The State and Local Tap: Year in review - Democrats gain 30 state legislative seats under Trump administration

January 19, 2018Issue No. 96

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.

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State Politics: The Week in Review

Ballot Measures Update

2018:

• Thirty-seven (37) measures are certified to appear on statewide ballots in 20 states in 2018 so far—12 citizen-initiated measures, 24 legislatively referred measures, 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.
  • One new measure was certified for 2018 ballots over the last two weeks.
  • By this time in 2014, 61 measures had been certified for the 2014 ballot; ultimately, 158 statewide measures were put on the ballot in 2014. By this time in 2016, 53 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 third week of the year from 2010 through 2016 was 61 and the average total number of certified measures by the end of the year in the same period was 173.
  • Signatures for 13 initiatives have been submitted and are pending verification in Alaska, California, Michigan, South Dakota, and Washington. To see this list, click here.
  • In Massachusetts, enough signatures were submitted for five initiatives (one of which has two versions) to put them before the state legislature during the 2018 session. To see this list, click here.
  • The most recent general signature filing deadlines for 2018 citizen-initiated measures was on January 16, 2018, for initiatives in Alaska. Signatures were submitted for the two pending initiatives before the deadline: a salmon habitat protection standards initiative and an initiative with regulations concerning legislators.
    • Some states feature signature deadlines specific to each initiative caused by circulation time limits.
  • The next signature filing deadline is January 29 for initiatives in Maine. Two initiatives and a veto referendum are pending in Maine. A de facto deadline is coming up in Florida as well, since signatures must all be submitted and verified by February 1; signatures are verified as they are submitted in Florida. One initiative was certified in Florida last week, and another is close to reaching the verified signature requirement.

Saturday, January 13

Four running in special election for Georgia House of Representatives District 175

• The candidate list was released for four candidates—one Democrat and three Republicans—in a special election on February 13 for District 175 on the Georgia House of Representatives. The seat became vacant on December 31, 2017, after Amy Carter (R) resigned to become executive director of advancement for the Technical College System of Georgia. The candidates are Treva Gear (D), John LaHood (R), Bruce Phelps (R), and Coy Reaves (R).
• This will be the third special election for the Georgia General Assembly in 2018. Two were held on January 9, both of which were vacated by a Republican and won by a Republican. One of the vacancies was in the senate and one was in the house.

Primary election scheduled for Nevada Supreme Court open seat

• The filing deadline passed for judicial candidates in Nevada. In total, eight candidates filed to run for three seats on the Nevada Supreme Court. Two of those seats are open since Justice Michael Douglas and Justice Michael Cherry are retiring. The number of candidates who filed in 2018 represents an increase from prior years. In 2014 and 2016, two candidates filed to run for two seats in both elections.
  • In 2018, one primary election will be on the June 12 ballot for the state supreme court. The winners of the primary will advance to the general election on November 6. The other two supreme court races will also take place on November 6. The races will not be placed on the primary election ballot since no more than two candidates have filed to run for either seat.
  • The Nevada Supreme Court is the court of last resort in the state of Nevada. The court reviews appeals from the district courts and assigns cases to the Nevada Court of Appeals. The court is made up of seven justices who are selected in nonpartisan elections for six-year terms.

Monday, January 15

New Mexico Legislature changes sexual harassment policy in aftermath of controversies involving legislators

