Indiana candidate filing period ends for state executive, legislative offices

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** WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT CANDIDATES HOLD FORUM AHEAD OF FEB. 18 PRIMARY
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Three candidates running for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court met for a forum Monday. Incumbent Daniel Kelly ([link removed]) and challengers Ed Fallone ([link removed]) and Jill Karofsky ([link removed]) discussed their judicial philosophies at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. 

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The forum is one of several that have been held so far this year. The three attended a Jan. 30 candidate forum hosted by the Milwaukee Bar Association on Jan. 30. Kelly and Fallone appeared at a forum in Green Bay on Jan. 27, while Fallone and Karofsky met in Green Bay on Feb. 1.

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Kelly, a member of the court’s conservative majority, was appointed to fill a vacancy in 2016 by then-Gov. Scott Walker (R). Both Fallone and Karofsky have indicated that they would join the liberal minority, reducing the size of the conservative majority to 4-3.

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A victory for Fallone or Karofksy would mean that the next regularly scheduled election, in 2023, will determine control of the court. A Kelly win would preserve the existing ideological balance and prevent liberals from gaining a majority until 2026 at the earliest, assuming no justices leave the bench before their terms expire.

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Recent Wisconsin Supreme Court elections have been decided by narrow margins. In the past decade, three out of seven Wisconsin Supreme Court elections were decided by margins of 5 percentage points or less. Most recently, conservative Brian Hagedorn defeated liberal Lisa Neubauer by a margin of 0.5 percentage points in the 2019 election.

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The nonpartisan supreme court primary ([link removed]) will be held Feb. 18. The top two finishers in that race will advance to the April 7 general election. The winner of that election will serve a ten-year term.

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** FILING PERIOD FOR STATE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE OFFICES ENDS IN INDIANA
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The major-party filing deadline to run for elected office in Indiana ([link removed]) was on February 7, 2020. The filing deadline for independent and minor party candidates is June 30. In Indiana, prospective candidates could file for the following offices:

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Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General ([link removed])

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State Senate ([link removed]) (25 seats)

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State House ([link removed]) (100 seats)

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Indiana Supreme Court ([link removed]) (1 seat)

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Indiana Court of Appeals ([link removed]) (6 seats)

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Incumbent Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) faces a primary challenge from Brian Roth (R), while Woody Myers (D) and Bill Levin (L) are uncontested for their parties’ gubernatorial nominations. In the attorney general race, Karen Tallian (D) and Jonathan Weinzapfel (D) are seeking the Democratic nomination. Incumbent Curtis Hill (R) faces Adam Krupp (R) and John Westercamp (R). Hill is currently awaiting ([link removed]) results from a disciplinary review conducted by the Indiana Supreme Court following allegations that he had inappropriately touched a lawmaker and three staff members at a party. Candidates for Indiana attorney general are selected at state party conventions rather than in a primary.

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The primary is scheduled for May 5, and the general election is scheduled for November 3, 2020.

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Indiana’s statewide filing deadline was the 12th to take place in the 2020 election cycle. The next statewide filing deadline is on February 18 in Pennsylvania. 

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Indiana has a Republican state government trifecta ([link removed]) . A trifecta exists when one political party simultaneously holds the governor’s office and majorities in both state legislative chambers.

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** FORMER OBAMA ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL FILES TO RUN FOR NEW YORK CITY MAYOR IN 2021 
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Former Obama administration official Shaun Donovan ([link removed]) filed ([link removed]) to run for mayor of New York City in 2021. Donovan was secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and director of the Office of Management and Budget during the administration of President Barack Obama (D). He previously served in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development during the Clinton administration and New York City's Housing Commissioner.

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Loree Sutton, who previously served in the office of incumbent Bill de Blasio ([link removed]) (D), announced in 2019 she would run for mayor. Several current elected officials, such as Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams ([link removed]) (D), New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson ([link removed]) (D), and New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer ([link removed]) (D) have established fundraising committees for a potential run. De Blasio is prevented by term limits from running for a third term in 2021.

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New York City voters approved an amendment ([link removed]) to the city charter in 2019 establishing ranked-choice voting for primary and special elections beginning in 2021. The 2021 mayoral primary will be the first regularly scheduled election in the city conducted using this method. Voters will be able to rank five candidates, including a write-in candidate, in order of preference.

