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The State and Local Tap: Not just primaries on Tuesday; Missouri votes on right-to-work measure

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August 3, 2018Issue No. 124

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Week in review
On tap next week

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Here's what happened in state and local politics last week. To see what happened in federal politics, click here.

State Politics: The Week in Review

Ballot Measures Update

2018:

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NY chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America endorses Cynthia Nixon

  • New York gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon has secured the endorsement of the New York chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Nixon is challenging incumbent Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) in the Democratic primary.
  • Nixon says Cuomo has failed to deliver progressive policies on affordable housing, transportation, and renewable energy. Cuomo says he has a progressive record, pointing to the statewide legalization of same-sex marriage and increases in the minimum wage since he was elected governor in 2010.
  • Besides the DSA, Nixon’s supporters include the Working Families Party, Our Revolution, and Democracy for America. She supported Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in her primary upset of Joe Crowley (D) and has since endorsed several progressive challengers running against incumbent Democratic state senators.
  • Cuomo was endorsed by the state Democratic Party, DNC Chairman Tom Perez, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton. He has a $30 million to $657,000 cash on hand advantage over Nixon and has led in every public poll thus far by at least 20 percentage points.

Tuesday, July 31

Mississippi House District 77 special election review

  • Price Wallace defeated Patrick Hayes in a nonpartisan special runoff election for District 77 of the Mississippi House of Representatives. Unofficial results showed Wallace ahead with 1,430 votes to Hayes’ 1,350. Although the race was officially nonpartisan, local media reported that both candidates were Republicans. Wallace will replace Andy Gipson (R), who resigned his seat in May after being appointed Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce. Wallace and Hayes advanced to a runoff from a five-candidate race on July 10. Hayes led that race with 33 percent of the vote, while Wallace received 29 percent.

Texas Senate District 19 special election review

  • A special election for District 19 of the Texas State Senate was held. Peter Flores (R) and Pete Gallego (D) advanced to the upcoming runoff election with 34 and 29 percent of the vote, respectively. They defeated Roland Gutierrez (D), Charles Urbina Jones (D), Tomas Uresti (D), Jesse Alaniz (R), Carlos Antonio Raymond (R), and Tony Valdivia (L). The election is being held to replace state Sen. Carlos Uresti (D), who resigned from office four months after he was found guilty of charges related to bribery surrounding a government contract and charges of wrongdoing.

Michigan Supreme Court, in a 4-3 decision, rules that an independent redistricting initiative can remain on general election ballot

  • The Michigan Supreme Court, in a 4-3 decision, ruled that a redistricting ballot initiative shall remain on the ballot for the election on November 6, 2018. The ballot initiative would transfer the power to draw the state's congressional and legislative districts from the Michigan State Legislature to a 13-member redistricting commission. Citizens Protecting Michigan’s Constitution, a PAC that is opposed to the initiative, brought the case forward, contending that the ballot initiative would change the fundamental operation of state government, which state law does allow initiatives to do.
  • Justice David Viviano, writing for the court’s four-justice majority, disagreed with the plaintiffs. Justice Viviano wrote that the initiative would not “significantly alter or abolish the form or structure of our government” nor “propose changes creating the equivalent of a new constitution;” and that, therefore, the ballot initiative does not violate the law. The majority consisted of two Republican and two Democratic justices.
  • Chief Justice Stephen Markman wrote the minority’s opinion, which agreed with plaintiffs that the ballot initiative would fundamentally change state government. He wrote that the initiative “would affect the ‘foundation’ power of government by removing altogether from the legislative branch authority over redistricting and consolidating that power instead in an ‘independent’ commission made up of 13 randomly selected individuals who are not in any way chosen by the people, representative of the people, or accountable to the people.” The minority consisted of three Republican justices.
  • As plaintiffs argued that the ballot initiative violated state constitutional law, the Michigan Supreme Court had final jurisdiction over the case.
  • Katie Fahey, executive director of the pro-initiative PAC Voters Not Politicians, responded to the ruling, stating, “Our state Constitution begins with, ‘All political power is inherent in the people.’ The court’s decision upholds our right as citizens to petition our government for positive change.” Tony Daunt, executive director of the Michigan Freedom Fund and initiative opponent, said, “… the justices of the state Supreme Court bowed to political pressure instead of protecting Michigan’s Constitution.”
  • As of July 31, 2018, Republicans held 64 percent of the state’s seats in the U.S. House, 71 percent of the seats in the state Senate, and 57 percent of the seats in the state House. Redistricting of congressional and state legislative districts will next take place in 2021, following the 2020 U.S. Census. Voters in Colorado and Utah will also address redistricting measures in November.

