.
Republican Party Republican Primary Candidates:
  • Phil Berkenbile 1,285
  • Wayne Murphey 1,824
  • Ann Griffin 2,211 Approveda[20]
  • Chris Humphreys 208

General election candidates:

Democratic Party Magnus Scott Sr.
Republican Party Ann Griffin

Looking ahead

Upcoming special elections include:

  • April 3: Oklahoma House of Representatives District 71
  • April 3: Oklahoma Senate District 20
  • April 10: Minnesota Senate District 20
  • April 24: Pennsylvania House District 22
  • April 24: Pennsylvania House District 134
  • April 24: Pennsylvania House District 153
  • April 24: Pennsylvania House District 169
  • April 24: Pennsylvania House District 186
  • April 24: Pennsylvania House District 197

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The Ledger, "Florida Supreme Court Ruling: Sunshine in Lakeland District," March 10, 2012
  2. ↑ The Miami Herald, "Legislature ends redistricting session, new Senate map approved," March 27, 2012 (dead link)
  3. ↑ The Roanoke Times, "Budget requires special session," March 11, 2012
  4. ↑ Washington Post, "Budget talks resume in special session with little expected as legislature’s popularity slides," March 21, 2012
  5. ↑ Washington Post, "Virginia Senate approves state spending plan," March 26, 2012
  6. ↑ Seattle Times, "Wash. Legislature adjourns; special session called," March 9, 2012
  7. ↑ Komo News, "Special session: Gov threatens vetoes over budget stalemate," March 17, 2012
  8. ↑ The Spokesman Review, "Special Session Day 18: Bill signings yes; budget deal, maybe," March 29, 2012
  9. ↑ The News Tribune, "Another special session?" March 29, 2012
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 StateScape, Session schedules," accessed April 2, 2012
  11. ↑ FOX 6 Now, "Recall paperwork filed Tuesday for four senators, including Van Wanggaard," November 15, 2011
  12. ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Recall votes set for May 8 and June 5," March 14, 2012
  13. ↑ Channel 3000, "GOP Plans To Run Democratic Candidates In 4 Recall Races," March 30, 2012
  14. ↑ The Journal Times, "Newcomer running against Wanggaard as Democrat, but not registered with Dem Party," March 22, 2012
  15. ↑ Daily Union, "Ellerman running as a protest candidate," April 2, 2012
  16. ↑ NewsOK.com, "Redistricting raises question in special elections for Oklahoma legislative seats," November 15, 2011
  17. ↑ Oklahoma State Election Board, "Special Election for State Representative, District 71," February 14, 2012
  18. ↑ 23rd and Lincoln, "Special election to choose Myers successor set for April 3," November 18th, 2011
  19. ↑ Oklahoma State Election Board, "Special Election for State Senator, District 20," February 14, 2012
  20. ↑ KSWO, "Griffin wins GOP primary for Okla. Senate seat," February 14, 2012
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