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Daily Brew: March 18, 2021
March 18, 2021
 Welcome to the Thursday, March 18, Brew.Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:
How senators from the opposite party voted on Trump, Biden Cabinet nomineesThe Senate has confirmed 18 of President Joe Biden's Cabinet nominees. Twenty-three Cabinet-rank positions in Biden's administration require Senate confirmation. Let’s take a look at how the minority party (Democrats in 2017 and Republicans in 2021) has voted on the confirmation of each president’s nominees. In 2017, 22 members of President Donald Trump’s (R) Cabinet required Senate confirmation. Here are some facts about which members of the opposite party voted to confirm Cabinet nominees Seven Republican senators have voted to confirm more than 80% of Biden's 18 nominees so far:
One Democratic senator voted to confirm more than 80% of Trump's 22 nominees:
Here are some facts about which members of the opposite party voted against confirming Cabinet nominees Four Republican senators have voted against confirming more than 80% of Biden's 18 nominees:
Five members of the Democratic caucus in the Senate voted against more than 80% of Trump's 22 nominees:
Roundup of measures on the May 1 ballot in Austin, TexasYesterday, we looked at a ballot measure in San Antonio that would repeal local authority for collective bargaining with the San Antonio Police Officers Association. Today we'll look at eight ballot measures Austin voters will decide on May 1, with topics ranging from ranked-choice voting, police oversight, and adding a city council district. Seven of the eight measures were placed on the ballot through citizen-initiated petitions. Petitioners needed to submit at least 20,000 valid signatures to put the measures on the ballot. The city council voted to put the eighth measure—Proposition C—on the ballot. Here's a summary of each measure:
Austinites for Progressive Reform sponsored five initiatives related to elections and local governance:
We're covering five other local ballot measures that voters in three other Texas cities will decide on May 1—two in San Antonio, two in Dallas, and one in Lubbock.  Minnesota GOP chair candidates allege conflicts of interestEarlier this week, we brought you a story about factional conflict within the Democratic Party of Nevada. Today, we turn to conflict unfolding in Minnesota's Republican Party. Next month, the Republican Party of Minnesota will hold an election for party chair. Two-term incumbent Jennifer Carnahan is seeking a third term against state Sen. Mark Koran. Approximately 340 party members from around the state will meet in a virtual convention to vote for the next chair. These party members were selected at 121 local conventions, also known as basic political operating units (BPOUs). Carnahan and state party staffers directly managed 60 BPOUs. Carnahan and Koran have been critical of one another, alleging each individual has a conflict of interest.
The Star Tribune's Briana Bierschbach described the race for chair as a step in shaping the party’s direction in 2022: "Whoever wins the party leadership race in April will have to immediately focus on 2022, when the governor's office will be on the ballot, along with all 201 legislative seats. DFL Gov. Tim Walz is expected to run for a second term, but no front runner has emerged on the GOP side."
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