Governor Robert Bentley has set the special election schedule for the seat in Senate District 35:

• The special election primary will be held on January 29, 2013, or if no primary is needed, the special general election will be held that date;
• If a primary is held and a runoff is needed, it will be held March 12, 2013. If a primary is held and no runoff is needed, the special general election will be held March 12; and
• If a runoff is needed, the special general election will be held April 23, 2013.

The seat was held by Ben Brooks, who resigned upon being elected to circuit judge.

The governor has set the special election timeline to fill the House District 11 seat, vacated by Jeremy Oden upon accepting an appointment to the state public service commission:

• The special primary election will be held February 12, 2013, if needed, otherwise the special general election will be held on that date;
• The runoff following the primary, if needed, or the special general election if no runoff is needed following a primary, will be held March 26, 2013; and
• The special general election will be held on May 7, 2013 if both a primary and runoff are required.

Governor Bryant has set the date of a special election to fill Senate District 16.

The election is scheduled for January 15, 2013.

The seat was held by Senator Bennie Turner, who passed away November 27.

The District of Columbia Board of Elections has announced that a special election will take place on April 23, 2013.

This special election will be held to fill the at-large D.C. council seat of Phil Mendelson.

Governor Terry Branstad announced that a special election will take place on January 22, 2013 to fill the now-vacated district 52 house seat.

Representative Brian Quirk had won the seat in the November elections, but due to a new job he recently accepted, decided he could not fulfill his duties as a lawmaker.

Governor Nathan Deal has announced January 8, 2013 as the date for a special election in Senate District 21.

Chip Rogers announced his resignation from the senate on Wednesday, December 5, two weeks after his decision not to seek re-election as the majority leader.

Rogers will be joining Georgia Public Broadcasting focusing on new programming efforts concerning economic news and development.

Governor Phil Bryant has scheduled the special election for Mississippi House District 59 for January 8, 2013.

The seat was vacated on November 19 by Representative Kevin McGee, who resigned after paying a $10,000 fine to resolve an ethics case involving public contracts that went to his family’s printing company.

Following a volatile election season that saw spending in excess of $6 billion, the makeup of the federal government not only stayed the same, but leadership in both parties will also change very little. Republicans held elections to their leadership posts on Wednesday, and Democrats are slated to hold elections on November 29.

Democratic House Leadership:
While democrats gained seats in the house, those gains weren’t nearly enough to win back the majority and the biggest question for house leadership was whether Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA) would stay on in that role in the 113th Congress. In a press conference held Wednesday morning, surrounded by a number of new and current representatives, Pelosi announced she would again run for the position she’s held since 2011. Pelosi is not expected face any serious challenge but made one stipulation to her decision; that Rep. Steve Israel (NY) stay on as the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for the next election cycle.

With Pelosi’s decision, the rest of the leadership positions are expected to fall into place with Rep. Steny Hoyer (MD) to remain Minority WHIP and Rep. James Clyburn (S.C.) to stay on as assistant leader. The only expected change near the top of Democratic leadership is Rep. Xavier Becerra (CA) who announced he would run for the number four spot as the House Democratic Caucus Chair; a seat vacated by term limited Rep. John Larson (CT).

Republican House Leadership:
As expected, Speaker John Boehner (OH), Majority Leader Eric Cantor (VA) and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (CA) will stay in the top three leadership positions. The only new face to the top of Republican leadership is Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA) who won election to the fourth leadership spot as chairwoman of the House GOP Conference, replacing outgoing chair Jeb Hensarling (TX).

McMorris Rodgers was silently backed by the Speaker and other House leaders, while former Vice Presidential candidate and House Budget Chairman, Paul Ryan publicly supported Rep Tom Price (GA). Additionally, Rep. Greg Walden (OR) will replace outgoing chairman Pete Sessions (TX) to head up the National Republican Campaign Committee where has served as Vice Chairman for the last two cycles.