Bill expanding medication-assisted treatment for opioids users sent to Massachusetts governor's desk

  • The Massachusetts General Court unanimously approved a bill that would expand access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in correctional facilities and for patients in the emergency room due to an opioid overdose. MAT includes the use of drugs that prevent cravings and block the effects of opioids.
  • The bill:
    • directed the state Department of Correction to create an MAT program for incoming prisoners and to evaluate and treat inmates prior to release.
    • established five pilot programs for continuing treatment in county jails.
    • would increase access to naloxone, an overdose-reversal drug.
    • would reduce the cost of the drug for sheriffs through a bulk purchasing program.
    • would require data collection on MAT.
  • It was sent to Gov. Charlie Baker (R). Baker could choose to sign the bill, veto it, or allow it to become law without his signature.

RI Gov. Raimondo spends $1 million on local TV ads

  • Gov. Gina Raimondo has spent $1 million on ads to air on local broadcast stations between June 4 and August 12, according to an analysis of FCC filings published by WPRI Eyewitness News on Tuesday. She faces a primary challenge on the left from former Secretary of State Matt Brown. The Democratic primary is September 12.
  • Tuesday was also the campaign finance report deadline for the second quarter of 2018. Raimondo has raised a total of $5.9 million and had $3.9 million in cash on hand as of June 30; Brown has raised under $200,000 and had $41,050 on hand.
  • Brown has not spent on TV ads. A campaign spokeswoman told Eyewitness News that they did not have plans in place to do so and that the campaign was focusing on grassroots organizing.

Wednesday, August 1

Bernie Sanders backs Andrew Gillum for FL governor

  • U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) tweeted an endorsement of Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum in the Florida gubernatorial Democratic primary. Sanders said Gillum “will work to provide health care for all through a Medicare-for-All program, raise the minimum wage, invest in sustainable energy, improve education, make sure the wealthiest corporations pay their fair share of taxes, and be welcoming to immigrants.”
  • Prior to Sanders’ endorsement, Gillum received the support of progressive organizations such as Democracy for America, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, and Our Revolution. He trails four other candidates in fundraising, but billionaire Tom Steyer endorsed him and said he would spend $1 million to support Gillum. The Collective PAC, which formed to elect black candidates, also pledged to support Gillum with independent spending.
  • Gillum’s four rivals are former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, former Miami Beach mayor Philip Levine, Winter Park businessman Chris King, and real estate investor Jeff Greene. Graham leads the field in endorsements from Democratic elected officials, while Levine and Greene have each poured in more than $10 million of their own money. Polls show a close race with Graham and Levine usually at the top of the field. The primary will be held Aug. 28.

Shafer concedes in GA lieutenant governor Republican primary runoff, Duncan wins

  • State Rep. Geoff Duncan (R) defeated state Sen. David Shafer (R) in the Republican primary runoff for lieutenant governor in Georgia. With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Duncan had led by a margin of 0.4 percent. Under Georgia law, a candidate may request a recount if the margin of victory in an election is less than 1 percent.
  • Shafer conceded the race after the provisional ballots had been counted. He said of requesting a recount, "First, I do not believe that retabulating the electronic voting machines will change the outcome. Second, with the general election less than 14 weeks away, it is time to unify behind our Republican nominees."
  • Duncan faces business owner Sarah Riggs Amico (D) in the general election on November 6.

In November, Arizona voters will decide ballot initiative to prohibit future state or local taxes on services

  • A ballot initiative—Proposition 126—to prohibit future state or local taxes on services qualified for the November 6, 2018 general election ballot. The ballot initiative would not affect taxes on services in effect on December 31, 2017.
  • The Arizona Association of Realtors launched the campaign behind the initiative in March 2018. Supporters had raised $3.10 million through June 30. The Realtors Issues Mobilization Fund, an organization of the Arizona Association of Realtors, provided the largest contribution—$2.60 million. The National Association of Realtors provided the remaining $500,000.
  • At least 225,963 valid signatures were required for the measure to qualify for the ballot. Counties conducted random samples of the 406,353 that were filed, finding that an estimated 276,761 signatures were valid.
  • Services are often treated as distinct from tangible goods in state tax policies. Examples of services are medical care, investment management, and real estate transactions. Holly Mabery, who is chairing the support campaign, stated, “The way we look at it, we want to draw a line in the sand that will absolutely protect Arizona taxpayers.” Arizona House Speaker J.D. Mesnard (R) said that while he is not a fan of service taxes, “I tend to believe that public officials need the flexibility to govern. So putting restrictions on their ability isn’t helpful.”

Iowa Governor appoints Judge Susan Christensen to Iowa Supreme Court

  • Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) appointed Judge Susan Christensen to the Iowa Supreme Court to fill the vacancy created by Justice Bruce Zager's retirement. Christensen was Gov. Reynolds' first nominee to the seven-member supreme court. Under Iowa law, she was selected by the governor with help from a nominating commission. Justice Zager will retire on September 3, 2018, and Christensen will be sworn in on September 4.
  • Christensen will be the third female justice in the history of the Iowa Supreme Court. She was chosen from a list of three female candidates. Her appointment ends the seven-year period in which the court was an all-male panel. Prior to the appointment, Iowa was the only state in the country with no female supreme court members.
  • Christensen is currently a district judge of Iowa District 4. She was appointed to this position in 2015. She received her undergraduate degree from Judson College in 1988 and her J.D. from Creighton University in 1991. She is the daughter of former Iowa Supreme Court Justice Jerry Larson, who was the longest-serving justice in the state supreme court's history.