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** KENT ELECTED DFL STATE SENATE LEADER IN MINNESOTA, BECOMES FIRST FEMALE TO HOLD THE POSITION
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On Saturday, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) ([link removed]) caucus of the Minnesota State Senate ([link removed]) elected Susan Kent (D) ([link removed]) to serve as the party’s minority leader ([link removed]) for the upcoming legislative session. Kent won the post over fellow senator Tom Bakk (D) ([link removed]) . Kent will serve as the DFL’s first female leader in the state Senate.

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In Minnesota, the minority leader acts as the spokesperson for the minority party’s policy positions and helps direct the minority party’s overall legislative agenda. The current party composition of the Minnesota State Senate is 35 Republicans and 32 Democrats.

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The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party of Minnesota is an affiliate of the national Democratic Party. It traces its roots in the state to the 1920s when the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party ran candidates on a platform of agrarian reform, the public ownership of railroads and a series of protections for farmers and union workers. The Farmer-Labor Party united with the Minnesota Democratic Party in 1944.

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** GEORGIA STATE SENATE SPECIAL ELECTION ADVANCES TO RUNOFF
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Carden Summers ([link removed]) (R) and Jim Quinn ([link removed]) (R) were the top two finishers in the special election ([link removed]) to fill the Georgia Senate District 13 seat left vacant by former Senator Greg Kirk ([link removed]) (R). Kirk passed away on December 22, 2019, and had represented District 13 since 2015. The winner of the runoff will serve out the remainder of Senator Kirk's term, which ends January 10, 2021. Members of the Georgia state Senate serve two-year terms.

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Summers finished first with 43% of the vote and Quinn was second with 42%. Because no candidate received a majority of the vote, both candidates will meet in a runoff election March 3. Mary Egler (D) finished third in the special election, receiving 15% of the vote. 

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As of February 2020, 28 state legislative special elections have been scheduled for 2020 in 13 states. Between 2011 and 2019, an average of 77 special elections took place each year.

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Georgia was one of 21 Republican state government trifectas at the start of the 2020 legislative session. A state government trifecta occurs when one political party holds the governor's office, a majority in the state Senate, and a majority in the state House. 

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** ALASKA GOVERNOR NOMINATES STATE REVENUE COMMISSIONER
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On February 4, 2020, Lucinda Mahoney ([link removed]) was appointed commissioner of Alaska's Department of Revenue ([link removed]) by Gov. Mike Dunleavy ([link removed]) (R).  She was appointed to replace former Commissioner Bruce Tangeman ([link removed]) , who resigned his post in November of last year over differences with the governor ([link removed]) . 

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"Alaska is fortunate to have all the key pieces in place to solve our fiscal situation. We have a tremendous future as long as we are able to remedy our fiscal situation through a sustainable fiscal plan," Tangeman stated in his letter of resignation ([link removed]) . "The message you campaigned on and continue to stress was based on a math equation that would lead us toward fiscal responsibility. It has become apparent that the appetite by many for the level of budget reductions required to balance this math equation will be difficult to realize."  Tangeman commended Governor Dunleavy on the challenges he has undertaken in the state and said he believes that the governor has the best of intentions for Alaska's future. 

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In her role as commissioner, Mahoney is responsible for providing general supervision and directing the activities of the Department of Revenue. Her professional experience includes working as a business consulting company owner, as well as working for the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation and ARCO. 

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Alaska's Department of Revenue enforces the tax laws of the state, registers cattle brands, manages the power development fund, and collects, invests and manages revenue. 

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** WOODROW APPOINTED TO COLORADO HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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On February 4, 2020, Steven Woodrow ([link removed]) (D) was appointed to fill the vacant District 6 ([link removed]) seat in the Colorado House of Representatives ([link removed]) . Vacancies in either chamber of the Colorado General Assembly are filled by a committee of members of the political party that last held the seat.

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Woodrow’s appointment came after former Colorado representative Chris Hansen ([link removed]) (D) resigned on January 21, 2020. Hansen resigned from the state House of Representatives to accept an appointment to the state Senate. Woodrow will complete the remainder of Hansen’s term, which runs until January 2021. All 65 Colorado House seats are up for election in 2020.

