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The State and Local Tap: State capitol policy updates: A busy week

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April 20, 2018Issue No. 109

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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.

Ballot Measures Update

2018:

  • Seventy-nine (79) measures are certified to appear on statewide ballots in 26 states in 2018 so far—17 citizen-initiated measures, 53 legislatively referred measures, eight measures referred by a Florida commission, and one measure automatically referred to the ballot by the state constitution. Over the previous five even-year election cycles, an average of 61 citizen-initiated measures and 173 total statewide measures have appeared on ballots. Review Ballotpedia’s list of 2018 initiative and referendum signature deadlines to stay ahead of 2018 ballot measure news, and see if there are initiatives currently circulating in your state here.
    • Ten new measures were certified for 2018 ballots over the last week.
    • By this time in 2014, 96 measures had been certified for the 2014 ballot; ultimately, 158 statewide measures were put on the ballot in 2014. By this time in 2016, 93 measures had been certified for the 2016 ballot; ultimately, 162 statewide measures were put on the ballot in 2016.
    • The average number of certifications by the 16th week of the year from 2010 through 2016 was 100, and the average total number of certified measures by the end of the year in the same period was 173.
    • Signatures for nine additional citizen-initiated measures have been submitted and are pending verification in California, Michigan, and Utah. To see this list, click here.
    • In Alaska and Massachusetts enough signatures were submitted for eight indirect initiatives (one of which has two versions) to put them before the state legislatures during the 2018 session and then on the ballot if the legislatures don’t approve them (provided a second, smaller round of signatures is collected for the Massachusetts initiatives). To see this list of initiatives currently pending legislative consideration, click here.
    • The latest general signature submission deadline was on April 16, 2018, for initiatives in Utah.
    • The next general initiative signature deadlines are on May 1, 2018, for initiatives in Idaho and on May 6, 2018, for initiatives in Missouri.
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Saturday, April 14

Colorado parties hold state conventions

  • The Democratic and Republican Parties of Colorado voted on gubernatorial nominees at their annual state conventions Saturday. In order to appear on the June 26 primary ballot, candidates were required to receive at least 30 percent of the vote or turn in nominating petitions with 1,500 valid signatures from registered party members in each of the state's seven congressional districts.
  • At the Democratic convention, former state Treasurer Cary Kennedy (D) and Rep. Jared Polis (D) earned spots on the primary ballot. Kennedy received 62 percent of the vote to Polis' 33 percent. The two will join state Sen. Michael Johnston (D), who turned in nominating petitions that have been verified by the Colorado secretary of state. A fourth candidate, Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne (D), has also submitted signatures to the secretary of state's office, which has not completed verification.
  • At the Republican convention, state Treasurer Walker Stapleton (R) and former Parker Mayor Greg Lopez (R) earned spots on the primary ballot. Stapleton received 43 percent of the vote to Lopez's 32 percent. Two additional candidates, businessman Doug Robinson (R) and former state Rep. Victor Mitchell (R), submitted nominating petitions to the secretary of state's office, which has not completed verification.
  • The winners of the June 26 primaries will advance to the November 6 general election. Sitting Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) is prevented from seeking re-election by term limits.

Monday, April 16

Gov. Walker signs law prohibiting cities from enacting employment ordinances

  • Republican Gov. Scott Walker signed AB 748, which prohibits local governments from enacting employment ordinances related to hours and overtime, employment benefits, wages, and an employer's right to obtain salary information from prospective employees, among others.
  • The bill passed the Wisconsin State Assembly on February 22, 58 to 32, and was approved by the Wisconsin State Senate on March 20, 18 to 14. The legislature sent the bill to the governor after agreeing to amendments on March 22.
  • Responses.
    • Rep. Rob Hutton (R) said AB 748 "establishes certainty for employees so that they know that they may receive the same treatment from the business and the government no matter where they are located."
    • Sen. Kathleen Vinehout (D) disagreed, saying different industries required different standards: "The county’s association which is of course is [sic] opposed to taking away their local powers are concerned that they’re not going to be able to regulate employee hours or overtime, benefits, discrimination in any particular industry in their county."
  • More than two dozen other states have prohibited local governments from enacting similar laws and ordinances, according to Lexology.
  • Ballotpedia covers preemption conflicts between state and local governments in several policy areas. Preemption occurs when law at a higher level of government is used to overrule authority at a lower level. Click here to learn more about preemption conflicts between state and local governments.

Colorado teachers rally at the capitol in support of higher pay, more education funding, protection of retirement benefits

  • Teachers protested in and out of schools to demand higher education funding and protection for teachers' retirement benefits. Englewood Schools, Colorado, closed because about 70 percent of teachers were expected to participate in the rally. Educators in other school districts staged walk-ins.
  • The Colorado Education Association (CEA) organized a Lobby Day for teachers to rally at the capitol since House committee members were expected to consider changes to the teachers' retirement system. The committee removed provisions that teachers opposed from a pension bill, but the final text depends on the full House and Senate.
  • Kerrie Dallman, CEA president, said the teachers organized organically and were inspired by similar protests in West Virginia, Oklahoma, and Kentucky: "The fact that these very conservative states have really been able to take this message to their state legislatures has been very empowering to our members."
  • The CEA asked for higher teacher pay and $150 million in public education funding this year plus a commitment to fund schools at constitutionally required levels by 2022. The CEA also called for changes to proposed legislation that would alter state pension systems.
  • The National Education Association ranked the average salary for Colorado teachers ($46,155) in 2016 as 46th out of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. The national average for teacher salaries in 2016 was $58,353.

Pennsylvania House approves bill prohibiting abortions for Down syndrome

  • The Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted 139 to 56 in favor of House Bill 2050 (HB 2050). The bill would prohibit abortions if the reason for the procedure was a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome.
  • Pennsylvania law at the time of the bill's passage prohibited abortions when the sole reason was the sex of the fetus.
  • House Speaker Mike Turzai (R), who sponsored the bill, said the bill would protect "the dignity of every human being" and show support and compassion for families with individuals with Down syndrome.
  • Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf expressed opposition to HB 2050, saying the bill was "another example of Harrisburg Republicans exploiting vulnerable families and trying to undermine the doctor-patient relationship to score political points."