• On January 15, 2018, the New Mexico Legislative Council voted 15-0 to adopt a new sexual harassment policy for the state legislature. The policy includes a revised definition of harassment, biannual harassment training for legislators, and a new investigatory process that would bring in an outside lawyer to look into allegations against lawmakers. The previous policy passed in 2008 and gave legislative leaders and their staff the ability to investigate allegations.
• The New Mexico Legislature had three incidents related to sexual misconduct in the aftermath of the similar allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein in October 2017. The first came in November 2017 when state Rep. Kelly Fajardo (R) wrote an open letter saying that sexual harassment was common at the New Mexico State Legislature and that the legislature's 2008 policy needed to be changed.
• In December 2017, state Sen. Michael Padilla (D) announced that he was ending his 2018 bid for lieutenant governor and was later removed as the Senate Democrats’ majority whip. This came after the Associated Press reported that the city of Albuquerque settled two sexual harassment lawsuits against him while he managed the city's 911 call center in 2006 and 2007. Padilla did not acknowledge the allegations directly.
• On December 11, lobbyist Vanessa Alarid told the Legislative Council Service that former state Rep. Thomas Garcia (D) asked to have sex with her if he voted for one of the bills she was advocating for. Garcia denied the allegations.
• According to a report from the Associated Press, in the last months of 2017, about three-fourths of state legislatures had at least one of its chambers update its sexual harassment policies. Ballotpedia has identified 10 state legislators who resigned after sexual misconduct allegations were brought against them.

New Mexico State Senate elects new majority whip to succeed ousted state senator

• The New Mexico State Senate elected state Senator Mimi Stewart (D) to serve as the chamber’s majority whip. Stewart replaced state Senator Michael Padilla (D), who was removed from the leadership position in December 2017 amid sexual misconduct allegations.
• Stewart was appointed to represent District 17 in the New Mexico State Senate in 2014. She succeeded former state Senator Tim Keller (D), who was elected to serve as the New Mexico state auditor. Prior to her tenure in the state Senate, Stewart had represented District 21 in the New Mexico House of Representatives since 1994.
• Earlier in the day, the New Mexico State Legislature approved a new policy allowing outside counsel to investigate and evaluate sexual misconduct allegations against state legislators. The state House and the state Senate would continue to make any final decisions regarding disciplinary action.
• New Mexico is currently one of 16 states under a divided government. Republican Governor Susana Martinez serves alongside Democratic majorities in the state House and the state Senate.

Tuesday, January 16

Wisconsin Senate District 10 seat flips from R to D in special election with national spotlight

• Patty Schachtner (D) defeated Adam Jarchow (R) and Brian Corriea (L) in the Wisconsin Senate District 10 special election, receiving 54.5 percent of the vote. The election marks the first partisan change during a Wisconsin legislative special election since 2011, when two Wisconsin State Assembly seats were flipped from Republican to Democratic.The seat was left vacant after Sheila Harsdorf (R) resigned after being appointed to a state cabinet position. Harsdorf held the seat from 2001 to 2017, winning the recall election leveled against her in 2011 with 57.6 percent of the vote. Harsdorf won the seat with 59.2 percent and 63.2 percent of the vote in 2012 and 2016, respectively.
  • The special election saw the lowest voter turnout in the district in a decade. From 2008 to 2016, the average total votes cast in Wisconsin Senate District 10 was 85,090. According to unofficial vote tallies, the special election saw a drop in total voter turnout of roughly 73 percent, with 22,273 votes cast. Just over one-third of the number of electors turned out to vote in the 2018 election compared to the second-lowest instance of voter turnout, a 2011 recall election. In 2011, 64,411 citizens cast a vote, compared to the 22,273 who voted in the 2018 special election.
  • The special election garnered national interest, with outside groups providing contributions and resources to both the Democratic and Republican candidates. District 10 last saw a similar amount of outside involvement during the 2011 recall effort. Democratic groups, such as Greater Wisconsin Political Independent Expenditure Fund and the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, and Conservative groups, like Americans for Prosperity and the Republican State Leadership Committee, spent money on the election.
    • Two other seats, Wisconsin State Assembly Districts 58 and 66, were up for election. In District 58, Rick Gundrum (R) defeated his opponent Dennis Degenhardt (D). The District 66 candidate, Greta Neubauer (D), won unopposed. Neither election changed the partisan makeup of the chamber.
  • Wisconsin is currently one of 26 Republican trifectas: Scott Walker (R) holds the governor’s office and Republicans have majorities in the state Senate and state Assembly. After Schachtner is sworn-in, the Wisconsin State Senate will have a partisan breakdown of 14 Democratic members and 18 Republican members with one vacancy.