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The Colorado House has one remaining vacancy, created by Susan Beckman’s ([link removed]) (R) resignation to join President Trump’s (R) administration as regional director for the federal Department of Health and Human Services. 

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** HETTLEMAN SWORN IN AS MARYLAND STATE SENATOR
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On January 31, 2020, Governor Larry Hogan (R) appointed Shelly Hettleman ([link removed]) (D) to fill the vacant District 11 ([link removed]) seat in the Maryland Senate ([link removed]) . Hettleman assumed office on Monday. Her current term will end in 2022.

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Hettleman’s appointment came after former senator Robert Zirkin ([link removed]) (D) resigned on January 2, 2020, to focus on his law practice and a new business venture. Zirkin served in the Maryland Senate for 12 years.

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Before Hettleman was appointed to the state Senate she served in the Maryland House of Delegates from 2015 to 2020. During her time in the state House, Hettleman served as the vice-chair of the Education and Economic Development subcommittee and the House chair of the Joint Audit and Evaluation Committee.

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The Maryland Senate has no remaining vacancies. The only current vacancy in the Maryland General Assembly is the vacancy created by Hettleman’s resignation. Vacant Maryland General Assembly seats are filled by gubernatorial appointment.

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** BALLOT MEASURES UPDATE
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** 2020:
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Fifty-five statewide measures ([link removed]) in 24 states have been certified for the 2020 ballot so far.

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Eighteen of the 55 certified measures are citizen-initiated measures. Thirty-six are legislative referrals. One is an automatic constitutional revision commission question.

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One measure ([link removed]) was certified for the 2020 ballot last week.

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A citizen initiative in California ([link removed]) concerning local rent control qualified for the ballot on February 3. The measure would replace the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act and allow local governments to adopt rent control on housing units with certain exceptions.

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Proponents of four additional ballot initiatives or veto referendums ([link removed]) in Alaska, Maine, and Michigan submitted signatures, which are pending verification by state officials. 

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** SPECIAL ELECTIONS
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So far this year, 28 state legislative special elections ([link removed]) have been scheduled in 13 states. Special elections have been held for six seats so far; heading into those races, Democrats had previously controlled two of the seats while Republicans previously controlled six.

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In special elections between 2011 and 2019, one party (either Republicans or Democrats) saw an average net gain of four seats nationally each year.

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An average of 55 seats were filled through special elections in each of the past five even years (2010 ([link removed]) : 26, 2012 ([link removed]) : 45, 2014 ([link removed]) : 40, 2016 ([link removed]) : 65, 2018 ([link removed]) : 99).

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An average of 88 seats were filled through special elections in each of the past five odd years (2011 ([link removed]) : 94, 2013 ([link removed]) : 84, 2015 ([link removed]) : 88, 2017 ([link removed]) : 98, 2019 ([link removed]) : 77).

 
** UPCOMING SPECIAL ELECTIONS INCLUDE:
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February 11

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Arkansas House of Representatives District 34 (primary runoff) ([link removed])

February 25

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Kentucky House of Representatives District 67 ([link removed])

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Kentucky House of Representatives District 99 ([link removed])

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Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 190 ([link removed])

March 3

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Arkansas House of Representatives District 22 ([link removed])

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Arkansas House of Representatives District 34 ([link removed])

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California State Senate District 28 (primary) ([link removed])

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Georgia State Senate District 13 (general runoff) ([link removed])

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Maine House of Representatives District 128 ([link removed])

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Massachusetts State Senate Second Hampden & Hampshire District (primary) ([link removed])

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Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth & Barnstable District (primary) ([link removed])

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Massachusetts House of Representatives Third Bristol District (primary) ([link removed])

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Massachusetts House of Representatives Thirty-second Middlesex District ([link removed])

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Massachusetts House of Representatives Thirty-seventh Middlesex District (primary) ([link removed])

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Rhode Island House of Representatives District 56 ([link removed])

 

 
** STATES IN SESSION
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Forty-one states—Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin—are in regular session ([link removed]) .
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