Florida Constitution Revision Commission adjourns until 2037, sending eight measures to the ballot for November 2018

  • The Florida Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) met for the last time until 2037. The CRC referred eight measures to the ballot for the election on November 6, 2018. The CRC rejected three ballot measures, and one was withdrawn before the final vote.
  • The CRC will not meet again until 2037, when 37 commissioners will meet to discuss what constitutional amendments to put on the ballot for the election on November 2, 2038. The CRC refers constitutional amendments directly to the ballot for a public vote, which makes the commission unique amongst the states. Florida is the only state with a commission empowered to refer constitutional amendments to the ballot. The CRC convenes every 20 years.
  • The eight ballot measures joined five other constitutional amendments on the ballot for the upcoming general election, bringing the total number of measures that Florida voters will address to 13. Voters also decided 13 ballot measures in 1998—the last time the CRC referred measures to the ballot.
  • The eight CRC-referred ballot measures resulted from the combination of 20 separate proposals. In 2018, the CRC received 2,013 proposals from the public and 103 from the commission's members. About 0.95 percent of the filed proposals made the ballot. In 1998, 766 proposals were filed, with 5.09 percent of them making the ballot. Measures needed approval by 22 of 37 commissioners to be put before voters in 2018.
    • The first ballot measure approved on April 16 was Proposal 6001, which proposed (1) adding a Marsy’s Law—a type of crime victims amendment—to the state constitution, (2) increasing the judicial retirement age from 70 to 75 years of age, and (3) prohibiting state courts from deferring to an administrative agency’s interpretation of a state statute or rule in lawsuits. The measure received the vote of 34 commissioners. Commissioner Roberto Martinez asked the CRC to separate the three proposals into three distinct ballot measures, but his motion was rejected.
    • The second ballot measure approved was Proposal 6002, which proposed (1) requiring employers to provide death benefits to the surviving spouses of first responders while engaged in official duties, (2) requiring the state to provide death benefits to the surviving spouses of active-duty U.S. Armed Forces members who are accidentally killed or unlawfully and intentionally killed, (3) requiring a nine-member vote of the board of trustees and 12-member vote of the board of governors to increase a college fee, and (4) placing the current structure of the state's system of higher education in the Florida Constitution. The vote on this measure was 30-7 in favor.
    • Proposal 6003, the third amendment put on the ballot, addresses changes to K-12 education, including (1) establishing a term limit of eight consecutive years for school board members, (2) requiring the legislature to promote civic literacy in public education, and (3) allow the state, rather than school boards, to control and approve charter schools and other schools not established by school boards. The vote was 27-10. Commissioners debated whether the third provision should be included with the first two, with some arguing that the first two subjects weren’t as controversial as the third.
    • Proposal 6004 would prohibit offshore oil and gas drilling in the state’s territorial waters and ban vaping in enclosed indoor workplaces. The approval vote was 33-3.
    • Proposal 6005 combined five different proposals, including (1) adding the existing state Department of Veterans Affairs to the Florida Constitution; (2) creating a state Office of Domestic Security and Counter-Terrorism; (3) requiring the legislature to convene regular session on the second Tuesday of January of even-numbered years; and (4) prohibiting counties from abolishing certain local offices—sheriff, tax collector, property appraiser, supervisor of elections, and clerk of the circuit court—and requiring elections for these offices. Like Proposal 6003, some commissioners were concerned about whether the first three provisions should be packaged with the fourth provision. The vote to refer the measure to the ballot was 29-8.
    • Proposal 6006 removed provisions from the state constitution that had either been declared in violation of the federal constitution by past court cases or were obsolete. The proposal received minimal opposition, with a final vote of 36-1.
    • Proposal 6007 was designed to prohibit public officials from lobbying for compensation during the official's term in office and for six years after the official leaves office and to prohibit public officials from using their office to obtain a disproportionate benefit. The state legislature would be responsible for defining disproportionate benefit in statute upon the approval of the amendment by voters. The vote on the measure was 30-4.
    • The final ballot measure approved was Proposal 6011, which was designed to ban wagering on dog racing, including greyhound racing, in the state of Florida. The measure was passed in a vote of 27-10.
  • The CRC rejected three ballot measures. One would have allowed all voters, regardless of their party affiliation, to vote in a partisan primary election if the primary’s winner was to face no opposition or only opposition from write-in candidates in the general election. The second would have allowed high-performing public school districts to become innovation school districts, which, like charter schools, would have been exempt from some provisions of state education code. The third would have required employers to use the federal E-Verify program to check if a prospective employee is eligible to work in the U.S.

The Colorado Legislature puts amendment on the ballot to consolidate judge retention ballot language

  • The state Senate gave final approval to an amendment to allow less space on the ballot to be used for judge retention questions, sending it to the voters in November. Currently, the Colorado Constitution requires county clerks to write separate retention questions on the ballot for each judge or justice standing for retention. This amendment would change that language to allow county clerks to use one judge retention question for each level of courts with individual judges listed as ballot items below the question, thereby shortening the ballot. It passed in the House with a vote of 63-2 and in the Senate with a vote of 35-0. In Colorad, a 55 percent supermajority vote is required in both the Colorado State Senate and the Colorado House of Representatives to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot.
  • From 1996 through 2016, the state legislature referred 29 constitutional amendments to the ballot. Voters approved 15 and rejected 14 of the referred amendments. All of the amendments were referred to the ballot for elections during even-numbered election years. The average number of amendments appearing on even-year ballots was between 2 and 3. The approval rate of referred amendments at the ballot box was 51.72 percent during the 20-year period from 1996 through 2016. The rejection rate was 48.28% percent.
  • One other legislatively referred constitutional amendment is on the ballot in Colorado for 2018—the Colorado Age Qualification for General Assembly Members Amendment.