Longterm Alabama state representative passes away

• Alabama state Representative George Bandy (D) passed away. He had been hospitalized in Macon, Georgia, for cardiac and pulmonary circulation complications.
• Bandy was first elected to represent District 83 in the Alabama House of Representatives in 1994. He served as the chairman of the House Lee County Legislation Committee and as a member of the State Government and the Transportation, Utilities, and Infrastructure committees.
• Bandy also served as the chairman of the Alabama Democratic Conference. Prior to his tenure in the state House, Bandy served as a member of the Opelika City Council.
• Governor Kay Ivey (R) is required to call a special election to fill the vacant District 83 seat. The winner of the special election will serve out the remainder of Bandy’s term, which expires in November 2018.
• Alabama is currently one of 26 Republican state government trifectas: Ivey holds the governor’s office and Republicans have majorities in the state House and the state Senate.

South Carolina holds state House special elections

• Special elections were held for two vacant seats in the South Carolina House of Representatives.
  • In District 99, Nancy Mace (R) defeated Cindy Boatwright (D) to win election. The seat was vacant following James Merrill's (R) resignation on September 1, 2017. On December 14, 2016, Merrill was indicted by a grand jury on 30 counts of ethics violations. Later that same day, he was suspended by Jay Lucas, the Republican Speaker of the South Carolina State House. The grand jury allegations claim that Merrill took money for personal use from groups with a stake in state House legislation and failed to report it on state House disclosure records.
  • In District 28, Ashley Trantham (R) won election with no opposition. She had previously defeated three other candidates in the Republican primary. The election was held to replace Rep. Eric Bedingfield, who announced that he would resign from the state House effective January 18 in order to become the director of government affairs at Greenville Technical College.
  • Following this round of special elections, the state House partisan composition will be 79 Republicans and 44 Democrats with one vacancy remaining. The Republican Party also controls the state Senate and governor's office, making South Carolina one of 26 states featuring a Republican trifecta.

Republicans maintain control of Iowa House seat

• In a special election, Jacob Bossman (R) defeated Rita DeJong (D) to represent District 6 in the Iowa House of Representatives. According to unofficial results, Bossman garnered 55.7 percent of the vote. The seat became vacant when Jim Carlin (R) was elected to the state Senate in December 2017. Iowa is one of 26 Republican trifectas. Republicans control the Senate with a 29-20 majority and the House with a 58-41 majority with one vacancy. Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) is running for re-election in 2018.

New Jersey gains a Democratic state government trifecta as Murphy takes office

• Phil Murphy (D) was sworn into office as the new Governor of New Jersey. He succeeded former Governor Chris Christie (R), who was ineligible to run for re-election in 2017 due to term limits.
• Murphy's swearing-in created a Democratic state government trifecta in New Jersey. Democrats now control the governor's office and have a 25-15 majority in the state Senate and a 51-26 majority in the state House with three vacancies.
• The new Democratic state government trifecta in New Jersey increases the total number of Democratic state government trifectas to eight across the country. Democrats also recently gained a state government trifecta in Washington following the November 2017 elections. Republicans currently have 26 state government trifectas, while 16 states remain under divided governments.

Yes for Salmon submits signatures for 2018 salmon habitat protection standards initiative in Alaska

