A special election will be held on November 8, 2016, to fill the state’s 90th House District seat. Rep. Mary Fritz, who held the seat for three decades, died in July.

The winner of the special election will finish Fritz’s term, and the winner of the general election, held the same day, will serve the next term beginning in January.

Photo of Rep. Mary Fritz courtesy of the Connecticut House Democrats website.

State Sen. Rick Gudex took his own life on October 12, 2016. Gudex was elected to represent District 18 in 2012 and served in 2015 as the president pro tempore before announcing he would not run for re-election in 2016. Gudex was a former mayor of Mayville and also a member of the Fond du Lac Common Council.

Gov. Scott Walker does not plan to call a special election to fill Gudex’s seat as the Nov. 8 election is less than a month away, leaving the seat vacant until January when the new term begins.

The special session adjourned sine die on October 6, 2016.

Lawmakers approved a budget fix, and the controversial death penalty bill failed to pass the Senate.

Per New Mexico law, the fundraising ban concludes at the time of adjournment.

Nassau County Legislator Judith Jacobs passed away on September 13, 2016.

Jacobs, the presiding officer of the county Legislature, was serving her 11^th term as the District 16 representative.

With more than one year left in her term, Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano has set a special election to fill the Jacob’s seat on November 8, 2016.

State Sen. Joe Seng lost his battle with brain cancer on September 16, 2016.

Seng was elected to represent District 45 for the fourth time in 2014.

As Seng’s seat was not up for election this year, a special election will need to be called to fill his remaining term.

Lobbying

“Chaka Fattah’s K Street Friends Stand by Him” by Sean McMinn for Roll Call

“Nonprofit Seeks to Crowdfund Lobbying” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

Campaign Finance

“Whom to Vote for? Employees Tend to Follow Their Leader” by Andrew Ross Sorkin for New York Times

“New Records Shed Light on Donald Trump’s $25,000 Gift to Florida Official” by Kevin Sack and Steve Eder for New York Times

Florida: “Appeals Court Declines to Put Campaign-Finance Rules on Ballot” by Douglas Hanks for Miami Herald

Ethics

“White House Women Want to Be in The Room Where It Happens” by Juliet Eilperin for Washington Post

Connecticut: “Wade to Recuse Herself from Anthem-Cigna Review” by Mark Pazniokas for Connecticut Mirror

Elections

“Sowing Doubt Is Seen as Prime Danger in Hacking Voting System” by David Sanger and Charlie Savage for New York Times

“Clinton Campaign Releases Doctor’s Letter Describing ‘Mild’ Pneumonia” by Abby Phillip and Anne Gearan for Washington Post

Virginia: “Va. Supreme Court Finds McAuliffe Not in Contempt on Felon Voting Actions” by Laura Vozzella for Washington Post

Legislative Issues

“Why the U.S. Economy Lags: It’s the politics, stupid” by Paul Davidson for USA Today

See what’s happening in government relations this week with our Video Digest. Enjoy!

The state representative for the 106^th District, Peter Pettalia, tragically passed away from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident on September 12, 2016.

Pettalia was elected to the Michigan House in 2010 and previously served as Presque Isle Township supervisor for 16 years.

Pettalia was term-limited. The state GOP will decide who finishes Pettalia’s remaining term, and his seat will be filled at the general election on November 8, 2016.

Photo of Rep. Peter Pettalia courtesy of the Michigan House Republicans website.

On September 9, 2016, New York Assemblyman Bill Nojay took his own life. Nojay was scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court on fraud charges related to mishandling of a trust fund on the day he passed.

Nojay was already listed on the primary ballot for September 13, 2016. If Nojay wins the primary, the seat will default to a vacancy and the GOP will select a replacement.

Nojay’s opponent, Richard B. Milne, has offered his sincerest condolences and has suspended all political activity until further notice.

Photo of Rep. Bill Nojay courtesy of the New York State Assembly website.

The Tennessee General Assembly convened a special session this morning to fix the state’s drunken driving laws, but lawmakers may also use the opportunity to expel Rep. Jeremy Durham. Durham is being investigated by multiple state agencies after nearly two dozen women accused him of inappropriate sexual conduct.

Rep. Joe Armstrong was also expected to be expelled, but Armstrong resigned his seat last Friday after being convicted of filing a false income tax return. His resignation is effective today. If legislators’ efforts are successful, Durham will be only the second Tennessee lawmaker to be ousted since the Civil War.

Photo of Rep. Jeremy Durham courtesy of the Tennessee General Assembly website.

On August 30, 2016, Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced state Rep. Bill Gossage as his deputy chief of staff for external operations. As a result, Gossage is resigning as the House District 82 representative.

Hutchinson will not call a special election to fill the remainder of Gossage’s term because the vacancy will be filled within 150 days, as required by law. The state Republican party will be responsible for selecting a nominee to run in Gossage’s place.

Gossage was running unopposed in the November 8 general election, and other political parties will be unable to run a candidate in this race as the filing deadline has already passed.

Photo of Bill Gossage courtesy of the Arkansas House of Representatives website.

House Speaker Greg Stumbo has called an impromptu meeting of the House of Representatives to discuss the struggling Kentucky Retirement System and Kentucky Teachers Retirement System. Stumbo cited poor returns and high placement fees for investment managers in an email sent to all members of the House.

All members of the House are invited to the Tuesday morning meeting, but Republicans are expected to boycott. Minority Leader Jeff Hoover criticized the timing of the meeting, as it coincides with a Democratic fundraiser taking place in Frankfort.

Hoover was also puzzled by Stumbo’s sudden interest in the topic, arguing the Democrats care now only because it will be an issue in the upcoming elections.

Photo of House Speaker Greg Stumbo courtesy of the Kentucky Legislature website.

Lobbying

Florida: “Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez’s Son Rose to the Top Skirting Lobbying Rules, Critics Say” by Francisco Alvarado for FloridaBulldog.org

Hawaii: “Just 2 Lobbyists Have Donated $650k to Hawaii Candidates in the Past 10 Years” by Jaelynn Grisso for Honolulu Civil Beat

Pennsylvania: “State Not Tracking Lobbying by Marijuana Companies” by Scott Kraus for Allentown Morning Call

Campaign Finance

Arizona: “State Regulator Subpoenas Utility Companies’ Campaign Spending Records” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for Arizona Daily Star

Ethics

“Ethicists Scoff at Clinton Foundation Transition Plan” by Katy O’Donnell for Politico

Florida: “Florida Newspaper Kills Story of Local Official Allegedly Seeking Favors from Developer” by Marc Caputo for Politico

Maryland: “Anne Arundel Ethics Commission Executive Director Dies” by Amanda Yeager for Capital Gazette

New York: “Ken Thompson, Brooklyn District Attorney, Is Fined for Misusing Funds on Meals” by J. David Goodman and Alan Feuer for New York Times

Elections

California: “Legislature OKs Selfies at the Ballot Box” by Anshu Siripurapu for Sacramento Bee

Legislative Issues

California: “In California’s Democrat-Dominated Capitol, It’s Senate vs. Assembly” by Alexei Koseff for Sacramento Bee

Premier Brian Pallister announced the appointment of Andrew Micklefield, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Rossmere, as the government’s new house leader.

Micklefield was preceded by Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen, who held the position as house leader for a decade.

The formal swearing-in ceremony for Micklefield has yet to been determined.