The South Carolina Ethics Commission announced the adjusted spending limits for lobbyist principals on February 3. The limits increased from $70 per day and $560 per calendar year to $75 per day and $600 per calendar year. The limits are retroactively effective January 1. No lobbyist principal or person acting on behalf of a lobbyist principal may provide to a public official or a public employee the value of lodging, transportation, entertainment, food meals, or beverages exceeding the spending limits per public official or public employee.

Rep. Will Wheeler announced his resignation three days into the new legislative session. Wheeler is a Democrat who represented District 50 and cited his reason for leaving was to take a new path in his life for the sake of his health and his family. His resignation was effective January 17 and a special election is expected to be announced in the coming days.

Gov. Lee called for a special session on January 27 to address the Education Freedom Act, disaster relief for Hurricane Helene, and public safety measures related to illegal immigration. The Education Freedom Act aims to establish scholarships, increase teacher pay and bonuses, and increase funding for K-12 education. The Hurricane Helene relief will include upwards of $400 million allocated to various programs to provide immediate and long-term disaster relief to those effected by the hurricane. Finally, public safety measures for illegal immigration are being prepared to coincide with the federal policy planned implementations.

Gov. DeSantis has called for a special session on January 27 to enact sweeping immigration reform. He wishes to assist President-elect Trump’s mass deportation effort in any way he can. This has drawn concern from lawmakers who claim the session would be premature as DeSantis has not provided any bill text or concrete details on how he wished to make these reforms. DeSantis also wishes to address agricultural relief for areas still recovering from last year’s hurricane and support for condominium owners.

Campaign contribution limits for individual and PAC donors in 2025 are raised from $6,400 to $6,800 per election.

The State Board of Elections has calculated the new limit based on changes to the consumer price index.

A notice of increase will appear in the North Carolina Register on January 15 and the new limit has already gone into effect as of January 1.

A special primary election will be held March 11 for the state Senate District 5 seat.

If necessary, a special primary runoff election will be held April 8 and the special general election is scheduled for June 24.

This election is the result of Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Reed vacating his seat following appointment to a senior advisor position with the Alabama Department of Workforce.

Prince George’s County will hold another special election to fill an open County Council seat.

This election is to replace U.S. Senator-elect Alsobrooks and will be expedited due to the fact the county has gone almost a full year with a 5-5 split, which has caused significant delays in budgetary and legislative proceedings.

The special primary election will be held on March 4, 2025, and the special general election will be held on May 27, 2025.

A special primary election will be held January 28 for Florida’s congressional House district 1 and House district 6.

This will be followed by a special general election on April 1.

These elections are the result of Rep. Matt Gaetz and Rep. Mike Waltz being tapped for positions in the new administration.

Both seats have candidates that have been endorsed by President-elect Donald Trump and those endorsed are favored to win.

The County Commission has approved an ordinance to raise the monetary value limit of a gift of food and drink for elected officials from $5 to $25.

Commissioner Mark Bogen stated this ordinance will allow elected officials, candidates, and government staff to interface better with the public as the current rules prevent officials from attending functions they should be attending.

Reasoning in the ordinance states the stringent gift limitations in the County Code of Ethics unintentionally discourage personal interaction and communication between elected officials and the communities they serve.

The gift limitation was raised on November 12 after a unanimous vote for its approval.

A special primary election will be held November 16 for state Senate districts 10 and 32.

These elections are the result of Sen. John McGuire and Sen. Suhas Subramanyam winning elections for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Democrats currently have a one-seat majority in the Senate.

The general election date has not been announced yet, but according to state law, vacancies must be filled within 30 days of the vacancy.

Republican Rick Scott defeated his opponent Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in the race for U.S. Senate 55% to 42%.

Scott, who served two terms as governor of Florida before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2018, will now serve a second term.

Voters in Florida rejected a ballot measure to the repeal the public campaign financing requirement for campaigns for statewide office.

The current law makes funds available to individuals who wish to run for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, chief financial officer and agricultural commission.

The original purpose of this law was to make funds available for anyone to run for office but also allowed those fully capable to fund raise for themselves to get additional funds from the state. .

Voters in Florida rejected a ballot measure to require candidates for school boards to pick a party if they want to run.

The measure was slightly controversial as some voters believed it would make the process of electing members of the school board more transparent while other voters believed it could disenfranchise them.

Republican Patrick Morrisey defeated his opponent Democrat Steve Williams in the West Virginia gubernatorial race 62% to 31%.

This race was without an incumbent as current Gov. Jim Justice is on his final term.

Patrick Morrisey has been the state’s attorney general since 2013.