• The group behind an initiative to establish new permit requirements for projects affecting bodies of water used for spawning by salmon and steelhead submitted signatures on Tuesday, January 16, which was the signature submission deadline. The group reported submitting 49,500 signatures, of which 32,127—64.9 percent—need to be valid for the initiative to go before voters on November 6, 2018. Moreover, the signatures need to be distributed from three-fourths of the state's 40 state house districts.
• Yes for Salmon reported raising $271,129.81 in contributions—$250,957.78 in cash contributions and $20,172.03 in in-kind services—as of the most recent filing deadlines. The top five donors so far—which provided 89.8 percent of the proponents' funds—were the Alaska Conservation Foundation, the Wild Salmon Center, the Alaska Center, Michael Kowalski, and the Stronghold Fund. Counting in-kind services, the campaign had spent just over $192,559 of its contributions in total. Although additional expenses related to signature gathering could be revealed by the next filing, proponents reported spending $179,000 on signature gathering efforts, hiring the Scott Kohlhaas and Advanced Micro Targeting, Inc. petition management companies to collect signatures. Amounting to a cost of at least $5.57 per required signature. One initiative made the ballot in 2016 and had a cost per required signature of $4.11. In 2014, the average cost per required signature for the four initiatives on the ballot was $1.67, although one was a volunteer effort and had no reported signature petition costs.
• Proponents of one other Alaska initiative submitted signatures by the deadline for the 2018 ballot. It was an initiative to make special session per diems for legislators contingent on passing a budget bill, to prevent lobbyists from purchases meals or alcoholic drinks for legislators, to prohibit political contributions to candidates from foreign-influenced organizations or corporations, and to establish other provisions related to state legislators. The initiative had a cost per required signature of at least $4.36, although more signature-related expenses could still be reported.
• One committee—Stand for Alaska—registered to oppose the salmon habitat initiative. Opponents reported raising $149,292.74 in contributions—$250,957.78 in cash contributions and $61,292.74 in in-kind services. Counting in-kind services, the committee had spent $117,443 of its contributions. The top five donors to the opposition campaign so far, which had provided 67.18 percent of the contributions, were the Alaska Oil & Gas Association, the Usibelli Coal Mine, the Council of Alaska Producers, the Resource Development Council, and the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Regional Association.
• Five initiatives were filed for circulation targeting the 2018 ballot in Alaska. This is about average for even-numbered year between 2010 and 2016, when between five and six initiatives were filed for signature gathering and an average of between two and three made the ballot.
• These two initiatives for which signatures were submitted in Alaska now join 11 others in California, Michigan, South Dakota, and Washington that are awaiting signature verification and, if enough signatures were submitted, a big step towards the 2018 ballot.

Rebecca Dallet leads Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates in 2017 fundraising

• Tuesday was the deadline for candidates seeking election to the Wisconsin Supreme Court to file campaign finance reports for the second half of 2017 with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. The filed reports show Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Rebecca Dallet with a fundraising lead over attorney Tim Burns and Sauk County Circuit Court Judge Michael Screnock in the nonpartisan election.
• According to the reports, Dallet raised a total of $500,000 and spent $120,000 in 2017. She was followed by Burns, who raised $260,000 and spent $150,000, and Screnock, who raised $100,000 and spent $27,000. Dallet also led the candidates in cash on hand heading into 2018, with $390,000 to Burns' $110,000 and Screnock's $77,000.
• The filing deadline for this race was January 2, while the primary election will be held on February 20. The top two finishers in the primary will advance to the April 3 general election. Although elections to the Wisconsin Supreme Court are officially nonpartisan, Burns and Dallet have received endorsements and contributions from groups associated with the Democratic Party while Screnock has received endorsements and contributions from groups associated with the Republican Party.

Wednesday, January 17

Progressive Democratic representatives endorse Newman over Lipinski in IL-3 primary

• Progressive Illinois State Reps. Luis Gutierrez (D) and Jan Schakowsky (D) have endorsed challenger and political newcomer Marie Newman over incumbent Dan Lipinski (D) in the Democratic primary for Illinois' 3rd Congressional District. Lipinski has held the office since 2004, succeeding his father Bill after six terms in Congress.
  • "The people of Illinois' 3rd District want a pro-health care, pro-immigrant, pro-woman, pro-LGBTQ Member of Congress to represent them in Washington. Unfortunately, the current Member does not reflect those values, which is why I am endorsing Marie Newman for Congress," Schakowsky said in a statement on January 17.
  • Lipinski has drawn criticism for his conservative leaning as a member of the Democratic Party, including his anti-abortion views and his votes against the DREAM act and the Affordable Care Act. Newman, a self-described progressive, has based her campaign on her opposition to Lipinski's positions on reproductive issues, healthcare, and immigration.

