Everything you need to know about ranked-choice voting in one spot. Click to learn more!

The State and Local Tap: It’s Election Day on Tuesday!

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search

November 2, 2019Issue No. 182

The Tap Graphic-750x191px.png

Week in review
On tap next week

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Here's what happened in State and local politics last week.

State Politics: The Week in Review

Ballot Measures Update

2019:

  • Thirty-two statewide measures will be on Nov. 2019 ballots in Colorado, Kansas, Maine, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington.
    • Four Louisiana measures were on the Oct. 12 ballot. Two were approved, and two were defeated.
    • Besides the 24 binding 2019 statewide measures, Washington voters will see 12 non-binding advisory votes concerning revenue-increasing bills recently passed by the legislature that were automatically added to the ballot.
    • Click here to read Ballotpedia’s list of the top 10 measures to watch for the Nov. 5 election, including both state and local measures.

2020:

  • Forty-two statewide measures in 20 states have been certified for the 2020 ballot so far.
    • Seven of the 42 certified 2020 measures are citizen-initiated measures. Thirty-four are legislative referrals. One is an automatic constitutional revision commission question.

Saturday, October 26

Delaware Gov. Carney (D) nominates two state Supreme court justices

  • Delaware Governor John Carney (D) has nominated Associate Justice Collins Seitz Jr. to replace Leo Strine as the next chief justice of the Delaware Supreme Court. Carney also nominated Tamika Montgomery-Reeves to serve as a new associate justice, replacing Seitz.
    • Chief Justice Strine announced in July 2019 that he would retire in the fall upon the nomination, confirmation, and swearing in of his successor.
    • Seitz joined the Delaware Supreme Court as an associate justice in 2015. He was appointed by Gov. Jack Markell (D). Seitz received a B.A. from the University of Delaware in 1980 and a J.D. from Villanova University School of Law.
    • Montgomery-Reeves is a vice chancellor of the Delaware Court of Chancery. She was nominated by Gov. Markell in 2015. Montgomery-Reeves received a bachelor's degree from the University of Mississippi and a J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law.
    • Selection of state supreme court justices in Delaware occurs through gubernatorial appointment with state Senate confirmation. A judicial nominating commission submits a list of names to the governor, who then selects an appointee. The Delaware State Senate must also confirm the appointment. The state Senate is holding a special session on November 7, 2019, to consider the nominations. Approved nominees serve for 12 years, at which point they must apply to the commission for reappointment. Click here for more information on judicial selection in Delaware.
    • Founded in 1951, the Delaware Supreme Court is the state's court of last resort and has five judgeships. As of October 2019, all five judges on the court were appointed by Democratic governors.
    • In 2019, there have been 19 supreme court vacancies across 13 of the 29 states where replacement justices are appointed instead of elected. Retirements caused 14 of the vacancies. Two former justices took jobs in the private sector. One vacancy occurred when a justice was elevated to chief justice of the court, and two others occurred when the justices were elevated to federal judicial positions.

Monday, October 28

North Carolina court approves new state legislative maps

  • On October 28, 2019, a three-judge panel of North Carolina's superior court approved new state legislative district maps. The remedial maps were adopted by the state legislature after the panel had struck down the existing district plan as an impermissible partisan gerrymander under the state constitution. The panel was comprised of Judges Paul C. Ridgeway, Joseph N. Crosswhite, and Alma L. Hinton.
  • Political context: In 2020, North Carolina will hold elections for its 50 state senators and its 120 state representatives. Ballotpedia has identified the North Carolina state House and Senate as battleground chambers in 2020. Republicans currently control both chambers. Democrats would need to gain four Senate seats and six House seats in order to win majorities in the two chambers. The primary election is slated for March 3, 2020, and the filing deadline for major party candidates is currently set for December 20, 2019.
    • In North Carolina, the state legislature is responsible for redistricting. Lawmakers elected in 2020 will draw the district maps – both congressional and state legislative – that govern elections for the next ten years.

Special Elections

  • So far this year, 77 state legislative special elections have been scheduled in 24 states. Special elections have been held for 55 seats so far; heading into those races, Democrats had previously controlled 30 of the seats while Republicans previously controlled 25. Four seats have flipped from Democratic control to Republican control. One seat has flipped from Republican control to Democratic control. One seat has flipped from Republican control to an independent officeholder.
    • In special elections between 2011 and 2018, one party (either Republicans or Democrats) saw an average net gain of four seats nationally each year.
    • An average of 91 seats were filled through special elections in each of the past four odd years (2011: 94, 2013: 84, 2015: 88, 2017: 98).
    • An average of 55 seats were filled through special elections in each of the past five even years (2010: 26, 2012: 45, 2014: 40, 2016: 65, 2018: 99).