Florida Amendment 13 to restrict gambling on dog racing blocked from November ballot

  • Judge Karen Gievers ruled that Amendment 13 must be removed from the Florida ballot. The ruling stated that the ballot title of “Ends Dog Racing” and the ballot summary were inaccurate and incomplete. Amendment 13 was one of eight amendments put on the ballot by the Florida Constitution Revision Commission (CRC), a commission unique to Florida that convenes every 20 years to consider changes to the state constitution. The CRC is responsible for writing the ballot title and summary for its proposed amendments. The Florida Greyhound Association filed the lawsuit targeting Amendment 13.
  • In her order, she wrote, "Contrary to the words presented for consideration by the voters, the amendment would not end dog racing, nor would it eliminate wagering on dog racing. [...] If the CRC (Constitution Revision Commission) wanted Florida voters to be able to rethink the relationship between live animal racing and the operation of slot machines, or to be able to adopt as a constitutional fundamental value the humane treatment of animals, the CRC could have included the appropriate language in the ballot and summary.”
  • The Protect Dogs campaign, which supports Amendment 13, and Attorney General Pam Bondi said that they would appeal the decision. Christine Dorchak, president and general counsel of Grey2K USA, said, “We want the people to finally make a judgment on this cruel activity, and that’s why we are confident that this misguided judgment will not stand.” Grey2K USA is a major donor to the Amendment 13 support campaign. Dorchak predicted that the ruling would be overturned in appeal and said, “I don’t think anyone’s here to throw stones, but this [the ruling] is really a nearly 30-page diatribe. It’s not the kind of ruling we would expect to see from a court in Florida.”

Alaska retention filing deadline

  • The filing deadline passed for judicial retention elections in Alaska. One seat on the state court of appeals is up for election in 2018. Judge David Mannheimer had to file for retention in order to remain on the bench. The general election is on November 6, 2018.

Nebraska Supreme Court candidate filing deadline

  • The filing deadline passed for judicial retention elections in Nebraska. One seat on the state supreme court is up for election in 2018. Judge Stephanie Stacy must file for retention in order to remain on the bench. The general election is on November 6, 2018.

Thursday, August 2

Tennessee primary review

  • Tennessee held its statewide primary election. In 2018, Ballotpedia is covering elections in Tennessee for U.S. Senate, nine U.S. House seats, governor, 18 of 33 state senate seats, and all 99 state house seats. Ballotpedia is also covering municipal elections in Davidson County and Shelby County and school board elections in seven counties. The general election will be held on November 6, 2018.
    • Bill Lee (R) defeated Rep. Diane Black (R) and four other candidates in the Republican primary to succeed term-limited Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam (R). Lee, who loaned his campaign more than $5 million, emphasized his status as a political outsider on the campaign trail. Black highlighted her conservative platform and earned an endorsement from Vice President Mike Pence last week.

Five Missouri ballot initiatives certified for November ballot: three different medical marijuana initiatives, a minimum wage increase, and an elections policy initiative