Tuesday, April 17

Teachers, Democrats reject Kentucky Gov. Bevin's apology for comments about sexual abuse during teacher walkout

  • Background.
    • On April 13, Republican Gov. Matt Bevin made the following comment after teachers rallied at the capitol: "I guarantee you somewhere in Kentucky today a child was sexually assaulted that was left at home because there was nobody there to watch them. I guarantee you somewhere today a child was physically harmed or ingested poison because they were home alone because a single parent didn't have any money to take care of them. I'm offended by the idea that people so cavalierly and so flippantly disregarded what's truly best for children."
    • On April 15, Bevin apologized for his comments in a video. He said people misunderstood what he was saying and that he recognized that his comments left people confused and hurt.
  • Reactions.
    • On April 14, the Republican-controlled Kentucky House of Representatives approved two resolutions rebuking Bevin for his comments.
    • On April 17, Jefferson County Teachers Union Vice President Tammy Berlin told CNN that Bevin's apology was disingenuous.
    • Kelsey Hayes Coots, a teacher in Jefferson County Public Schools, said in a video published by WAVE News that she found the comments disturbing and did not accept the governor's apology.
    • Democratic Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, who had earlier called the comments "disgusting and shameful," tweeted, "Actual translation: 'Meant what I said. Could have said it better. Sorry, not sorry.'"
    • Kentucky House Democratic Leader Rocky Adkins said Bevin's video apology "shows he still does not comprehend why so many were understandably upset."

Kentucky Education Commissioner Stephen Pruitt resigns amid board of education reorganization

  • Kentucky Education Commissioner Stephen Pruitt resigned, effective immediately, following a reorganization of the state Board of Education in which Gov. Matt Bevin (R) appointed seven new members to the 12-member board.
  • Pruitt was appointed by the Kentucky Board of Education in October 2015, before Bevin was governor.
  • Responses to Pruitt's resignation.
    • House Education Committee Chair John Carney (R) said he wished Pruitt had not resigned and, responding to board statements that Pruitt was not pushed out, said, "If he wasn’t pushed out he was certainly encouraged to step down."
    • Kentucky Education Association (KEA) President Stephanie Winkler said Pruitt had been a strong leader for students and public schools: "Forcing an honorable and highly qualified man to resign from his position without any cause is contrary to the best interests of students across the Commonwealth."
    • Gov. Bevin and the KEA have been in conflict recently over teacher protests and Bevin's signature of a bill changing the state pension system.
  • The board of education selected Wayne Lewis to serve as interim commissioner.

Colorado House votes on net neutrality-related bill

  • The Colorado House of Representatives voted on House Bill 1312, which would disqualify internet service providers (ISPs) from receiving government grants if they engage in behaviors that are considered inconsistent with net neutrality guidelines. These behaviors include blocking content, impairing traffic, or prioritizing content in exchange for benefits (also known as paid prioritization).
  • HB 1312 passed 34 to 28 with all "no" votes coming from Republicans, suggesting that it could stall in the Republican-controlled state Senate.
  • On December 14, 2017, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3-2, along party lines, to repeal net neutrality rules instituted during the Obama administration. The rules prohibited ISPs from blocking or slowing web traffic or providing paid internet fast lanes.
  • At least 26 other states had also introduced bills in response to the FCC's decision. Click here for more information about state responses to the FCC ruling.

Tennessee Democrats call for Education Commissioner Candice McQueen's resignation

  • Tennessee House Democrats held a press conference at the state capitol calling for Education Commissioner Candice McQueen's resignation over issues with TNReady, a student assessment for third- through eighth-grade students. Lawmakers said McQueen should resign after she announced that the company managing the online portion of TNReady had experienced a cyberattack. McQueen apologized for the disruption in testing but said she would not resign.
  • Democratic Rep. John Ray Clemmons said, "It is time to hold our commissioner of education accountable. She has given this test year after year and she has gotten an 'F.' ... This should come as no surprise to the commissioner of education because this frustration is growing statewide."
  • According to the Tennessean, Gov. Bill Haslam (R) said he had complete confidence in McQueen and that the attack was being investigated.

Pennsylvania House votes in favor of Medicaid work requirements

  • The Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted 115 to 80 in favor of House Bill 2138, which would require the state Department of Human Services to apply for a federal waiver authorizing work requirements for eligible Medicaid recipients.
  • Recipients would need to work for 20 hours per week or complete 12 job training program activities per month to satisfy the requirements.
    • Exceptions would be made for individuals in a variety of circumstances, including full-time high school students, pregnant women, primary caregivers for children under the age of six, and caregivers of permanently disabled individuals, among others.
  • According to the bill's fiscal note, 438,000 Medicaid enrollees could be subject to work requirements. The Daily Item reported that 2.9 million people received health insurance through Medicaid.
  • Rep. Matthew Dowling (R), the bill author, said the bill aimed to lift individuals out of poverty and allow them to become independent without government assistance. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed a similar bill in 2017, and his administration indicated that he would veto HB 2138, should it reach his desk. It must first pass the Pennsylvania State Senate.
  • According to WITF, at the time of the bill's passage, Medicaid work requirement requests had been approved in Arkansas, Indiana, and Kentucky. WITF also reported that seven other states were in the process of implementing work requirements.

Nebraska Gov. Ricketts signs tax adjustment bill into law

  • Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts signed LB 1090. A press release from the governor's website said the bill was meant to "ease the tax burden on Nebraskans and make key adjustments to Nebraska’s tax code in light of federal tax reform." LB 1090 restores personal tax exemptions that were eliminated by the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and adjusts the individual income tax brackets, personal exemption credit, and standard deduction.

Virginia House of Delegates passes budget proposal expanding Medicaid

  • The Republican-controlled Virginia House of Delegates approved a two-year budget bill that would expand Medicaid. According to the Daily Press, the House passed a similar bill during the regular session that the Virginia State Senate rejected.
  • Delegates voted 67 to 33 for the new version. Republicans who opposed the regular session bill maintained their opposition to the new bill, and one Democrat, Del. Sam Rasoul, changed his vote from "yes" to "no." Rasoul said he was opposed to work requirements provisions.
  • The bill was sent to the Republican-controlled state Senate for consideration.
  • The Virginia General Assembly began a special session on April 11 to resolve disagreements about the state budget and Medicaid expansion. The legislature has until July 1 to approve a budget or face a government shutdown.

Hawaii House of Representatives District 8 gets first new representative in 36 years

  • Hawaii Gov. David Ige (D) appointed Troy Hashimoto to represent District 8 in the Hawaii House of Representatives. Hashimoto was selected to replace former Rep. Joseph Souki, who resigned on March 30, 2018, due to allegations of sexual misconduct.
  • Souki served as the District 8 representative since 1982, meaning this is the first time in 36 years that District 8 has a new representative.
  • Hashimoto has served as executive assistant to Maui County Council Chair Mike White since 2011 and was Maui County Democratic Party chair from 2013 to 2017. He previously worked for the University of Hawai‘i Maui College. He is the owner of TNH Productions. He has an M.B.A. from the University of Denver.