Democracy for America endorses Jesus Garcia for IL-4

• Democracy for America, a progressive PAC with ties to Bernie Sanders, has endorsed Jesus Garcia in the Democratic primary for Illinois' 4th Congressional District. In its announcement on January 17, the PAC said, "DFA was a proud supporter of Garcia in his race to become Chicago’s Mayor in 2015 and worked alongside him in support of Bernie Sanders’ campaign for President in 2016. The member-driven, people-powered progressive PAC has 18,411 members in the City of Chicago (and more than one million members nationwide) and works closely with four affiliated grassroots groups in and around the city."
  • Garcia has also been endorsed by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), whom Garcia is running to replace after Gutierrez announced his retirement. Garcia, a former Cook County commissioner, challenged Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's 2015 re-election bid, making it to a runoff election where he was defeated by 12 points.

Washington House of Representatives approves bill to address gender-based pay disparities

• The Washington House of Representatives voted 69-28 to approve legislation that aims to address gender-based pay disparities.
• The bill would update Washington's existing Equal Pay Act to prohibit wage and promotion discrimination based on gender, require equal compensation for employees in comparable roles, and establish penalties for employers found to be in violation of the law. The bill would also expand on existing federal law to protect employees who discuss their wages amongst themselves.
• The legislation now heads to the Washington State Senate for consideration.
• According to The Spokesman-Review, opponents of the bill noted that gender- based equal pay protections already exist under federal law and argued that the legislation would bring about an increase in legal claims.
• Washington gained a Democratic state government trifecta in late 2017 after Manka Dhingra won a November special election to represent District 45 in the Washington State Senate. According to the Federal Way Mirror, Democrats hope that their new majority will allow them to pass legislation addressing gender pay equity, minority representation in voting districts, and firearms, among other issues.
• Democrats now control the Washington governor’s office and hold a 50-48 majority in the state House and a 26-23 majority in the state Senate.

Florida initiative backed by Disney and Seminole Tribe to require voter approval of casino gambling certified for November 2018 ballot

• The Florida Division of Elections reported that enough signatures were verified for the Voter Approval of Casino Gambling Initiative to appear on the ballot on November 6, 2018. The measure would provide voters with the "exclusive right to decide whether to authorize casino gambling in the State of Florida." The initiative would make citizen initiatives "the exclusive method of authorizing casino gambling." The measure would consider card games, casino games, and slot machines to be casino gambling. The measure would not consider pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing, dog racing, or jai alai exhibitions to be casino gambling. The measure would not impact casino gambling on Native American tribal lands established through state-tribe compacts.
• Voters in Charge, the campaign supporting the Voter Approval of Casino Gambling Initiative, collected 817,766 signatures. The deadline for signature verification is February 1, 2018. At least 766,200 signatures needed to be valid with a certain number of signatures required in at least half (14) of the state's 27 congressional districts.
• The initiative campaign had received $5.94 million in contributions, including $4.35 million from Disney Worldwide Services and $1.28 from the Seminole Tribe of Florida. As of the most recent campaign finance deadline, which covers all contributions and expenditures through December 31, 2017, the campaign had spent $3.75 million on collecting and verifying signatures for a cost of $4.90 per signature. This amount could go up as signatures were still be verified in January 2018.
• The initiative is the first initiative certified for the ballot in Florida in 2018. An initiative to restore the right to vote for people with prior felony convictions is undergoing the signature verification process and had 745,461 as of January 17. There are two legislative referrals certified for the ballot. The Constitution Revision Commission is also meeting in 2018 to refer amendments to the ballot.
• Prior to 1931, gambling was outlawed in Florida. The Florida State Legislature passed a law to allow wagering on horse racing and dog racing, which Gov. Doyle Carlton (D) vetoed. Legislators voted to override the governor's veto, enacting the law on June 5, 1931. In 1935, the state legalized slot machines, but then repealed the law in 1937 following voters banning slot machines through ballot measures in multiple counties. The Seminole Tribe of Florida began operating a bingo hall in 1979. In 1988, Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), allowing tribes to establish casino gambling on tribal land. The act permitted states to form compacts with tribes to regulate Class III gaming. Class III was defined to include all other games not considered Class I or Class II, such as roulette, craps, keno, slot machines, parimutual wagering, and lotteries. In 2010, the Seminole Tribe negotiated a Class III gaming compact with Republican Gov. Charlie Crist. The compact allowed the Seminole Tribe to operate blackjack at five facilities through 2015 and required the tribe to share revenue with the state.