  • Three of the initiatives would legalize medical marijuana. Major differences between the three include tax rates and revenue allocations.
    • Amendment 2 (Sponsor: New Approach Missouri) would tax medical marijuana sales at 4 percent and allocate the revenue to healthcare services for veterans.
    • Amendment 3 (Sponsor: Find the Cures) would tax sales at 15 percent and allocate revenue to the establishment of a Biomedical Research and Drug Development Institute in Missouri.
    • Proposition C (Sponsor:Missourians for Patient Care) would tax sales at 2 percent and divide revenue between veteran healthcare services, drug treatment, education, and law enforcement.
    • While two of the ballot initiatives are constitutional amendments, one is a state statute. If voters approve both of the constitutional amendments, the measure receiving the most votes wins. As of 2018, state law does not provide protocol for when an initiated statute and an initiated amendment are in conflict. If the statute wins more votes than the constitutional amendments, it’s unclear whether the statute would supersede the amendments that received less votes or, as is the general case with laws, the voter-approved constitutional amendments would supersede the statute despite receiving less votes. As the ballot initiatives also contain severability clauses, courts may determine that parts of a voter-approved statute and a voter-approved amendment that are not in conflict can both go into effect. A court ruling would likely be needed to determine the process.
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  • Voters will also decide a minimum wage increase initiative. The measure—Proposition B—would incrementally increase the state’s minimum wage to $12 by 2023 according to the following schedule:
      • $8.60 in 2019
      • $9.45 in 2020
      • $10.30 in 2021
      • $11.15 in 2022
      • $12.00 in 2023
    • Thereafter, the minimum wage would increase or decrease each year based on changes in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) as it currently does.
    • As of 2018, the minimum wage in Missouri is $7.85 an hour.
    • In 2017, the Missouri State Legislature passed HB 1194, which preempted local minimum wage ordinances. Prior to HB 1194, two cities in Missouri—St. Louis and Kansas City—had passed minimum wages higher than the statewide minimum wage. St. Louis had an $11 minimum wage. Voters in Kansas City passed a ballot initiative to increase the minimum wage each year until reaching $15 in 2022. Proposition B would not repeal HB 1194. Therefore, Kansas City’s $15 minimum wage would remain preempted.
    • Missouri Proposition B is the first minimum wage initiative certified in 2018. An initiative in Michigan to increase the minimum wage to $12 may appear on the ballot, pending a judicial ruling. In 2018, the average state minimum wage is $8.52. The federally-mandated minimum wage is $7.25. Since 1998, voters have addressed 21 ballot measures to increase a state minimum wage. Voters approved all of them. The last time a statewide minimum wage measure was rejected was in 1996.
  • The fifth measure put before Missouri voters is a ballot initiative to change the state’s lobbying, campaign finance, and redistricting policies.
    • The measure—Amendment 1—would create the appointed position of state demographer to oversee the drawing of state legislative districts. Candidates for the position would be picked through a process involving the state auditor and the major parties’ leaders in the state Senate. The state demographer would be required to take into account variables called partisan fairness and partisan competitiveness, which would be calculated based on votes in prior elections, when designing maps. The House and Senate apportionment commissions would be allowed to change the demographer's legislative redistricting plan, provided that changes meet the redistricting criteria, and that the changes are approved by seven-tenths of the commissioners. If no changes are made or approved, the demographer's tentative plan would become final.
    • Amendment 1 would also require legislators and legislative employees to wait two years after the conclusion of the legislative session in which the legislator or employee served to become a paid lobbyist. The measure would also prohibit making or accepting contributions using a fake name, using the name of another person, or through another person as to conceal the actual donor's identity.
    • Clean Missouri, the PAC behind Amendment 1, has referred to the initiative as ethics reform. Clean Missouri said Amendment 1 would “make our state government more transparent, limit the power of big money in our legislature, and ensure we're able to hold legislators accountable when they fail to act in the public interest.” As of the most recent filing report through June 30, the PAC had raised $2.09 million, including $250,000 from the National Education Association (NEA), $250,000 from the Missouri NEA, and $250,000 from the MOVE Ballot Fund. The MOVE Ballot Fund is a committee based in St. Louis that has received funding from The Open Society Policy Center. As of August 2, no PAC had registered to oppose Amendment 1.

Two initiatives certified for the ballot in Washington: Carbon Emissions Fee Initiative and Grocery Taxes Initiative

  • The Washington Carbon Emissions Fee and Revenue Allocation Initiative (#1631) and the Washington Taxes on Groceries Initiative (#1634) were certified for the ballot on August 2, 2018. A random sample method was used to verify signatures which showed that the measures had a signature validity rate of between 82 and 83 percent.
  • The Carbon Emissions Fee and Revenue Allocation Initiative would enact a carbon emissions fee beginning on January 1, 2020, of $15 per metric ton of carbon. The fee would increase by $2 per metric ton each year until the state's greenhouse gas reduction goals of 2035 are met and the 2050 goals were on track to be met. Revenue from the fee would go into two funds: (1) a fund for air quality and energy programs and projects and (2) a fund for water quality and forest health projects.
    • Yes on 1631 is leading the campaign in support of the initiative. Supporters include Washington Governor Jay Inslee and United States Representative from Washington, Pramila Jayapal (D-7).
    • No on 1631 is the committee leading the campaign in opposition to the measure. The committee is sponsored by the Western States Petroleum Association.
  • The Taxes on Groceries Initiative would prohibit local government entities from imposing any new tax, fee, or other assessment on grocery items. It would not prevent the state from imposing taxes on groceries. Grocery items are defined in the measure as "any raw or processed food or beverage, or any ingredient thereof, intended for human consumption." The measure would prohibit any existing taxes, fees, or assessments from being increased after January 15, 2018.
    • Supporters of the measure include the Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, Inc., Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Inc., and Red Bull North America.
    • Opponents of the measure include the American Heart Association, Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition, and the Anti-Hunger and Nutrition Coalition.
  • The initiatives join one other initiative on the ballot, an initiative to implement restrictions on the purchase and ownership of firearms including raising the minimum age to purchase a gun to 21, background checks, waiting periods, and storage requirements.