Wisconsin special election filing deadline passes

  • Wisconsin’s special filing deadline passed for the State Senate District 1 seat and the State Assembly District 42 seat. Both seats were vacated on December 29, 2017, after Frank Lasee (R) and Keith Ripp (R) were appointed to new positions. A primary election is scheduled for May 15 and the general election will take place on June 12.
    • Three candidates filed for the State Senate District 1 seat. Republican candidates André Jacque and Alex Renard will face off in the Republican primary election. The primary winner will face Democratic candidate Caleb Frostman in the general election.
    • In State Assembly District 42, seven candidates filed for election. Democratic candidates Ann Groves Lloyd and Nicholas Schneider will face off in the Democratic primary election. Republican candidates Colleen Locke-Murphy, Jon Plumer, Darren Schroeder, and Spencer Zimmerman are running in the Republican primary election. The primary election winners will face independent candidate Gene Rubinstein in the general election.
    • The special election was called on March 29, 2018, after the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC) sued Gov. Scott Walker (R) for not calling a special election in 2018 to fill the two seats. The NDRC said that by not holding a special election, constituents in District 1 and District 42 were left unrepresented. Walker argued that calling a special election would be a waste of taxpayer money given that regularly-scheduled elections will be held in November 2018. A Dane County Circuit Court judge, who was originally appointed to the position in 2014 by Walker, ordered the governor to call the special election.
    • Wisconsin is currently one of 26 Republican trifectas: Walker holds the governor’s office and Republicans have an 18-14 majority in the state senate and a 63-35 majority in the state assembly.

New Jersey becomes 12th state to enact automatic voter registration

  • Governor Phil Murphy (D) signed A2014 into law, making New Jersey the 12th state to enact an automatic voter registration policy. A2014 provides for automatic voter registration of eligible residents who apply for driver's licenses, examination permits, probationary licenses, or non-driver identification cards. On April 12, 2018, the New Jersey General Assembly voted 50 to 23 to approve the legislation. The New Jersey State Senate followed suit the same day, approving the bill by a vote of 24 to 13.
    • Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D), one of the bill's sponsors, said, "This bill is designed to encourage participation in the democratic process by integrating voter registration with the process of driver registration. This simple move will hopefully encourage more young people to register to vote and make it easier for residents to fulfill their civic duty." Senator Kristin Corrado (R), a former Passaic County Clerk who voted against A2014, said, "I am very concerned that mandating automatic voter registration without safeguards or penalties for the bad actors will compromise the integrity of future elections. We cannot allow that to happen."
    • Earlier this month, Maryland also enacted an automatic voter registration policy. To learn more about automatic voter registration, see this article.

Missouri State House approves tax cuts

  • The Missouri House of Representatives passed House Bill (HB) 2540, which would reduce the corporate and top individual income tax rates to 5 percent. HB 2540 would also raise state Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) fees. The revenue would fund improvements to transportation infrastructure. The House approved HB 2540 by a 91-61 vote.
  • Lawmakers disagreed on whether to increase DMV fees or raise the gas tax. Rep. Peter Merideth (D) said that increasing a fuel tax would be a more immediate way to raise revenue geared toward transportation infrastructure. House Speaker Pro Tem Elijah Haahr (R) said raising DMV fees was better because a gas tax would bring in less revenue as cars become more fuel efficient.

Iowa Legislature continues legislative session past projected adjournment date

  • The Iowa State Legislature continued its legislative session past its projected adjournment date to resolve disagreements surrounding the state budget and tax legislation. According to The Daily Iowan, lawmakers must agree on a tax plan and budget—and the governor must sign it—before the legislature can adjourn.
  • Three pieces of legislation, in addition to a budget plan and a tax plan, prevented the Iowa State Legislature from adjourning on its designated date of April 17, 2018.
    • Senate Fil 2281 would prohibit abortions if a healthcare provider could detect a fetal heartbeat. It passed the Iowa State Senate on February 28, 30 to 20. The House has yet to vote on the bill.
    • Senate File 359 would prohibit acquisition, transfer, or use of a fetal body part in Iowa, even "for valuable consideration." The bill made exceptions for determining the life or health of the fetus or pregnant woman, diagnostic or forensic tests for pathological study, or donation of the body part after stillbirth.
    • House File 2377 would limit opioid prescriptions, require prescriptions to be filed electronically, and implement Good Samaritan laws, in which individuals seeking treatment for a drug-related overdose for themselves or others would not be arrested or prosecuted for controlled substance violations. The House unanimously approved the bill in February.
  • Tax and budget plans.
    • The Iowa House proposed a tax plan to reduce individual income taxes by $1.3 billion over five years, while the Iowa Senate proposed lowering state taxes on individuals and corporations by $2 billion over five years.
    • Disagreement on the tax package prevented the legislature from voting on a budget bill, as legislators are unable to estimate how much money will be available in the 2019 fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2018. While lawmakers have agreed to allocate $3.2 billion for schools in fiscal year 2019, they have yet to make a number of other budget appropriations.
    • The state Senate released a $7.48 billion budget proposal for the general fund, a 3.2 percent increase over fiscal year 2018 levels and $5 million less than the House plan, released on April 16. The Senate proposal would fund Medicaid and mental health system improvements proposed by Gov. Kim Reynolds (R). It would also increase K-12 spending by 1 percent.

Dayton appoints former MN House Speaker to MN Supreme Court

  • Gov. Mark Dayton (D) has appointed Rep. Paul Thissen (D) to the Minnesota Supreme Court. Thissen has served as the state representative for Minnesota District 61B since 2002. He served as speaker of the house from 2013 to 2014. He replaces Judge David Stras, who was elevated to the United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit. Thissen is Dayton's fifth appointment to the seven-member court. Thissen announced he plans to resign his house seat on April 20 to join the court.
  • Justices on the Minnesota Supreme Court are chosen in nonpartisan elections to serve six-year terms. Candidates compete in primaries, from which the top two contestants advance to the general election. Interim vacancies are filled via gubernatorial appointment. Appointed judges serve until the next general election occurring more than one year after their appointment. They may then stand for election to a full term, and other candidates may file to run against them. Although Minnesota has a commission on judicial selection, the commission only evaluates candidates for district court seats.