Thursday, January 18

Candidates chosen for special election in Connecticut House of Representatives

• The Stratford Democratic Town Committee nominated Philip Young to run in the February 27 special election for the District 120 seat on the Connecticut House of Representatives. Young will face Bill Cabral, who was nominated by the Stratford Republican Town Committee. Additional candidates may also get on the ballot by filing petitions by January 22.
  • The seat became vacant due to the resignation of Laura Hoydick (R), who left office this month after she was sworn in as mayor of Stratford. There was no law barring Hoydick from holding both offices, but she ran for mayor on a campaign promise to leave her position as a state representative if she won.
  • The District 120 race is the second special election in 2018 for the Connecticut House of Representatives. On January 9, Bobby Gibson (D) was elected to replace David Baram (D). Democrats currently hold the chamber’s majority with 37 seats to the Republicans’ 28.

Connie Pillich selects running mate in Ohio gubernatorial primary

• Earlier today, former state Rep. Connie Pillich (D) announced that she had selected Marion Mayor Scott Schertzer (D) as her running mate in her bid to secure the Democratic nomination for governor of Ohio. Schertzer has served as mayor since 2007 and had previously worked as a teacher and a political staffer. Pillich is one of five candidates who are seeking the Democratic nomination, although additional candidates have until February 7 to file. The winner of the May 8 Democratic primary will face the eventual Republican nominee and any declared independent or third-party candidates in the November 6 general election.
• Because the governor is a Republican and the Republican Party holds majorities in both houses of the state legislature, Ohio is one of 26 Republican trifectas. Similarly, since the governor, attorney general, and secretary of state are all Republicans, Ohio is one of 23 Republican triplexes. This makes Ohio one of 21 states with a Republican trifecta and a Republican triplex.

Friday, January 19

Last day to file for Rhode Island State Senate special election

• Candidates running for the District 8 special election on the Rhode Island State Senate had two days to file. The list of candidates was not available at the time of publication. The primary election for this race will be held February 27, and the general election will be held April 3. The seat became vacant after James Doyle (D) resigned on January 9. He said he was stepping down to address his struggle with alcohol. The Rhode Island State Senate has 32 Democratic members and 5 Republican members.

Special Elections

As of this week, 10 state legislative seats have been filled through a special election in 2017, and another 38 special elections have been scheduled in 20 states. 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:

January 23

• Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 35

January 25

• Tennessee State Senate District 14 (primary)

Local Politics: The Week in Review

Elections Update

• In 2018, Ballotpedia is providing comprehensive coverage of elections in America's 100 largest cities by population. This encompasses every office on the ballot in these cities, which includes their municipal elections, trial court elections, school board elections, and local ballot measures. Ballotpedia also covers all local recall elections as well as all local ballot measures in California.
• The next local ballot measure election dates in California are on January 23, January 30, and February 27.

Tuesday, January 16

Mayoral recall effort succeeds in Rockvale, Colorado

• A mayoral recall election took place against Rockvale Mayor Dan Schlaak. Voters chose replacement candidates in case of the recall's approval. Oney Barnes earned 79 percent of the vote in the recall election and won the mayor’s office.
  • Also facing a recall election is Town Trustee Garth Leonard. Rockvale is holding that election on January 23, 2018. The two recall efforts were initiated in August 2017 following allegations that the town government did not properly administer funds raised during the two-day MudFest truck-driving event.