Upcoming special elections include:

November 5

November 12

Local Politics: The Week in Review

  • Ballotpedia is covering 141 local measures in jurisdictions within 17 different states for the November 5 election.
    • November 5 - Arizona
      • Ballotpedia is covering 11 local ballot measures in two cities—Tucson and Scottsdale—and five school districts in Maricopa and Pima counties. Tucson Proposition 205 would make Tucson the first city in Arizona to enact sanctuary city policies.
    • November 5 - California
      • Voters in local jurisdictions in 13 different California counties will decide 45 local ballot measures. Voters in San Francisco will decide five measures in, including Proposition C, which concerns the authorization and regulation of e-cigarettes, and Proposition F, which concerns campaign contributions and advertising disclaimers. Voters in Rancho Palos Verdes will decide on Measure B, an initiative proposing an increase to the minimum wage for hospitality workers.
    • November 5 - Colorado
      • Ballotpedia is covering four measures on the ballot for Denver voters, two measures on the ballot for Colorado Springs voters, and countywide measures in Arapahoe County and Douglas County. There are also two statewide measures on the ballot.
    • November 5 - Florida
      • Voters in Hialeah and St. Petersburg will decide eight local ballot measures.
    • November 5 - Idaho
      • Ballotpedia is covering two citizen initiatives on the ballot for Boise voters that would enact voter approval requirements for library and sports stadium development projects.
    • November 5 - Massachusetts
      • Ballotpedia is covering an advisory vote on the ballot for Boston voters concerning whether or not to change the name of Dudley Square to Nubian Square.
    • November 5 - Missouri
      • Ballotpedia is covering five measures on the ballot for Kansas City voters. Four concern transferring park property out of the park system for school district or other use. Question 5 is a citizen initiative to rename Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. to The Paseo Blvd.
    • November 5 - New Jersey
    • November 5 - New Mexico
      • Ballotpedia is covering 16 measures on the ballot for Albuquerque voters. Proposition 2 would make Albuquerque the second jurisdiction in the U.S. (after Seattle) to adopt government-disbursed vouchers, known as democracy dollars, that voters could contribute to candidates.
    • November 5 - New York
      • Ballotpedia is covering the five proposed charter amendments combining a total of 19 proposals on the ballot for New York City voters. Question 1 includes a proposal to establish ranked-choice voting for primary and special elections in the city. Question 2 contains five proposals concerning the city's Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB).
    • November 5 - North Carolina
      • Voters in local jurisdictions in seven different North Carolina counties will decide 11 local ballot measures.
    • November 5 - Ohio
      • Ballotpedia is covering 11 local measures on the November 2019 ballot in jurisdictions within four counties. Measures include citywide measures in Cleveland and Cincinnati, community college and school district measures, and countywide measures.
    • November 5 - Oregon
      • Ballotpedia is covering four local measures on the ballot for voters in Portland, the Portland Metro area, and Portland Public Schools.
    • November 5 - Pennsylvania
      • Voters in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia will decide three local ballot measures. There is also one statewide measure on the ballot.
    • November 5 - Texas
      • Ballotpedia is covering eight local ballot measures on the ballot in jurisdictions within five counties. Irving, El Paso, Harris County, Arlington and Tarrant County, and Austin and Travis County fall within Ballotpedia’s coverage scope for 2019. There are also 10 statewide measures on the ballot.
    • November 5 - Utah
      • Ballotpedia covered one tax measure on the ballot for Vineyard voters.
    • November 5 - Washington
      • Ballotpedia is covering one local measure on the ballot for voters in King County on November 5, 2019. The measure concerns a property tax levy renewal to fund emergency medical services. There are also 15 statewide measures on the ballot.
WHAT'S ON TAP NEXT WEEK

Here's what is happening in State and local politics this week.

State Politics: What's On Tap Next Week

Tuesday, November 5

Ballotpedia tracking elections for 2,983 seats

  • On Tuesday, 27 states are holding elections for 2,983 seats within Ballotpedia’s coverage scope. Regular elections are being held for 2,894 seats, and special elections are being held for 89 seats. Here is a breakdown of the type and number of elections Ballotpedia is covering on November 5:
    • There are no congressional seats up for election.
    • Two states—Kentucky and Mississippi—are holding elections for 21 state executive positions, including governor and lieutenant governor.
    • 12 states are holding elections for 413 state legislative seats. The majority of these races are being held in Mississippi and Virginia with 174 state legislative seats and 140 state legislative seats up in each state, respectively.
    • Three states are holding elections for seven state court judgeships.
    • Five states are holding elections for 81 local court judgeships.
    • 19 states are holding elections for 2,201 municipal positions.
    • 16 states are holding elections for 260 school board seats.
  • Many of the municipal elections covered by Ballotpedia in 2019 are taking place in North Carolina. This year, Ballotpedia expanded its coverage of North Carolina to provide voters with a comprehensive statewide sample ballot. This coverage includes elections spanning 503 cities, towns, and villages, nine school districts, and 17 special districts across the state. No North Carolina counties are holding elections in 2019. Most North Carolina localities are holding nonpartisan general elections on November 5, although 32 held either nonpartisan primaries or general elections on October 8.