Special Elections

As of this week, 87 state legislative special elections have been scheduled or held in 25 states. Elections have been held for 21 Democratic seats and 44 Republican seats. Ten seats have flipped from Republican control to Democratic control. One seat has flipped from Democratic control to Republican control. In special elections between 2011 and 2017, one party (either Republicans or Democrats) saw an average net gain of four seats across the country each year.

  • An average of 90 seats were filled through special elections in each of the past three odd years (2013: 84, 2015: 88, 2017: 98).
  • An average of 44 seats were filled through special elections in each of the past four even years (2010: 26, 2012: 45, 2014: 40, 2016: 65).

Upcoming special elections include:

August 7

Local Politics: The Week in Review

Elections Update

Monday, July 30

Jersey City School Board filing deadline

  • The filing deadline passed to file to run in the at-large general election for the Jersey City Public Schools school board. Four board seats are up for election in 2018. Three of these seats are up for regular election, and one seat is up for special election following the resignation of board member Angel Valentin. The general election will be held on November 6, 2018.

Tuesday, July 31

Recall effort successful in Dover, Wisconsin

  • A recall election in Dover, Wisconsin, was held against Town Chairman Mario Lena. Voters approved removing Lena from office. Sam Stratton earned 54.5 percent of the vote—enough to win election without the need for a runoff. Lena earned 29.9 percent of the vote. The effort to recall Lena was initiated in April 2018 after recall organizers accused Lena of acting unprofessionally and failing to represent the interests of Dover residents. Petitioners gathered 436 valid signatures to get the recall on the ballot.
    • Ballotpedia has tracked recall efforts against 14 city officials in 2018. Six of those recalls have gone to the ballot. Lena is the second city official to be recalled. One city official resigned in advance of a recall election.
    • Ballotpedia has covered 167 recall efforts involving 242 public officials in 2018. The recall efforts for 100 of those targeted officials did not make it to a vote. Of the remaining officials, 62 still have active recall efforts underway, six resigned from office, and 10 have recall elections scheduled later this year. Out of the 64 officials who were successfully put on the ballot by recall organizers, 32 lost their recall election and were removed from office, and the other 32 survived the recall attempt and remain in office.

Thursday, August 2

Tennessee primary review

North Dakota school board recall election successful

  • A recall election seeking to remove three of the seven members of the Richland 44 School District school board in North Dakota was approved by voters on August 2. Former board president and Area 3 representative Lisa Amundson, Area 1 representative Josh Mjoness, and Area 6 representative Sarah Myers were removed from their positions. The recall effort started due to fiscal concerns, according to recall organizers. Amundson's petition required 70 signatures, and Mjoness' and Myers' petitions each required 40 signatures. Recall supporters had 90 days to circulate the petitions.
    • In the Area 1 recall election, Mjoness faced challengers Derek Beito and Scott Hendrickson. Hendrickson won the seat. In Area 3, Amundson was defeated by Amy Lehman. Myers faced Jody Lingen and Paul Lucas in Area 6, and Lingen won the election.
    • In March 2018, the school board placed Richland 44 Superintendent Tim Godfrey on paid administrative leave. The board's decision came after five male student-athletes in the district were charged with misdemeanor hazing, misdemeanor sexual assault, felonious restraint, and felony terrorizing in February 2018. In April 2018, the board voted 6-0 to accept Godfrey's resignation. High school principal Bruce Anderson and athletic director John Freeman also left their positions.
    • The Richland 44 recall effort was the fifth school board recall effort to make it to the ballot in 2018. Ballotpedia has covered a total of 30 school board recalls targeting 67 board members this year.

Shelby County, Tennessee voters approve charter amendment to set county official salaries according to state statute, thereby increasing salaries for certain county officials

  • Voters in Shelby County, Tennessee, voted 75 percent to 25 percent in favor of a charter amendment to set the salaries of county officials according to state statute instead of by the county board of commissioners. The charter amendment increased the salaries of county officials by meeting the minimum requirements of the state's salary schedule. For example, the state's salary schedule under Tennessee Code § 8-24-102 sets the minimum annual salary for a county mayor at $152,105. In Shelby County (population 936,961), the mayor's salary was $142,500 as of fiscal year 2018, according to Commercial Appeal.
WHAT'S ON TAP NEXT WEEK

Here's what is happening in state and local politics this week. To see what happened in federal politics, click here.

State Politics: What's On Tap Next Week

Monday, August 6

Judicial candidate filing deadline in Colorado

  • The filing deadline will pass for judicial retention elections in Colorado. One seat on the state supreme court is up for election in 2018. Judge Richard Gabriel must file for retention in order to remain on the bench. Five seats on the Colorado Court of Appeals are also up for election in 2018. The general election is on November 6, 2018.