Filing deadline passed for April municipal elections in Missouri

• Nine school districts covered by Ballotpedia in 2018 will hold elections on April 3. For more information on Missouri school board elections, please click here.
  • Clay County is holding general elections for county commissioner, county clerk, prosecuting attorney, county collector, recorder of deeds, and county auditor.
  • Jackson County is holding general elections for county executive and county legislator.
  • Platte County is holding general elections for county commissioner, county clerk, prosecuting attorney, county collector, recorder of deeds, and county auditor.

Thursday, January 18

The filing deadline passed for a city council seat in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• The city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is holding a special election for the District 8 seat on the city council on March 6, 2018. The seat was left vacant after the resignation of Dan Gilman (D). Gilman resigned on January 3, 2018, in order to work as Mayor Bill Peduto's chief of staff.

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.

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State Politics: What's On Tap Next Week

Saturday, January 20

Democrats have gained 30 seats in state legislative elections since Trump took office

• During President Donald Trump’s (R) first year in office, Democrats experienced a net gain of 30 seats in state legislative general and special elections combined.
  • In state legislative special elections spanning 2017 and early 2018, Democrats had a net gain of 12 seats, while Republicans had a net loss of 12 seats. Ninety-eight special elections were held in 2017. Ten special elections have been held so far in 2018 and another 38 special elections have been scheduled for later in the year.
  • Regularly scheduled elections in New Jersey and Virginia also took place in 2017. In New Jersey, Democrats had a net gain of three seats and increased their majorities in both chambers. In the Virginia House of Delegates, Democrats gained 15 seats and cut the Republican majority from 66-34 to 51-49.
  • It is common for the president’s party to lose seats in state legislative elections. During President Barack Obama’s (D) two terms in office, Democrats experienced a net loss of 968 state legislative seats. This was the largest net loss of state legislative seats for a two-term president since World War II. President George W. Bush (R) had a net loss of 324 state legislative seats during his two terms in office.

Monday, January 22

Utah convenes 2018 legislative session

• The Utah State Legislature begins its 2018 legislative session, which is scheduled to continue through March 8, 2018.

Tuesday, January 23

Guilty plea leads to special election in Pennsylvania House District 35

• A special election will be held for District 35 in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The seat was left vacant after the resignation of Marc Gergely (D) on November 6, 2017. Gergely resigned from the state House after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor charges relating to an illegal gambling machine ring. Candidates running for special elections in Pennsylvania are selected by their respective political parties, and Austin Davis (D) and Fawn Walker Montgomery (R) are vying for the open seat. The outcome of this special election will not impact the Republican majority in the chamber—as of January 2018, Democrats occupied 80 (39.4%) and Republicans occupied 120 (59.1%) of the 203 total chamber seats. All 203 seats will be up for election on November 6, 2018, and the winner of the special election must file to run in the November general if he or she wishes to retain the District 35 seat for a regular 2-year term.

Oregon voters to decide Measure 101, the Healthcare Insurance Premiums Tax for Medicaid Referendum