Senate Leadership Changes:
Senate leadership saw even fewer changes as both Sens. Harry Reid (NV) and Dick Durbin (IL) will maintain the top two Democratic Leadership positions, and Sen. Mitch McConnell (KY) will stay on as Senate Minority Leader. With the retirement of Sen. Jon Kyl (AZ), the Republicans elected outgoing National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (TX) as the new Senate Minority Whip.

On the campaign side, The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairmanship has been offered to Sen. Michael Bennet (CO). Bennet turned down the job in 2010, and has no hard deadline for making a decision this time around. The freshman Senator would be taking over for Sen. Patty Murray (WA).

Likewise, the NRSC has elected a new chairman. Sen. Jerry Moran (KS) will head the committee for the next election cycle, while Sen. Rob Portman (OH) and Sen.-elect Ted Cruz (TX) will serve as vice chairmen.

A special election will be held to fill the House District 17 seat, left vacant by Tom Corbin following the November 6, 2012 election. Corbin, elected to both the House and Senate, resigned as a state representative November 12th to become a state senator.

Filing for the open seat begins November 30th and closes December 10, 2012. Primaries will be January 22nd followed by possible runoffs on February 5, 2013. The special election will be held on March 12, 2013.

Governor Steve Beshear has set December 18, 2012 as the date of a special election to fill the 16th district senate seat.

The seat was held by senate president David Williams, who resigned upon his appointment to circuit judge.

The timing of the election will allow the seat to be filled before the start of the 2013 legislative session.

Campaign Finance

“Result Won’t Limit Campaign Money Any More Than Ruling Did” by Nicholas Confessore in The New York Times.

“It’s hard to follow the money” by Ruth Marcus in the Columbia Daily Tribune.

“Campaign finance reform on Klobuchar’s to-do list” by John Croman in KARE11 News.

“Super-PACs already planning for 2014” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.

“Colbert shuts down super PAC” by Kevin Robillard in Politico.

California: “Secret donation hindered campaigns, GOP advisors say” by Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times.

Illinois:  “Illinois congressional races belie fears that outside, anonymous money can buy elections” by John O’Connor in The Republic.

Kentucky:  “Three Kentucky Agencies Probe Requests for Political Contributions” by The Associated Press in WKU Public Radio.

Montana: “Montana Voters Overwhelmingly Said That Corporations Aren’t People” by Erin Fuchs in Business Insider.

Oklahoma: “Oklahoma political action committee fails to file campaign financial reports” by Michael McNutt in the Oklahoman.

Texas: “County moving toward digitizing campaign finance reports” by Nolan Hicks in the San Antonio Express-News.

Lobbying

“Super PACs Make Move to Lobbying” by Elizan Newlin Carney in Roll Call.

“Street Talk: Plum K St. Jobs Scarce in Post-Election Market” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.

“Good news for lobbyists: Cyber dollars” by James Ball in The Washington Post.

“Majority of K Street Lobbyists’ Former Capitol Hill Staff” by David K. Rehr in the Huffington Post.

California: “Tim Howe, longtime political consultant and lobbyist, dies” by Robert D. Davila in the Sacramento Bee.

Ethics

District of Columbia: “Former DC Council chairman to be sentenced for bank fraud, campaign finance violation” by The Associated Press in The Washington Post.

Illinois: “Blago gets ‘booked’” by Mackenzie Weinger in Politico.

Maryland:  “Annapolis To Revise City Ethics Code” by Anna Staver in the Annapolis Patch.

Campaigns and Elections

“Obama’s Victory Is a Win for Big Data” by Steve Towns in Government Technology.

Voters approved an amendment to the state constitution requiring the governor and lieutenant governor to run on the same ticket.

Beginning with the general election of 2018, the lieutenant governor will no longer be elected separately and will no longer preside over the senate.

A runoff election will be held for Mississippi House District 52 on November 27, 2012.

The top two candidates in the special election held November 6 are Bill Kinkade and Jeremy Bryan.

They are vying for the seat vacated by Representative Tommy Woods, who resigned on the advice of his doctors after suffering a mild stroke after the last election.