Tuesday, August 7

Kansas primary preview

  • Kansas’ statewide primary is on August 7. Ballotpedia is covering elections for four U.S. House seats, 11 state executive seats including governor, all 125 state house seats, and a special primary election in District 13 of the state senate. Ballotpedia will also cover primaries in Sedgwick County. The general election is November 6, 2018.
    • In his bid for a first full term after succeeding former Gov. Sam Brownback (R) in January, Gov. Jeff Colyer (R) faces six challengers in the Republican primary for governor of Kansas. He and top challenger Kris Kobach, Kansas' secretary of state, are presenting voters with both policy and style differences against the backdrop of two significant events from 2017: the state legislature's reversal of several tax cuts enacted by Brownback in 2012 and the Kansas Supreme Court's ruling that the state's school financing formula was unconstitutional.
    • Five Democrats are competing for their party’s nomination in Kansas’ gubernatorial election. Only one quarter of Kansas voters are registered Democrats, but some in the party are optimistic that Democratic policy positions can win votes following two terms under Brownback. State Sen. Laura Kelly (D) and state Secretary of Agriculture Joshua Svaty (D) both pointed to their respective histories of being elected to the state legislature in Republican-leaning districts. Former Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer cited a poll showing him leading the field in name recognition. Physician Arden Andersen and high school student Jack Bergeson are also running in the Democratic primary.
    • The five Republican candidates vying to replace Kris Kobach (R) as secretary of state mostly support his voting policies, including a requirement that potential voters present proof of citizenship when registering. Only attorney Dennis Taylor says the policy was ineffective and that he would not appeal a June 2018 federal court ruling that the law is unconstitutional. His top priority in the office would be improving cybersecurity. Two candidates more supportive of Kobach’s voting policies lead Taylor in fundraising. State Rep. Scott Schwab, the fundraising leader, says he would focus on following the legislative intent of laws the office is charged with administering. Craig McCullah, a former Kobach employee, praises his boss’ tenure and says he would try to eliminate inefficiencies in the office. Also running are state Rep. Keith Esau, who wants to upgrade the office’s computer system, and activist Randy Duncan, who says local election officials should have more autonomy.
    • Rival Republican factions are facing off in the Kansas state House primaries. At least 22 of 31 primaries feature matchups between Republicans who support former Gov. Sam Brownback’s (R) 2012 tax cuts and opponents of the cuts. In the 2017 legislative session, tax cut opponents and Democrats joined together to pass a partial repeal of the tax cuts and then override Brownback’s veto of the repeal. Tax cut supporters needed to increase their current numbers from 38 to 41 members to sustain a future veto of similar legislation.

Michigan primary preview

  • Michigan is holding primaries on August 7, 2018, and Ballotpedia will be covering 186 seats at the federal, state, and local levels. One U.S. Senate seat, 15 U.S. House seats (including Michigan’s 13th Congressional District special election), 38 state senate seats, and 110 state house seats will be on the ballot. Ballotpedia will also cover primaries in Wayne County. The general election is November 6, 2018.
    • Attorney General Bill Schuette (R), Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley (R), state Sen. Patrick Colbeck (R), and medical doctor Jim Hines are competing in a primary for the Republican nomination in Michigan’s race for governor. Schuette is running with endorsements from President Donald Trump (R) and Vice President Mike Pence and has led the field in several polls. Calley has the endorsement of outgoing governor Rick Snyder, and is running on his record as lieutenant governor overseeing decreasing unemployment in the state. Colbeck received an endorsement from Sen. Ted Cruz (R) and is running as an outsider in the race.
    • In the Michigan gubernatorial Democratic primary, former state Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer leads physician Abdul El-Sayed and businessman Shri Thanedar in polling. Whitmer is backed by EMILY’s List, the Michigan Education Association, the state AFL-CIO, and all four of the state’s congressional Democrats. El-Sayed is backed by progressive influencers like U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Democracy for America, and Our Revolution and has called for a $15 minimum wage and single-payer healthcare. Thanedar has argued for similar policies as El-Sayed and put $6 million into his campaign.

Missouri primary preview, including Proposition A, the right to work veto referendum

