NY Mayor de Blasio Announces Special Election for Council District 24

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a special election to be held on February 2, 2021 for City Council District 24.

The seat is vacant after Councilman Rory Lancman was appointed by Gov. Cuomo as Special Counsel for Ratepayer Protection at the Department of Public Service.

Incumbent Gov. Phil Scott won reelection for a third term as Governor of Vermont and defeated a challenge from current Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman.

Gov. Scott has one of the highest governor approval ratings in the country and won the reelection by receiving nearly 69% of the vote.

On November 3, incumbent Chris Sununu won reelection for his third term as Governor of New Hampshire.

Gov. Sununu defeated Democrat challenger Dan Feltes, the state Senate majority leader.

Gov. Sununu easily won reelection by receiving a projected 65% of the vote.

In a close vote, Rhode Island voters approved Question 1, a resolution to change the state name.

The resolution removes the term “and Providence Plantations” from the official state name referenced in the Preamble, Article III, and Article IX of the Rhode Island Constitution.

The governor and several political leaders have previously removed the term from official state and local documents over the summer.

New Jersey voters approved Question 3, a resolution proposing to delay the legislative redistricting schedule due to the collection of census data.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the United States Census Bureau to delay its procedures for collecting census data.

The approved constitutional amendment requires the Apportionment Commission to delay its adoption of new legislative districts until after the November 2021 election, if the United States Census Bureau does not provide the governor the redistricting census data by February 15, 2021.

On Election Day, voters defeated Question 2, an Act to Implement Ranked-Choice Voting in Elections.

The initiative was proposed to create a ranked-choice voting system in which voters rank one or more candidates by order of preference.

Ranked-choice voting would have been used in primary and general elections for all Massachusetts statewide offices, state legislative offices, federal congressional offices, and certain other offices.

However, ranked choice voting would exclude elections for president, county commissioner, or regional district school committee members.

On November 3, voters reelected incumbent John Carney to a second term as Governor of Delaware, defeating Republican challenger Julianne Murray.

During the campaign, Gov. Carney received criticism from the opposing party on his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This included a public mask mandate, as well as business shutdowns.

The election was expected to show whether Delaware voters approved of his administration’s handling of the pandemic.

Gov. Carney is constitutionally limited to two terms and may not seek another term in 2024.

On June 18, both chambers of the General Assembly recessed after passing the current fiscal year supplemental budget.

The bill distributed funding received from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to cover revenue losses for the fiscal year ending on June 30 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lawmakers are expected to return to session this summer to address the budget for the 2021 fiscal year after federal action for additional state relief is determined.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the General Assembly has canceled legislative sessions for the week of June 8 to June 12.

In addition, the Joint Legislative COVID-19 Emergency Spending Task Force is expected to meet on Tuesday, June 9.

The meeting will be televised and live streamed online here.

Both chambers of the General Assembly are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, June 16.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

On May 20, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka signed Ordinance No. 20-0515 amending the city’s contractor pay-to-play laws to reflect state law.

The ordinance removes Essex County political party committees, political committees and continuing political committees regularly engaging in the support of candidates for Newark municipal offices or County of Essex offices from the definition of campaign committee.

Additionally, ordinance 20-0515 removed the monetary thresholds of $300 per calendar year and annual aggregate limit of $2,500 for all business entity contributions to covered Newark political recipients.

Under the ordinance, all contributions to covered recipients by a business entity submitting a proposal, in negotiations for, or in agreement with the city for services is prohibited during the term of the contract.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit permanently enjoined the Commonwealth’s prohibition on political contributions from gaming-license applicants, licensees, and principals of licensees.

Judge Richard Nygaard upheld the lower court’s conclusion and granted summary judgment in favor of appellees Deon and Hardy.

Judge Nygaard found Section 1513 of the Gaming Act furthers a substantially important state interest in preventing quid pro quo corruption.

However, the restriction imposed on political contributions is unconstitutional because the Commonwealth did not closely draw the scheme to address the issue.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the General Assembly has canceled legislative sessions for the week of June 1 to June 5.

Committee hearings have been scheduled in both chambers of the General Assembly and will be live streamed at www.rilegislature.gov/CapTV.

During this time, the State House building will remain closed.

Members of the public wishing to testify on any of the matters before the committees may submit written testimony.

The General Assembly is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, June 9.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the General Assembly has extended the delay of the legislative session.

House and Senate legislative sessions have been canceled for the week of May 25 to May 29.

Three Senate Committees are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, May 26, Wednesday, May 27, and Thursday, May 28.

The House Finance Committee is also expected to meet during the week and the schedule will be announced at a later date.

The State House building remains closed to the public due to the emergency.

The full General Assembly is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, June 2.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

Delaware lawmakers announced the General Assembly will reconvene virtually and livestream the sessions on YouTube.

The House of Representatives will meet virtually on Tuesday, May 26, and the Senate will meet virtually on Wednesday, May 27.

A link to each meeting of the House, Senate, and joint committees will be posted on the General Assembly’s website.

The Legislative Hall remains closed to the public until further notice.