A special election has been set for February 17, 2018, to replace Louisiana lawmaker Chris Broadwater.

Broadwater, a republican representative from the 86^th district, submitted a letter of resignation this week to focus on spending time with his family.

His resignation will be effective March 1 unless a successor is chosen before that date.

If necessary, a runoff election to fill the seat will be held on March 24, 2018.

On December 19, the Los Angeles, California Ethics Commission approved a set of recommendations requiring more disclosure from lobbyists, which will go to City Council for approval.

The recommendations require lobbyists to disclose direct communications with city employees by specifying the date of the communication, the employees title, division, and agency.

Additionally, the recommendations expand the current registration exemption for 501(c)(3) organizations.

A special election has been called for House District 69.

The vacancy is a result of South Carolina Rep. Rick Quinn Jr. pleading guilty to corruption charges.

The special election will be held on May 1.

The special primary will be held on February 27, with a special primary run-off election scheduled for March 13, if necessary.

Spokane, Washington City Council passed a campaign finance reform ordinance on December 18.

The new ordinance will cut in half the maximum allowable donation to candidates, from $1,000 to $500.

Additional changes include pay-to-play provisions and election cycle contribution restrictions.

The new rules are scheduled to take effect January 17, 2018.

Online registration for Alabama lobbyists is available beginning December 13, 2017.

Normally, registration is not available until the beginning of January.

In addition, 2018 lobbyist trainings will be held on January 24, March 14, and May 16, 2018. New lobbyists are required to attend one training.

The Fort Wayne City Council overrode Mayor Tom Henry’s veto of pay-to-play ordinance. Opponents of the ordinance are concerned about the constitutionality of the new law.

The ordinance will prohibit contractors who have donated more than $2,000 a year to an elected official’s campaign from bidding on city projects.

The restriction includes natural or legal persons with a 7.5 percent or more interest in the bidding entity and extends to a bidder’s spouse and any children living in the same household.

The ordinance will become effective on January 1, 2018.

Gov. Bill Haslam has called a special election for state Senate District 14.

Sen. Jim Tracy vacated the seat to become the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development director in Tennessee.

The special general election will be held on March 13, 2018 and the special primary election will be held on January 25, 2018.

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee died in the early hours of December 12 after suffering an apparent heart attack.

The President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, London Breed, is now the acting mayor of San Francisco.

The Board of Supervisors may now vote to make Breed the temporary mayor or choose another candidate.

If a majority of the remaining 10 supervisors cannot agree on a candidate, Breed would remain in the office until the June 2018 election.

Gov. Jerry Brown called a special election to fill California’s Assembly District 39 seat.

A primary election will be held April 3 with a potential runoff to follow on June 5.

The seat opened after Raul Bocanegra resigned amid sexual misconduct allegations.

U.S. Sen. Al Franken announced he would step down amid sexual harassment allegations on December 7, 2018.

Franken’s resignation allows Gov. Mark Dayton to make a temporary appointment to fill the vacancy until the special election is held.

Dayton has yet to announce an appointment for Franken’s seat.

The special election will be held on November 6, 2018, and the special primary election will be held on August 14, 2018.

Gov. Rick Snyder has called a special election to fill the vacancy for the 13^th District of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Rep. John Conyers resigned on December 6, 2017, amid sexual harassment allegations.

The special general election will be held on November 6, 2018.

The special primary election will be held on August 7, 2018.

Gov. Mark Dayton has called special elections for House District 23B and Senate District 54. The special elections will be held on February 12, 2018.

State Rep. Tony Cornish and state Sen. Dan Schoen both resigned amid sexual harassment allegations.

A special primary, if necessary, will be held on January 29, 2018.

Two special elections will take place in the beginning of the new year to fill vacancies in the House and Senate.

Secretary of State Brian Kemp set special elections for House District 111 and Senate District 17 for January 9, 2018, with a runoff, if necessary, scheduled for February 6.

Sen. Rick Jeffares resigned the District 17 seat to run for lieutenant governor, while Rep. Brian Strickland stepped down from the District 111 seat to run for the District 17 seat. Jeffares has endorsed Strickland to take his place.

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky has issued a permanent injunction, prohibiting certain portions of state campaign finance and ethics law from being enforced.

Earlier this year, U.S. District Judge William Bertelsman ruled the prohibition on lobbyists providing gifts and campaign contributions to lawmakers unconstitutional. The judge also found the definition of caucus campaign committee unconstitutional because it only refers to Republican or Democratic caucuses.

Pending appeal, the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance and the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission continued enforcing these statutory provisions. Now, KREF and KLEC are permanently enjoined from doing so.