Walz, Pawlenty report over $1 million in fundraising for Minnesota governor

  • Rep. Tim Walz (D-MN) and former Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN) have each raised more than $1 million in their bid to succeed Gov. Mark Dayton (D-MN), according to campaign finance reports released Tuesday.
  • According to the reports, which covered all contributions and expenditures made before March 31, 2018, Walz was the overall fundraising leader, having raised $1.6 million since March 2017. He was followed in the Democratic primary by St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman (D), who raised $650,000 before suspending his campaign in February, and by state Rep. Erin Murphy (D), who has raised $500,000.
  • Pawlenty, who opened his campaign account on March 19, reported receiving $1.0 million between then and March 31. He was followed in the Republican primary by Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson (R), who has raised $370,000, and by former Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman Keith Downey (R), who raised $140,000 before suspending his campaign Wednesday.
  • Sixteen candidates, including three Democrats, 10 Republicans, one member of the Independence Party, and two independent candidates, are running to succeed Dayton. The filing deadline for additional candidates is June 5. The August 14 primary elections are open to all registered voters, regardless of party registration.

Gwen Lachelt recall attempt fails to meet initial signature requirement

  • La Plata County Clerk and Recorder Tiffany Parker (R) said Tuesday that the recall attempt targeting County Commissioner Gwen Lachelt (D) had fallen 2,000 signatures short of the requirement.
  • Supporters of the recall submitted 6,485 signatures to Parker's office on March 30. Of those, 5,475 were determined to be valid, falling short of the 7,505 required for the recall to make the ballot. Under Colorado law, supporters of the recall will be given an additional 15 days to collect the remaining 2,030 signatures required.
  • Lachelt said Tuesday that she intended to challenge the extension, saying that it should not apply in this case since the 6,485 signatures submitted would not have been sufficient for the recall to make the ballot even if every signature had been determined to be valid by the county clerk. Supporters of the recall said the extension was compliant with state law.

San Diego County joins suit against California sanctuary state legislation

  • The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted to join the legal challenge against California's sanctuary state law. The board voted 3 to 1 and directed the county counsel to file an amicus brief. Supervisor Greg Cox, who voted against joining the lawsuit, said the county's decision was unnecessary, as the issue would be addressed in federal court. Supervisors Diane Jacob and Kristin Gaspar said the vote was about public safety and preventing criminals from entering the county.
  • President Trump thanked San Diego County in a tweet: "Thank you San Diego County for defending the rule of law and supporting our lawsuit against California's illegal and unconstitutional 'Sanctuary' policies. California's dangerous policies release violent criminals back into our communities, putting all Americans at risk."
  • Four other counties in California—Tehama, Kern, Siskiyou, and Shasta—passed non-sanctuary resolutions.

Attorney General Hawley accuses Gov. Greitens of illegally obtaining a charity donor list

  • Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley (R) announced that his office found evidence of wrongdoing related to a veterans charity called The Mission Continues, founded by Governor Eric Greitens (R) in 2007.
  • The accusation. Hawley accused Greitens of obtaining an electronic charity donor list without permission from the charity and said his office had evidence that Greitens used the list for political fundraising.
    • "If proven, these acts could amount to the unauthorized taking and use of property—in this case electronic property. Under Missouri law, this is known as computer tampering and given the value of the list in question, it is a felony," Hawley said.
    • Hawley indicated that his office had given the evidence to St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, who has the authority to charge Greitens.
    • Greitens' attorney Jim Martin denied the accusations, saying, "The Attorney General held a completely frivolous and inappropriate press conference on a non-issue."
  • Greitens founded the charity, The Mission Continues, in 2007 and left in 2014. The Associated Press reported in October 2016 that Greitens had raised $2 million for his gubernatorial campaign from donors who also contributed to the charity and questioned whether Greitens used a charity donor list for political purposes.
  • Responses from legislators.
    • Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard (R) called for Greitens' resignation. In addition, Richard said he would like to "immediately start impeachment proceedings."
    • Greitens responded to Richard's call by reiterating that he will not resign: "I will not be resigning the Governor's office. In three weeks, this matter will go to a court of law—where it belongs and where the facts will prove my innocence. Until then, I will do what the people of Missouri sent me here to do: to serve them and work hard on their behalf."
    • House Minority Leader Gail McCann Beatty (D) filed a Democrat-supported resolution that would authorize the Special Investigative Committee on Oversight to introduce articles of impeachment against the governor. "It is clear to me that this governor must resign, and if he fails to do so, I believe, we should begin impeachment proceedings," Beatty said.

Wednesday, April 18

Tennessee House and Senate pass separate budget bills

  • The Tennessee House of Representatives passed a $37.5 billion budget on April 17 by an 87-5 vote. The bill proposed:
    • A $211.8 million increase in K-12 education funding, including $55.1 million for teacher pay raises.
    • $99.1 million for higher education.
    • $30 million to respond to the opioid crisis.
    • $30 million for school safety measures.
  • The House approved the bill after inserting a last-minute amendment to take away $250,000 from Memphis for the city's bicentennial celebration.
    • Rep. Steve McDaniel (R) said the amendment was introduced because Memphis removed historical monuments without the support of the legislature. McDaniel was referring to two Confederate statues that were removed in Memphis in December 2017.
    • Democratic lawmakers said the amendment was punishment for the removal of the statues. Rep. Raumesh Akbari (D) said, "This amendment and the explanation is hateful, it is unkind, it is un-Christian and it is unfair."
  • The Tennessee State Senate approved its version of a budget proposal by 32-1 vote on April 18. Like the House version, the Senate proposal would increase K-12 and higher education spending as well as allocate funds for opioid treatment. According to The Commercial Appeal, the Senate version never included the $250,000 allocation to Memphis. It was sent to the House for concurrence.

