Ballot Measure TC passed on November 5, 2024, and amends the City Charter to require lobbyists to register with the Office of City Clerk, pay registration fees, and make disclosures about their lobbying activities.

The measure also makes it unlawful for a lobbyist to deliver any gift to any elected city official, city candidate, city officer, city official, city employee, or a member of a city board, commission, or committee.

Campaign contributions to city candidates are now required to be disclosed in accordance with the California Political Reform Act.

This ballot measure becomes effective once it has been accepted and filed with the Secretary of State.

However, the regulations which pertain to lobbying will be implemented by adoption of an ordinance by City Council at a later date.

On November 5, voters in the City of Los Angeles approved Ballot Measure ER, which changes the City Ethics Commission’s authority and operational independence.

The measure establishes a minimum annual budget for the City Ethics Commission; increases the commission’s authority over spending decision and hiring matters; and allows the commission to obtain outside counsel in limited circumstances.

It also increases the penalties for violations of the city’s ethics laws from $5,000 to $15,000 per violation.

The measure passed overwhelmingly with almost 75% of voter approval and will become effective December 6.

On November 5, voters in Oakland approved a ballot measure which amends the City Charter as it relates to the Public Ethics Commission and the Lobbyist Registration Act.

Measure OO, changes the qualifications for members of the commission to prohibit a person from serving on the commission if, within two years, that person was an elected official or candidate for the Oakland Unified School District, a spouse or close family member of a local elected official, an officer or employee of a political party, a registered lobbyist, or a person who made campaign contributions to candidates for local elective officer which total more than two times the local contribution limit (currently $600).

It also prohibits lobbyist from making payments directly benefiting an elected city official, candidate, or their immediate family, such as gifts or compensation, if the cumulative value exceeds $50 in a calendar year.

The measure will go into effect ten days after the vote is declared by the City Council, except the amendments to the Lobbyist Registration Act will be effective January 1, 2025.

North Dakota’s lone congressman, Republican U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong, easily won election as North Dakota’s next governor, continuing the GOP’s three-decade grip on the highest job in the conservative state.

Armstrong beat Democratic state Sen. Merrill Piepkorn and independent candidate Michael Coachman for the post by receiving 68.3% of the vote.

Armstrong will be sworn in on Dec. 15, weeks before the biennial Legislature convenes with an expected Republican supermajority in Bismarck.

He will succeed outgoing GOP Gov. Doug Burgum, who did not seek a third term.

Republicans have held the governor’s office since 1992.

Voters in South Dakota overwhelmingly rejected a constitutional amendment implementing top-two primary elections with 66% voting against the measure.

If passed, the amendment would have replaced partisan primaries with top-two primaries for state executive, state legislative, congressional, and county offices wherein all candidates run against each other in their respective races, including major and minor party and unaffiliated candidates.

Voters in Missouri overwhelmingly passed Amendment 7 with 68.5% of the vote.

The amendment states only U.S. citizens 18 years or older can vote and prohibits the state or local governments from allowing non-citizen voting.

The amendment also prohibits ranked-choice voting by establishing each voter has one vote per issue or open seat; and requires plurality primary elections, where one winner advances to the general election.

The constitutional amendment will be effective 30 days after the election.

Republican Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe won the race to become the state’s 58th governor, beating Democrat Crystal Quade by 20.5%.

Kehoe is a 62-year-old former Jefferson City car dealer, state senator, and current lieutenant governor.

Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Braun won the Indiana governor’s race Tuesday, by 13.7% of the vote, defeating Democrat Jennifer McCormick, a former Republican who split with the party after serving as the state’s schools superintendent.

Braun, 70, will succeed outgoing Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, who could not seek a third term because of term limits.

Democrat Matt Meyer defeated Republican Mike Ramone to become Delaware’s next governor.

Meyer, the current executive of New Castle County, secured close to 55% of the vote.

Republican Kelly Ayotte defeated Democrat Joyce Craig to become New Hampshire’s next governor.

Ayotte won the Republican primary after current governor Chris Sununu announced he will not seek reelection.

Ayotte, an attorney and former U.S. Senator, secured 53% of the vote.

Although Republicans won an overall majority, U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes beat out Republican Kevin Coughlin in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District by 2%.

The area includes all of Summit County, a large chunk of Stark County (including Canton), and a small sliver of Portage County.

Sykes won the newly redrawn 13th District in the 2022 midterm elections.

Voters approved Question 1 with an overwhelming majority of the vote.

The ballot question sets an aggregate $5,000 limit for individuals, business entities, and PACs contributing to PACs making independent expenditures.

Beginning December 1, contribution limits will be adjusted every two years based on the consumer price index.

Republican Gov. Phil Scott won the Vermont gubernatorial election against Democrat Esther Charlestin.

Scott, who became governor in 2017, secured close to 73% of the vote.

Republicans swept three state Supreme Court races, giving the GOP six of seven seats beginning in January.

Incumbent Democrat Justice Melody Stewart lost to Justice Joe Deters, a Republican appointed to the bench by Gov. Mike DeWine two years ago.

Deters opted to challenge Stewart rather than run to retain his seat.

Incumbent Justice Michael Donnelly, a Cleveland area Democrat, lost his seat to Republican challenger Megan Shanahan, a Hamilton County judge making her first statewide run.

Republican Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Dan Hawkins beat Democrat Eighth District Court of Appeals Judge Lisa Forbes.

In January, Justice Jennifer Brunner will be the sole Democrat on the court and the only Democrat in Ohio statewide office.