All articles tagged with #state legislature
The Idaho Legislature approved a measure restricting bathroom access for transgender individuals and imposing jail penalties for violations, sending the bill to the governor for consideration.
Democrats flipped two Florida seats in Tuesday's special elections: Brian Nathan narrowly defeated Josie Tomkow for the vacant Senate District 14 seat in Hillsborough County, and Emily Gregory defeated Jon Maples in Palm Beach County's House District 87 (a district Trump carried by double digits). A third race, Polk County's HD 51, remained Republican as Hilary Holley beat Edwin Pérez 54-46.
Three Republican-held Florida legislative seats are on the March 24 ballot in special elections: Senate District 14 (Tampa area) featuring Josie Tomkow (R) vs. Brian Nathan (D); House District 51 (central Florida) Hilary Holley (R) vs. Edwin Perez (D); and House District 87 (Palm Beach County) Jon Maples (R) vs. Emily Gregory (D), a race drawing attention due to its coastal district that includes Mar-a-Lago. A fourth vacancy exists in Miami-area District 113, with a special primary Aug. 18 and a special election Nov. 3; District 52’s contest was canceled with Samantha Scott unopposed previously. Polls close at 7:00 PM ET.
Democrat Emily Gregory defeated Republican Jon Maples 51% to 49% in a March 25, 2026 special election for Florida’s 87th House district, flipping a seat that includes Mar-a-Lago from Republicans to Democrats. The race, the 10th GOP-held state legislative seat Democrats have flipped nationwide in Trump’s second term, was seen as a test of Democratic strength ahead of the 2026 midterms and came despite Trump’s endorsement of Maples.
Three Louisiana state-legislature seats are up for grabs: Senate District 3 in New Orleans (Bouie resignation) where Sidney Barthelemy and Kenn Barnes advanced to a runoff, and House Districts 69 (Baton Rouge area) and 100 (New Orleans East to St. Tammany) with the same three-way dynamics. District 69 uses a majority-wins primary and could move to an April 18 runoff if no candidate clears 50%; District 100 sent Kenya Rounds and Dana Henry to a special general election after Jason Hughes’s resignation. Republicans hold large majorities in both chambers (Senate 28-10, House 72-31 with two vacancies). Polls close at 9 PM ET, with results shaping early outcomes and potential further runoffs; additional related elections are listed on the calendar for 2026 and beyond.
Democrat Bobbi Boudman won New Hampshire’s Carroll County District 7 in a March 10 special election, defeating Republican Dale Fincher by about 52% with roughly 4,000 votes cast. The win flips a seat carried by Trump and marks the 28th Democratic upset since the 2024 election, a pattern DLCC says signals momentum for a broader party wave, even as Republicans retain control of NH’s legislature and governor’s office. Boudman had previously lost to the district’s former GOP representative in prior races.
North Carolina voters punished incumbents from both parties in a tight primary season, with Senate leader Phil Berger facing a razor-thin race despite heavy spending and a Trump endorsement as provisional, military and overseas ballots awaited counting.
Richard J. Codey, a liberal Democrat who spent 50 years in the New Jersey Legislature—the longest tenure in state history—and served as governor, died at 79 after a brief illness. A champion for vulnerable communities and mental health advocacy, Codey once went undercover at a psychiatric hospital and later experienced life as a homeless man to highlight issues. He retired in 2023 after a redistricting-related primary, leaving a legacy as one of New Jersey’s most influential and enduring public servants.
The Indiana redistricting debate, influenced by national figures and internal GOP disagreements, has caused some tensions among state lawmakers, but most expect to move past the conflicts and continue working together in the upcoming legislative session.
The article discusses the upcoming 2025 New Jersey gubernatorial election, highlighting the candidates, campaign issues, and the state legislature races, emphasizing the competitive nature of the election and recent political shifts in the state.
The Pennsylvania budget stalemate continues into its third month despite a temporary resolution for transit funding, with disagreements over spending levels, policy priorities, and political trust hindering an agreement among Democrats, Republicans, and the governor.
Texas Democrats fled the state to block a GOP-backed redistricting bill that favors Republicans, leading to a legislative standstill and efforts by Republican leaders to arrest absent lawmakers, amid broader debates on partisan gerrymandering and democratic processes.
Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez challenged Governor Ron DeSantis's dominance by asserting the legislature's independence, passing a slimmer budget, and investigating the governor's wife's charity, marking a shift in power dynamics within Florida politics.
Ron DeSantis is experiencing a tumultuous year in Florida, marked by conflicts with the state legislature, leadership vacancies, and political uncertainty, signaling a departure from his previously dominant political stance and raising questions about his future ambitions beyond 2026.
Montana lawmakers narrowly voted against a proposed rule to ban transgender women from using women's restrooms in the state capitol, with the Joint Rules Committee's House members voting 10-12 against it. The proposal, backed by Republican Jerry Schillinger, was part of ongoing debates over transgender rights, particularly affecting Rep. Zooey Zephyr, Montana's first transgender woman legislator. The decision reflects a split among Republicans, with some viewing the ban as protective and others as a distraction, while Democrats unanimously opposed it.