Utah Legislature overrides two bills in veto session

  • The Republican-controlled Utah State Legislature voted to override Republican Gov. Gary Herbert's veto of Senate Bill 171. The override, which required a two-thirds majority vote, passed 21 to 7 in the Senate and 55 to 15 in the House.
  • SB 171 authorizes the legislature to defend laws challenged in court even if the attorney general chooses not to defend the law. Herbert vetoed the bill on March 27.
  • Responses to SB 171.
    • Bill sponsor Sen. Stuart Adams (R) said he did not think SB 171 was an overreach, adding that the legislature should be able to defend its laws.
    • The governor released a statement after the legislature's vote saying the Utah courts should resolve the question of the appropriate roles and functions of state government branches.
    • Attorney General Sean Reyes (R) also released a statement: "We believe in a carefully balanced democratic system of government where the legislature enacts laws, the executive branch enforces them, and courts interpret them. When one branch upsets that equilibrium, it threatens the harmony and integrity of the whole and erodes public confidence in the institutions."
    • The legislature also vetoed House Bill 198, which establishes procedures requiring the attorney general to provide written legal opinions to the legislature. The veto override passed the state Senate by a 20-8 vote and the state House by a 63-7 vote.

Alaska Legislature passes $1.2 billion public schools budget bill

  • The Alaska State Legislature passed a $1.2 billion budget for public schools. The bill, House Bill 287, was sent to Gov. Bill Walker (I) for approval.
  • HB 287 left education funding measures unchanged from fiscal year 2018. Public school officials warned the lack of increase could still result in cuts resulting from rising inflation. HB 287 included a provision that schools would receive more funding in fiscal year 2020 if lawmakers agreed on Senate Bill 26, which would limit the legislature's ability to use money in the Alaska Permanent Fund.

Maine's top court allows ranked-choice voting to be implemented in June 12, 2018, primary election

  • The Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled unanimously that " ranked-choice voting is the current statutory law of Maine for the primary elections to be held on June 12, 2018," paving the way for its implementation in that election. The court noted that its ruling "focuses only on the June 2018 primary election; it does not address any other potential application of ranked-choice voting in Maine," allowing for the possibility of further substantive challenges to the law's validity in future elections.
    • The ruling comes as the result of a lawsuit filed by the Maine State Senate on April 4, 2018, in which attorneys for the Senate requested that the court "issue a preliminary injunction and, upon further consideration, a permanent injunction barring the Secretary of State from committing and expending public funds of the State of Maine for the development, implementation, and administration of Ranked-Choice Voting in the June 12, 2018 primary elections and all other elections unless and until such time as the legislative authority of Maine appropriates public funds for that purpose." On April 3, 2018, Kennebec County Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy issued an opinion in Committee for Ranked-Choice Voting v. Dunlap ordering state officials to proceed with the implementation of ranked-choice voting in June. This ruling came after Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap (D) made statements suggesting that state law might preclude election officials from implementing ranked-choice voting in the June primary election.
    • Maine voters adopted ranked-choice voting for federal and state elections via a 2016 ballot initiative. In May 2017, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court issued an advisory opinion finding that provisions of the ranked-choice voting law violated the state constitution. In October 2017, the state legislature approved LD 1646, which provides for delayed implementation of the state's ranked-choice voting law pending voter approval of a constitutional amendment allowing for its use. LD 1646 also provides for the repeal of the ranked-choice voting law if no constitutional amendment is approved by December 1, 2021. Ranked-choice voting proponents initiated a veto referendum campaign to suspend and, ultimately, repeal LD 1646. Ranked-choice voting proponents filed the requisite 61,123 valid signatures to place the veto referendum on the June 2018 ballot, suspending LD 1646 pending resolution of the veto referendum and paving the way for implementation of ranked-choice voting in the June 2018 primary election for federal and state offices.
    • For more detailed information on the implementation of ranked-choice voting in Maine, see this article.

Nevada judge rules that the recalls against two Democratic state senators failed to make the ballot

  • In Nevada, Clark County Judge Jerry Wiese ruled that the recalls against Sen. Joyce Woodhouse (D) and Sen. Nicole Cannizzaro (D) failed to qualify for the ballot. After a recount of the signatures, each recall was found to have an insufficient amount of valid signatures. The Woodhouse recalls fell short by 196 signatures. A total of 14,216 signatures were needed. In the Cannizzaro recall, 14,469 signatures were needed, falling short of qualifying for the ballot by 506 signatures. The recall backers have 30 days to appeal the decision. Judge Wiese upheld a state law last month that allowed for the removal of thousands of signatures from the recall petitions post-submittal.
    • Judge Wiese heard arguments on February 7 in the lawsuit over the recall efforts against Sen. Woodhouse and Sen. Cannizzaro. The lawsuit argued that more than 2,000 names on the two recall petitions should not have been counted because those signatories had filed to have their names removed. Democrats currently hold a 10-9 majority in the state senate with one nonpartisan member caucusing with Democrats and one vacant seat that was previously held by a Democrat.
    • Of the 11 Nevada State Senate seats up for election in 2018, Democrats hold four seats, Republicans hold six seats, and one seat belongs to a nonpartisan member. Sen. Cannizzaro represents a district that voted for Hillary Clinton (D) in 2016 by 50 percent to Donald Trump’s 45 percent. Cannizzaro’s seat is not up for election again until 2020. Sen. Woodhouse represents a district that voted for Hillary Clinton (D) in 2016 by 48 percent to 46 percent. Woodhouse’s seat is not up for election again until 2020 when she will be term-limited.
    • As of April 2018, no recall petitions had been filed against state lawmakers in 2018. One is still ongoing and has been carried over from 2017. Since 2011, 72 recall petitions have been filed against state lawmakers. Eight recalls were successful, nine were defeated at the ballot, 54 did not go to a vote, and one recall campaigns is still ongoing. A recall election is being held on June 5, 2018, against California state Sen. Josh Newman (D). Two Colorado state senators were successfully recalled in 2013.
    • Nevada is one of 16 states under divided government. Democrats control the state legislature and the governor’s office is held by Republican Brian Sandoval.