• Tuesday is the last chance for Oregonians to drop off their vote-by-mail ballots on Oregon Measure 101. Measure 101 addresses taxes that would be used to fund Medicaid expansion. A "yes" vote on Measure 101 approves five sections of House Bill 2391 (HB 2391), and a "no" vote on Measure 101 repeals those five sections. The provisions of HB 2391 up for a vote under Measure 101 placed a 1.5 percent assessment on premiums that healthcare insurers earned and premium equivalents that managed care organizations (MCOs) and the Public Employees’ Benefit Board received during a calendar quarter to provide funding for Medicaid. Measure 101 was intended to also repeal a 0.7 percent tax on the net revenue of hospitals to provide funding for Medicaid; however, there is disagreement between the legislative counsel and petitioners over whether the referendum would repeal this tax or delay it. Since the referendum was certified for the ballot, the targeted sections of HB 2391 were suspended from going into effect.
• Measure 101 was put on the ballot through a veto referendum petition designed to repeal the provisions of HB 2391 in question; this means that those responsible for collecting signatures and qualifying Measure 101 for the ballot are advocating for a "no" vote. The state legislature passed HB 2391 largely along partisan lines, with all Democrats in both chambers approving it and 33 out of 39 Republicans voting against it. The veto referendum petition drive that resulted in Measure 101 being on the ballot was launched by three Republican state legislators, state Representatives Julie Parrish (R-37), Sal Esquivel (R-6), and Cedric Hayden (R-7).
• As of January 14, 2018, the Stop Healthcare Taxes petition and measure committees were registered as campaign committees, advocating a "no" vote on the veto referendum. The Stop Healthcare Taxes petition committee sponsored the referendum petition and collected signatures to get the measure on the ballot. A total of $38,326.29 was spent to collect the 58,789 valid signatures required to put this measure before voters, resulting in a total cost per required signature (CPRS) of $0.65. The Stop Healthcare Taxes measure committee is leading the campaign for a "no" vote on Measure 101. As of January 14, 2018, these committees had raised $352,829 and spent $345,147.
• As of January 14, 2018, there were two measure committees registered as advocating for a "yes" vote on the veto referendum: the Yes for Healthcare committee and the Protect Our Healthcare committee. As of January 14, 2018, the two measure committees had raised $2.80 million and spent $2.44 million.
• As of January 2018, 32 states and Washington, D.C., had approved Medicaid expansion, and 18 states had not.
• On November 7, 2017, Maine voters approved an initiative designed to require Medicaid expansion; this was the first time Medicaid expansion was approved through a citizen initiative. As of January 2018, initiatives pertaining to Medicaid had been proposed in four other states. Groups in Idaho, Missouri, and Utah have proposed measures similar to the Maine initiative, requiring Medicaid expansion of some kind.

Thursday, January 25

Open Tennessee Senate District 14 to hold special election

• A special primary election will be held for Tennessee State Senate District 14. The general election will be held on March 13, 2018, to replace Jim Tracy (R), who resigned from the seat to take an appointment to a federal post. Gayle Jordan is running unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Joe Carr (R) and Shane Reeves (R) will face off in the Republican primary. As of January 28, Democrats occupied 5 (15.2%) and Republicans occupied 27 (82%) of Tennessee’s 33 total Senate seats, meaning a win by a Democratic candidate would not change the Republican majority. In November 2018, 17 Tennessee Senate seats will be up for election, and the winner of the special election must file to run in the November general if he or she wishes to retain the District 14 seat for a regular 2-year term.

Local Politics: What's On Tap Next Week

Tuesday, January 23

Voters in Compton, California, to decide competing marijuana measures

• On January 23, less than a month since recreational marijuana sales became legal in California on New Year’s Day under Prop. 64, Compton voters will decide competing measures concerning marijuana businesses. One of the measures is a citizen initiative and the other was referred to the ballot by the Compton City Council. If both receive majority approval, the one with the most “yes” vote will supersede the other.
  • Measure I is a citizen initiative establishing a 5 percent tax, allowing marijuana businesses in limited commercial and commercial zones, and allowing less control by the city council; citizen initiatives cannot be changed by the city council without voter approval.
  • Measure C is a measure referred to the ballot by the city council establishing a 10 percent tax, allowing businesses in commercial zones, and giving more control over marijuana regulation to the city council.

City councilman faces recall election in California town

• Hanford City Councilman Francisco Ramirez faces a recall election on January 23, 2018. Recall organizer Skip Athey accuses Ramirez of corruption and misusing public resources. Ramirez counters that the recall effort was initiated because he sought changes to city business after his election. Athey submitted a notice of intent to recall to Ramirez on May 16, 2017, which was allowed to advance to the signature-gathering stage by the city clerk. The organizers needed 835 signatures from residents of Ramirez’s council district by August 21, 2017, to require a recall election. On that date, organizers submitted 1,602 signatures, and the city clerk verified 864 of these in September 2017.
  • In January 2018, Ballotpedia is tracking 31 local and four state recall elections. For more information on these recall efforts, please click here.

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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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