Rep. Mandy Kimmons has resigned from the South Carolina House of Representatives.

In a letter to House Speaker James Lucas and posted on social media, Kimmons cited a desire to focus on her legal career and service to her local community as reasons for the sudden resignation.

A special election will be scheduled to fill the 97th District seat for the remainder of the term.

This, along with the recent passing of Sen. Hugh Leatherman and the suspension of Rep. Rick Martin due to a recent criminal indictment, means the South Carolina Legislature will convene the 2022 legislative session on January 11, 2022 with three empty seats.

House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn announced the special election for Virginia House District 89 will be held on January 11, 2022.

The election is to fill the seat vacated by Del. Jay Jones, who is resigning to prioritize time with his family.

Del. Jay Jones of Norfolk, Virginia announced his resignation from the General Assembly.

In a public letter, Jones cited a desire to prioritize being a father and supportive husband, as he and his wife prepare to welcome their first child.

Jones easily secured reelection in November after a failed primary challenge for the Democratic nomination for Virginia Attorney General earlier this year.

Jones has served in the General Assembly since 2018.

Gov. Ralph Northam is expected to call a special election to fill the 89th district seat at a later date.

The Maryland General Assembly adjourned their special session on December 9.

Lawmakers approved new congressional maps and voted to override the governor’s veto of those maps.

Lawmakers also voted Del. Dereck Davis to serve as state treasurer.

The North Carolina Supreme Court ordered the 2022 primary elections be delayed two months from March 8 to May 17.

The order comes in response to lawsuits filed challenging the recently approved redistricting maps.

The order also suspends candidate filing until the litigation is resolved.

The Supreme Court also stated the lawsuits must be heard and ruled upon by January 11, citing the need for urgency in resolving the matter.

The Georgia General Assembly adjourned the special session on November 22.

The special session was dedicated to the redrawing of state and federal districts, which passed mainly on party lines.

The newly approved maps were sent to Gov. Brian Kemp for his signature.

The South Carolina Legislature is set to convene a special session in early December to address redistricting.

The House will convene on December 1, while the Senate is set to convene on December 6.

The Florida Legislature adjourned the special session on COVID-19 mandates on November 17 after just three days in session.

Lawmakers approved four anti-mandate bills, which are now awaiting approval by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The president of the South Carolina Senate announced a special election to replace the late Sen. Hugh Leatherman.

The primary election will occur on January 25, 2022, with runoffs, if necessary, on February 8, 2022, and the special general election on March 29, 2022.

Gov. Larry Hogan has announced a special session of the Maryland General Assembly to begin on December 6.

The session will focus on reviewing the certified redistricting maps presented by Hogan, which were drawn by the new Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission.

The General Assembly does have the final say over these maps and must either approve them or adopt its own redistricting plan by the 45^th day of the 2022 legislative session, which is scheduled to begin on January 12, 2022.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

Republican Winsome Sears is set to become the first female and first woman of color to serve as Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor after defeating Del. Hala Ayala in the general election.

Sears is also the first Black Republican woman to be elected to the Virginia Assembly back in 2001 when she was elected to represent House District 90.

She had also challenged U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott in 2004 but was ultimately unsuccessful.

Former Savannah, Georgia Mayor Edna Jackson wins the special election for State House District 165.

Jackson’s victory was by a significant margin avoiding the need for a runoff election.

Jackson will succeed longtime friend, the late Rep. Mickey Stephens, in representing District 165, which mostly includes East Savannah.

Alabama State Rep. Howard Sanderford has announced he will not seek reelection in 2022 after 33 years in office.

Sanderford first secured his seat in the Alabama House of Representatives after winning a special election in 1989.

Jason Mariner has secured the Republican nomination for U.S. House in Flordia’s 20th District.

Mariner defeated Greg Musselwhite, who unsuccessfully challenged the late U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings for the seat in 2020.

Mariner’s opponent for the January special general election is still unknown with the crowded Democrat primary race being too close to call.