  • Missouri’s statewide primary is on August 7. Ballotpedia is covering elections for U.S. Senate, eight U.S. House seats, state auditor, 17 of 34 state senate seats, all 163 state house seats, and Proposition A, the right to work veto referendum. Ballotpedia is also covering municipal elections in Clay County, Jackson County, Platte County, St. Louis, and Kansas City. The general election is on November 6, 2018.
    • Five things to know about Missouri Proposition A, the Right to Work Referendum, that voters will decide on August 7:
      • 1. Proposition A would make Missouri the 28th state to enact a RTW law. Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin passed RTW laws between 2012 and 2017 after Republicans claimed state government trifectas—control of both chambers of the state legislature and governor's office—in each of the three states following elections in 2010. Missouri, however, had a divided government until 2017, when Democrats lost the governor's office to Republican Eric Greitens at the 2016 election. As a new GOP trifecta, the state legislature passed and the governor signed RTW during the 2017 legislative session.
      • 2. Voters have never overturned a RTW law on the ballot. Proposition A is the third veto referendum on RTW to appear on the ballot in the United States. Electors in Arizona (1948) and Idaho (1986) voted to uphold their states' right-to-work laws. In 2016, voters in North Dakota rejected an initiative that would have allowed unions to collect dues from non-members. Opponents of RTW tried to repeal Nevada's law in 1956 and 1958, failing at the ballot both times.
      • 3. The AFL-CIO's leadership views Proposition A as ground zero. Liz Shuler, the second-highest ranking official of the national AFL-CIO, claimed that the rejection of RTW in Missouri would signal that "there's a turnaround and that we are a powerful movement." Dave Robertson, a political science professor at the University of Missouri, stated, "If the opponents of right to work lose this, it's a big setback for organized labor, and it'll be felt throughout the country. And that's what I think unions are concerned about — a domino effect of gradually losing power over time because laws will impede their ability to raise money and use it for political campaigns and organizing." The editorial board of the St. Joseph News-Press took a different stance, writing that unions "have reason to be concerned about their declining influence nationally and where their movement is headed. But this was true before Proposition A was placed on the Aug. 7 ballot in Missouri, and it still will be true, win or lose, after the vote."
      • 4. Proposition A was scheduled for the general election on November 6, but the legislature moved the election forward. The vote to change the date was along partisan lines. Legislative Republicans supported the earlier election, and Democrats opposed the change. Rep. Holly Rehder (R), who sponsored the change, said Proposition A needed to be decided sooner because "a great deal of business investment has been frozen during this fight." Rep. Doug Beck (D) criticized the change, arguing, "[Republicans] are terrified voter rejection of right-to-work will cause collateral damage to Republican legislative candidates" in the general election. Rep. Kevin Engler (R) responded, claiming that Democrats wanted the referendum on the general election ballot to help U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill's (D) re-election bid.
      • 5. RTW opponents have out-raised supporters by more than 3-to-1. The combined total raised for and against Proposition A was $22.09 million as of July 31. Pro-RTW PACs raised a combined $5.12 million. The largest contributions included $2.00 million from A New Missouri—a 501(c)(4) nonprofit affiliated with former Gov. Greitens' (R) political team and $765,000 from The National Right to Work Committee. The anti-RTW PAC raised $16.96 million. The largest contributions included $2.35 million from the Missouri AFL-CIO and $1.39 million from the Committee to Protect MO Families, a committee affiliated with the Carpenters District Council of Greater St. Louis & Vicinity.

Washington primary preview

  • Washington’s statewide primary is on August 7. Ballotpedia is covering elections for U.S. Senate, 10 U.S. House seats, three state Supreme Court seats, eight seats on the Washington Court of Appeals, 25 of 49 state senate seats, and all 98 state house seats. Ballotpedia is also covering municipal elections in King County and local judicial elections in Seattle. Washington utilizes a top-two primary. All candidates compete in one primary. The two candidates who receive the most votes, regardless of party affiliation, move on to the general election. The general election will be held on November 6, 2018.

California State Senate special election

  • A special election for the District 32 seat of the California State Senate will be held August 7. Vanessa Delgado (D) and Rita Topalian (R), the two candidates who advanced from the June 5 special primary, will be on the ballot.
    • The seat became vacant following Tony Mendoza's (D) resignation on February 22 due to sexual misconduct allegations against him. Mendoza filed to run in the special primary along with 10 other candidates. A total of nine Democrats and two Republicans filed.
    • The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of Mendoza’s term, which ends in December. Both Delgado and Topalian filed to run in the regularly-scheduled election for a four-year term to the same district. Delgado lost the primary when she received the third-most votes, while Topalian advanced to the November 6 general election by receiving the highest number of votes. Democrat Bob Archuleta advanced to the general election with Topalian.
    • Mendoza also ran in the regularly-scheduled election, but he was defeated in the primary.

Supreme court candidate filing deadline in South Dakota

  • The filing deadline will pass for judicial retention elections in South Dakota. One seat on the state supreme court is up for election in 2018. Judge Janine Kern must file for retention in order to remain on the bench. The general election is on November 6, 2018.

Wednesday, August 8

Arkansas state legislative special election filing deadline

  • The filing deadline for candidates running in the special election for District 45 of the Arkansas House of Representatives is August 8, 2018. The election will be on November 6, 2018. The seat became vacant following Jeremy Gillam's (R) resignation on June 15, 2018. Gillam resigned in order to become the director of governmental relations and external affairs at the University of Central Arkansas. In 2018, five special elections have been called to fill vacant seats in the Arkansas General Assembly.

State Board of Education candidate filing deadline in Ohio

  • Five of the 11 elected seats on the Ohio State Board of Education will be up for general election on November 6, 2018. Candidates interested in the position have until August 8 to file for election. Eligible candidates must be qualified electors in the district in which they are running and may not be employed by a public or private school. The filing fee is $55 and candidates must collect 100 valid signatures. The seats are nonpartisan.