Bevin, Beshear, Hicks running in Kentucky governor's race

  • Gov. Matt Bevin (R), state Attorney General Andy Beshear (D), and John Hicks (L) are running in Kentucky’s gubernatorial election. This election follows nearly four years of conflict between Bevin and Beshear, which began when each was elected to his current position.
  • As the election has neared, the campaigns have taken to the airwaves both on the radio and on television. Between Bevin, Beshear, and groups affiliated with the Republican Governors Association and Democratic Governors Association, ad spending has broken $20 million. In the last week alone, those four groups have accounted for $5 million in spending.
  • This race will decide the state's trifecta status until at least the 2020 state legislative elections. If Bevin wins, Republicans will maintain their trifecta control of the state, while a Beshear or Hicks victory would result in neither party having trifecta control. Kentucky is currently a Republican trifecta. Before Bevin's 2015 victory, Democrats held the governorship for 16 of the previous 20 years.

Virginia to elect all 140 members of state legislature

  • All 140 seats in the Virginia General Assembly are up for election. Republicans hold a two-seat majority in each, while Gov. Ralph Northam is a Democrat. Candidates elected this year will hold office through the 2020 redistricting cycle, so these elections will decide how that process plays out. If Republicans retain control of the Senate or the state House, they will have a seat at the redistricting table. If Democrats win both chambers of the legislature, they will have a trifecta and full control of the government during redistricting.
  • In the Virginia State Senate, Republicans hold a 21-19 majority. Ballotpedia identified seven districts as battlegrounds this year: Republicans hold six of the districts and Democrats hold one. Republicans have held a majority in the chamber since 2015.
  • In the Virginia House of Delegates, Republicans hold a 51-49 majority. Ballotpedia identified 27 districts as battlegrounds this year: Republicans hold 16 of the districts and Democrats hold 11. Republicans have held a majority in the chamber since 2000. Court-ordered redistricting in 2019 created seven new districts with Republican incumbents that voted for Hillary Clinton (D) in the 2016 presidential election.

Four candidates running to succeed Mississippi Gov. Bryant (R)

  • State Attorney General Jim Hood (D), Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves (R), Bob Hickingbottom (Constitution) and David Singletary (I) are running for a four-year term as Mississippi’s next governor. Incumbent Phil Bryant (R) is term-limited.
  • Hood was first elected state attorney general in 2003. Reeves was first elected lieutenant governor in 2011 after serving eight years as state treasurer.
  • Candidates running for statewide office in Mississippi must win both a majority of the statewide vote and carry a majority of the 122 state House districts in order to win election outright. If no candidate does both, the state House votes to decide the winner. A challenge to this provision is currently before a federal district court. Judge Daniel Jordan ruled Friday that he would not issue an injunction blocking the provision ahead of Tuesday’s election.
  • Because the governor is a Republican and Republicans control both chambers of the state legislature, Mississippi is one of 22 Republican state government trifectas. If Republicans maintain their legislative majorities in Tuesday's elections, a victory for Reeves would preserve Mississippi's Republican trifecta while a victory for one of the other candidates would break it.

Cameron, Stumbo face off in Kentucky attorney general race

  • Kentucky voters will choose a new attorney general Nov. 5, with Daniel Cameron (R) and Gregory Stumbo (D) vying for the office.
  • Democrats have controlled the AG office in Kentucky since 1948. The state’s election history suggests this year’s contest will be competitive.
  • The AG position is open, as incumbent Andy Beshear is the Democratic nominee challenging incumbent Gov. Matt Bevin (R) in the gubernatorial race.
  • The 2015 attorney general race was decided by a margin of 0.2 percentage points—50.1% to 49.9%. Beshear defeated Whitney Westerfield (R) by 2,194 votes. In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won Kentucky with 62.5% of the vote. Trump endorsed Cameron on July 29, 2019.
  • The race has attracted at least $5.75 million in spending from satellite groups—$3.25 million from the Republican Attorneys General Association supporting Cameron, and $2.5 million from the Democratic Attorneys General Association supporting Stumbo.
  • The attorney general election is occurring alongside Kentucky’s gubernatorial and secretary of state elections, meaning either party could gain triplex control in 2019. Kentucky is one of nine states where the governor and the attorney general are not from the same party, creating divided triplex control among Kentucky’s executives.

States in session

Five states—Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—are in regular session. Illinois, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Virginia are in recess. Forty-one states have adjourned their 2019 legislative sessions.