11 candidates file to run in California Senate special election, including former member who resigned

  • The California Secretary of State released the certified list of candidates who filed to run in the June 5 special primary election for District 32 of the California State Senate. A total of 11 candidates—nine Democrats and two Republicans—filed to run in the race. One of the Democrats to file was Tony Mendoza, the former state senator who vacated the seat on February 22. Mendoza resigned after the Senate conducted an internal investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against him. The investigation found that it was more likely than not that Mendoza had behaved in "a flirtatious or sexually suggestive manner toward staffers" while he served in the state legislature. Before he resigned, Mendoza criticized the investigation, saying he was not allowed to review the report's findings or offer an explanation for the events described.
    • Mendoza and eight other candidates who filed to run in the special election are also running in the state’s top-two primary election for the same seat. That election will also be held June 5. If a candidate receives a majority of the votes in the special primary election, he or she will be declared the winner. If no candidates receive a majority, the top two vote-getters will advance to a special general election on August 7. The winner of the special election will serve the remaining months of Mendoza’s term.
    • The two candidates who receive the most votes in the top-two primary will advance to the general election on November 6. The winner of that race will win a full four-year term.
    • With one vacancy, the California State Senate is composed of 26 Democrats and 13 Republicans.

Cedric Crear sworn in to the Las Vegas City Council

  • Cedric Crear was sworn in to the Ward 5 seat on the Las Vegas City Council at the city council meeting on April 18. Crear won the seat in a special election on March 27, 2018. The seat became vacant after former Ward 5 representative Ricki Y. Barlow resigned his seat on January 22, 2018. He resigned after pleading guilty to a federal felony for fraudulently using funds from his 2015 re-election campaign for his own personal use. Prior to his election to the city council, Crear had served on the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents since 2007. Crear’s city council term will expire in 2019.

Thursday, April 19

Three county supervisors on different sides of cannabis debate targeted for recall

  • A recall effort against one member of the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors in California has failed to make the ballot, and efforts to recall two other members are still ongoing. The recall against Jack Garamendi began over his support for the commercial cultivation of cannabis. It was initiated in October 2017. In January 2018, Dennis Mills and Gary Tofanelli were also served recall notices. They were targeted due to their support for banning cannabis.
    • Signatures for the recall of Garamendi, which was started earlier, were due on April 19. No signatures were submitted to the county, and therefore the recall will not go to the ballot. Signatures are due for Mills and Tofanelli on June 6 and June 28, respectively.
    • So far in 2018, Ballotpedia has tracked 128 recalls against 181 elected officials. Of the 17 elected officials who have faced recall elections, eight officials were recalled. In 2017, Ballotpedia tracked 250 recalls against 344 elected officials. Of the 65 elected officials who faced recall elections, 37 officials were recalled, for a rate of 56.9 percent. This was higher than the 56.3 percent rate for 2016 recalls and lower than the 64.5 percent rate for 2015 recalls.

Sam McCann launches bid for governor of Illinois

  • State Sen. Sam McCann (Cons.-IL) announced Thursday that he would resign from the state Senate's Republican caucus and challenge sitting Gov. Bruce Rauner's (R) bid for re-election on the Conservative Party ticket. McCann, who has served in the state Senate since 2013, selected activist Aaron Merreighn (Cons.) as his running mate.
  • In announcing his challenge to Rauner, McCann cited his dissatisfaction with the governors' signatures on the TRUST Act and HB 40. The TRUST Act prohibits state and local law enforcement from detaining an individual solely based on whether or not they have legal permission to reside in the country, while HB 40 requires that state employee healthcare plans and state-administered Medicaid plans cover access to abortion. State Rep. Jeanne Ives (R), who came within 2.8 percentage points of Rauner in the March 20 Republican primary, cited both bills as examples of her dissatisfaction with the governor.
  • In order to appear on the ballot, McCann must submit petitions containing the signatures of at least 25,000 registered voters. In addition to McCann, J.B. Pritzker (D), Kash Jackson (Lib.), and William Kelly (Const.) have filed to challenge Gov. Rauner on the November general election ballot.

Ted Cruz endorses Mary Taylor for governor of Ohio

  • Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) endorsed Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor (R) to succeed term-limited Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) Thursday.
  • Taylor and Attorney General Mike DeWine (R) are the only candidates who filed to appear in the May 8 Republican primary. Taylor has previously been endorsed by Sens. Steve Daines (R-MT), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Rand Paul (R-KY). DeWine has been endorsed by former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA).
  • Six candidates filed for the Democratic primary, including former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray (D) and Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D).

Tennessee State Senate votes in favor of Medicaid work requirements

  • The Tennessee State Senate passed House Bill 1551 by a vote of 23 to 2. It would require the state to seek a federal waiver authorizing Tennessee to implement work requirements for TennCare recipients. TennCare is the state's Medicaid program. Recipients would have to work, volunteer, or go to school at least 20 hours per week to continue receiving benefits.
  • Sen. Kerry Roberts (R), the bill's sponsor, estimated it would impact up to 100,000 people.
  • The bill was sent to Gov. Bill Haslam (R), who has expressed support for the measure.

Louisiana House passes budget, Gov. Edwards says inadequate

  • The Louisiana House of Representatives passed HB 1, a spending plan for the 2019 fiscal year, by a 55-47 vote, with three members not voting. According to The Advocate, the $27 billion proposal would reduce funding for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS), a scholarship program for Louisiana residents who attend state public colleges, as well as hospitals, state medical education programs, and nursing home residents.
  • Responses.
    • Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards said the budget was inadequate and short of revenue. Democratic Caucus Chair Robert Johnson said that although the state is legally mandated to pass a budget, "we are not constitutionally obligated to pass this one."
    • House Republican Caucus Chair Lance Harris said, "This is what a responsible budget looks like. ... The state cannot spend money it doesn't have."
  • Louisiana is facing a $650 million budget gap when temporary taxes expire on June 30. Gov. Edwards has encouraged lawmakers to extend the taxes or establish new revenue sources to avoid cuts in state spending. The governor called a special session from February 19 to March 5 for lawmakers to work out a budget deal before the regular session, which began March 12. Lawmakers were unable to agree on tax and spending measures.
  • Gov. Edwards would like to end the regular session in advance and call a special session to reach a deal on the state's finances. Lawmakers cannot vote on tax measures, which raise revenue, during the regular session. House Appropriations Chair Cameron Henry (R) downplayed the possibility of ending the regular session early.