Independent candidate filing deadline in Connecticut

  • The filing deadline for independent candidates in Connecticut is August 8. Qualified independent candidates will be added to the November 6 ballot along with the winners of the August 14 primary elections.
    • Ballotpedia is covering Connecticut state and federal elections in 2018. One U.S. Senate seat, five U.S. House seats, six state executive seats, 36 state senate seats, and 151 state house seats will be on the ballot.
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Local Politics: What's On Tap Next Week

Tuesday, August 7

Kansas primary preview

Michigan primary preview

  • Michigan is holding primaries on August 7, 2018, and Ballotpedia will be covering 186 seats at the federal, state, and local levels and local ballot measures for Detroit and Wayne County voters. One U.S. Senate seat, 15 U.S. House seats (including Michigan’s 13th Congressional District special election), 38 state senate seats, and 110 state house seats will be on the ballot. Ballotpedia will also cover primaries in Wayne County. The general election is November 6, 2018.

Missouri primary preview

  • Missouri’s statewide primary is on August 7. Ballotpedia is covering elections for U.S. Senate, eight U.S. House seats, state auditor, 17 of 34 state senate seats, and all 163 state house seats. Ballotpedia is also covering municipal elections in Clay County, Jackson County, Platte County, St. Louis and Kansas City. The general election is on November 6, 2018.
    • On July 31, Judge David M. Byrn of Missouri's 16th Circuit Court ruled that election officials will not be allowed to tabulate results for the August 7 primary for sheriff of Jackson County, Missouri. State law mandates that party officials chose nominees for sheriff if the position is vacated voluntarily within one year of when the position would be up for election. Former Sheriff Mike Sharp resigned in April 2018. Because the ruling came down one week before the primary, the names of primary candidates can not be removed from the ballot. The county Democratic Party committee will select a general election candidate on August 21. The chairman of the county Republican Party committee said on July 31 that a Republican nominee would be selected by August 7.

Washington primary preview

  • Washington’s statewide primary is on August 7. Ballotpedia is covering elections for U.S. Senate, 10 U.S. House seats, three state Supreme Court seats, eight seats on the Washington Court of Appeals, 25 of 49 state senate seats, and all 98 state house seats. Ballotpedia is also covering municipal elections in King County and local judicial elections in Seattle. Washington utilizes a top-two primary. All candidates compete in one primary. The two candidates who receive the most votes, regardless of party affiliation, move on to the general election. The general election will be held on November 6, 2018.

Anchorage city council special election

  • Anchorage, Alaska, is holding a special election for the District 3-Seat E seat on the Anchorage Assembly on August 7. Seven candidates are running for the open seat. The special election became necessary after the former representative, Tim Steele, resigned for health reasons on June 12, 2018.

Wednesday, August 8

Candidate filing deadline in Washington D.C.

  • Independent candidates hoping to make the ballot for the general election on November 6, 2018, have until August 8 to file. Partisan seats up for election include mayor, attorney general, seven city council seats, one non-voting U.S. House of Representatives seat, one shadow U.S. Senate seat, and one shadow U.S. House of Representatives seat. Currently, 11 D.C. board members are affiliated with the Democratic Party and two are independent. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Attorney General Karl Racine are also Democrats, as are Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton, Shadow Senator Michael D. Brown, and Shadow Representative Franklin Garcia. Also on the ballot will be four nonpartisan District of Columbia Board of Education seats. Board of education candidates also have until August 8 to file for election.

Filing deadline for mayoral candidates in Phoenix

  • Candidates wishing to run in the special election for mayor of Phoenix, Arizona, will pass on August 8. The special election will take place on November 6, 2018. A runoff election, if necessary will be held on March 12, 2019. The election was called after former Mayor Greg Stanton resigned his seat on May 29, 2018, to run for Congress. Thelda Williams became the interim mayor after Stanton’s resignation. Former Phoenix City Council member Daniel Valenzuela and Phoenix City Council member Kate Gallego have declared their intentions to run.

Filing deadline for school board candidates in Arizona

  • The filing deadline will pass to run in Arizona’s school board elections. Ballotpedia is covering 94 seats across 43 Arizona school district elections in 2018. The general election is on November 6, 2018.

Filing deadline for local judges and special districts in Idaho

  • The filing deadline will pass for magistrate judges seeking retention and special districts in Ada County, Idaho. Ballotpedia is covering the following two special districts: Ada County Highway District and the board of trustees for the College of Western Idaho. The general election is on November 6, 2018.

Friday, August 10

California local filing deadline

  • The filing deadline will pass for candidates running in California's November 6 municipal elections. Ballotpedia is covering school board elections in 92 school districts and city elections in San Francisco, Anaheim, Bakersfield, Fremont, Irvine, Oakland, and Santa Ana.


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

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