Tap map November 1.png
Trifectas 3 1 2019.png

Local Politics: What's On Tap Next Week

Tuesday, November 5

Satellite spending tops $4 million in Seattle City Council elections

  • The nonpartisan elections for seven Seattle City Council seats saw a record-breaking $4.1 million in satellite spending through Oct. 30. That’s more than five times the amount spent in 2015, the last time the seven district seats were on the ballot.
  • Four council races are open. In the other three contests, incumbents Lisa Herbold (District 1), Kshama Sawant (District 3), and Debora Juarez (District 5) are seeking re-election.
  • The elections are occurring a year and a half after the repeal of the 2018 head tax proposal, which would have required businesses grossing at least $20 million to pay $275 per employee in order to fund housing programs for the homeless.
  • The city council voted to pass the head tax 9-0 in May 2018 but then repealed it by a 7-2 vote in June 2018 after the city’s business community, including Amazon and the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, opposed the tax. Sawant and Position 8 At-large Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda voted against repealing the tax. Juarez and Herbold voted with five others to repeal it.
  • Amazon contributed $1.5 million to the Civic Alliance for a Sound Economy (CASE), the local chamber of commerce’s PAC. CASE has spent around $1.8 million supporting Phil Tavel, Mark Solomon, Egan Orion, Alex Pedersen, Juarez, Heidi Wills, and Jim Pugel, and opposing Herbold, Sawant, and District 4 candidate Dan Strauss.
  • Civic Alliance for a Progressive Economy (CAPE), a PAC affiliated with the labor group Working Washington, has spent around $325,000. CAPE endorsed Herbold, Tammy Morales, Sawant, Shaun Scott, and Strauss. Labor union UNITE HERE's local and federal PACs have spent more than $710,000 in support of candidate Andrew Lewis (District 7). He faces Pugel.
  • This is the second election in which a voter voucher program is being used to provide public funding to campaigns. Twelve of 14 general election candidates are participating in the program; Sawant and Ann Davison Sattler are not participating. Including the primaries, 42 candidates have participated, and $2.4 million from the program had gone to campaigns as of Oct. 23.

Twelve candidates run in Houston mayoral race

  • Incumbent Sylvester Turner and 11 challengers will compete in the November 5, 2019, general election for mayor of Houston, Texas. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two finishers will participate in a runoff election on December 14, 2019.
  • Of the 11 candidates running against Turner, local media outlets have identified five major challengers: Kendall Baker, Dwight Boykins, Tony Buzbee, Bill King, and Sue Lovell.
  • Policy debate in the race has centered on Turner’s record during his first term, especially regarding his handling of the city’s budget and spending priorities. Turner has said his accomplishments in office include balancing the city’s budget, leading the recovery effort after Hurricane Harvey, reforming the city’s pension system, improving infrastructure, and strengthening the economy. His opponents have criticized him, saying he has not done enough to combat flooding, crime, and infrastructure deterioration.
  • Throughout the race, Baker, Boykins, and Lovell also criticized Turner’s budgetary opposition to Proposition B, a ballot referendum passed in 2018 requiring equal pay between firefighters and police officers, while Buzbee and King have repeatedly accused Turner’s administration of corruption.
  • Houston’s mayor serves as the city’s chief executive and is responsible for proposing a budget, signing legislation into law, appointing departmental directors, and overseeing the city’s day-to-day operations. He or she also presides over the city council with voting privileges.
  • Mayor Turner is affiliated with the Democratic Party. Sixty-two mayors in the largest 100 cities by population are affiliated with the Democratic Party, 29 are affiliated with the Republican Party, four are independents, and five identify as nonpartisan or unaffiliated. While most mayoral elections in the 100 largest cities are nonpartisan, most officeholders are affiliated with a political party.

Houston voters to elect four school board members in wake of state investigation of board's governance

  • Elections for four out of nine HISD school board seats will be held on November 5. According to campaign finance reports covering through October 26, the fourteen candidates have spent a combined total of around $240,000 in political expenditures on the race.
  • The HISD school board faces the possibility of being replaced by a state-appointed board. If that happens, elected school board members would not have any power until they were reinstated, although they would be able to participate as non-voting representatives.
  • Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath could decide to replace the HISD school board for two reasons: either as a result of a Texas Education Agency (TEA) investigation into the board’s governance or as a result of poor academic performance ratings at a high school in the district.
  • The TEA's final investigative report was released on October 30. According to the Houston Chronicle, Morath will make a decision "in the coming weeks." The day before the final report was released, HISD filed a request for an injunction to prevent state intervention.
  • As of the 2018-2019 school year, HISD was the largest school district in Texas and the seventh-largest school district in the United States, serving 209,772 students in 280 schools with a budget of $2.04 billion.


About

The Tap covered election news, public policy, and other noteworthy events from February 2016 to February 2022.

Back to top • More articles

Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_State_and_Local_Tap:_It’s_Election_Day_on_Tuesday!&oldid=7928176"