Arizona teachers vote for walkout, planned for April 26

  • On April 19, Arizona education leaders announced that of 78 percent of 57,000 teachers voted to stage a walkout on April 26, preceded by three days of walk-ins.
  • Arizona teachers voted between April 17 and April 19 on whether to stage a statewide walkout to demand more education funding. The vote was organized by Arizona Educators United, which describes itself on Twitter as "an education group created to support Arizona educators."
  • Gov. Doug Ducey (R) responded by reaffirming his commitment to raise teacher pay by 20 percent, tweeting, "No one wants to see teachers strike. If schools shut down, our kids are the ones who lose out. We have worked side by side with the education community to develop a sustainable plan to give teachers a 20 percent raise by 2020. I am committed to getting teachers this raise and am working to get this passed at the Legislature. We need teachers teaching, and kids learning."

Judges rule DOJ cannot withhold criminal justice grants from sanctuary cities

  • A three-judge panel from the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals found that Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) could not be withheld from sanctuary cities.
  • The judges' ruled, "The attorney general in this case used the sword of federal funding to conscript state and local authorities to aid in federal civil immigration enforcement. But the power of the purse rests with Congress, which authorized the federal funds at issue and did not impose any immigration enforcement conditions on the receipt of such funds."
  • Justice Department spokesperson Devin O'Malley said the DOJ would continue to fight for "the Department’s commitment to the rule of law, protecting public safety, and keeping criminal aliens off the streets to further perpetrate crimes."

Judge rules felony case against Greitens could move forward

  • St. Louis Circuit Judge Rex Burlison ruled that the invasion-of-privacy case against Missouri Governor Eric Greitens (R) would move forward. The ruling was in response to a motion to dismiss by Greitens' defense team which accused prosecutors of withholding evidence and alleged that a private investigator lied to the court. Burlison imposed sanctions on prosecutors for failing to turn over evidence in a timely manner.
  • Greitens was indicted by a St. Louis grand jury for felony invasion of privacy on February 22, 2018. Click here to read more.

Special Elections

As of this week, 68 state legislative special elections have been scheduled or held in 23 states. Elections have been held for eight Democratic seats and 26 Republican seats. Democrats have flipped six seats as a result of special state legislative elections in 2018. 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:

April 24

Local Politics: The Week in Review

Elections Update

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

Tuesday, April 24

$3.4 million spent on critical New York Senate special election on April 24

  • Special elections are being held in 11 districts of the New York State Legislature. Two elections are for state Senate seats, and nine elections are for state Assembly seats. With partisan control of the New York State Senate at stake, Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer (D), former Rye Councilwoman Julie Killian (R), and satellite groups have spent a combined $3.4 million in the special election for District 37 in Westchester County. Both candidates have spent about $1 million, and satellite groups have poured another $1.5 million into the race.
  • Heading into the April 24 special election, Republicans have a 31-30 majority in the 63-member chamber. If Killian wins the race, they will retain the majority. If Mayer wins the race and Democrats win another special election for District 32, as is expected, they will be within reach of a majority. State Sen. Simcha Felder (D) currently caucuses with Republicans and said he would wait for the outcome of the District 37 race before deciding whether to join the Democratic caucus. If Democrats take control of the state Senate, they will have a trifecta in New York.
  • Killian’s supporters include the Senate Republicans, former Gov. George Pataki (R), and the pro-charter school group New Yorkers for a Balanced Albany, which has spent $800,000 on anti-Mayer ads. Mayer is supported by the Senate Democrats, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), and former District 37 Sen. George Latimer (D).
  • Killian’s campaign has emphasized her opposition to increased property taxes and her desire to work on substance abuse policy. Mayer’s has focused on opposition to President Donald Trump (R), strengthening gun regulations, and, like Killian, opposing property tax increases.

Candidate filing deadline in Michigan

  • In November 2018, Michigan will hold elections for U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, state executive offices including governor, Michigan State Senate and House of Representatives, state and local judicial positions, and county positions. Also on the ballot are special elections for Michigan's 13th Congressional District, most recently held by John Conyers Jr, and special elections in Michigan State Senate District 2 and Michigan House of Representatives District 68. To appear on the primary ballot in any one of these races, party candidates must file for election by April 24, 2018. Independent candidates have until July 19, 2018, to file for the general election.
    • Potential candidates must file an affidavit of identity and nominating petitions. State legislative and county level candidates may pay a $100 fee instead of filing nominating petitions. Filing paperwork for federal, statewide, and multi-county state legislative district offices must be submitted to the Michigan Secretary of State. Filing paperwork for single-county state legislative district offices must be submitted to the appropriate county clerk.
    • Primary elections will be held August 7, 2018, and the general election will take place on November 6, 2018.

Candidate filing deadline in South Dakota

  • The filing deadline for independent candidates running in South Dakota elections will pass on April 24. Federal and state offices on the ballot this year will include one at-large U.S. House seat, eight state executive offices including the governor and lieutenant governor, all 35 state senate seats, all 70 state house seats, and one of the five seats on the state supreme court. The state's primary is on June 5, and the general election is on November 6, 2018. If a primary runoff is needed, it will be held on August 14.
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Local Politics: What's On Tap Next Week

Tuesday, April 24

Candidate filing deadline in Michigan

  • In November 2018, Michigan will hold elections for U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, state executive offices including governor, Michigan State Senate and House of Representatives, state and local judicial positions, and county positions. Also on the ballot are special elections for Michigan's 13th Congressional District, most recently held by John Conyers Jr, and special elections in Michigan State Senate District 2 and Michigan House of Representatives District 68. To appear on the primary ballot in any one of these races, party candidates must file for election by April 24, 2018. Independent candidates have until July 19, 2018, to file for the general election.
    • Potential candidates must file an affidavit of identity and nominating petitions. State legislative and county level candidates may pay a $100 fee instead of filing nominating petitions. Filing paperwork for federal, statewide, and multi-county state legislative district offices must be submitted to the Michigan Secretary of State. Filing paperwork for single-county state legislative district offices must be submitted to the appropriate county clerk.
    • Primary elections will be held August 7, 2018, and the general election will take place on November 6, 2018.

Wednesday, April 25

Filing deadline for the Lackawanna City School Board

  • The filing deadline will pass for three of the nine seats on the Lackawanna City School District school board in Erie County, New York. The general election is being held on May 15, 2018. The district served 1,772 students during the 2015-2016 school year.


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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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