Members of the Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC) have released an advisory opinion, proposing new limits on contributions to political campaigns.

Under the new restrictions, an individual would be limited to $1,500 in donations per candidate or group per year and groups would be limited to $3,000 in donations per candidate or group per year.

After Thompson v. Hebdon found Alaska’s limitations on contributions made by individuals and groups unconstitutional, the APOC adjusted the limits set in 2003 for inflation.

These new limits follow the Supreme Court’s guidance for contribution limits and fall in line with the limits that have been upheld in other states.

The new limits are subject to approval of the five-member commission, scheduled to meet in January.

Incumbent New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy defeated Republican Jack Ciatarelli in a tighter-than-expected race.

Murphy is the first Democratic governor to win re-election in New Jersey in four decades.

Campaign Finance

National: “Gun Control Group Alleges Campaign Finance Violations in Lawsuit Against NRA” by Mychael Schnell (The Hill) for MSN

National: “Trump Campaign Payments for ‘Command Centers’ at D.C. Hotels Could Undermine Executive Privilege Claim in Jan. 6 Investigation” by Jacqueline Alemany, Josh Dawsey, Emma Brown, and Tom Hamburger (Washington Post) for MSN

Alaska: “After Federal Court Ruling, Alaska Campaign Regulators Propose Higher Donation Limits” by James Brooks for Anchorage Daily News

Elections

National: “At Least Seven Jan. 6 Rallygoers Won Public Office on Election Day” by Amy Wang and Mariana Alfaro (Washington Post) for MSN

Massachusetts: “Michelle Wu Makes History as First Person of Color and Woman to Be Elected Boston Mayor” by Joanna Slater and Adela Suliman (Washington Post) for MSN

New Jersey: “N.J. Governor’s Race Fallout Could Claim Senate President Sweeney as Democrats Trail Key Legislative Races” by Amanda Hoover and Brent Johnson (NJ Advance Media) for MSN

Ethics

Illinois: “Ex-State Rep. Luis Arroyo Pleads Guilty in Bribery Case Tied to Sweepstakes Machines” by Jason Meisner and Ray Long (Chicago Tribune) for MSN

Legislative Issues

Delaware: “Can Delaware Lawmakers Legally Oust an Indicted State Auditor? State Law Isn’t Clear” by Mark Eichman for WHYY

Lobbying

National: “Lobbying Firms Connected to Biden White House Are Flourishing Under New Administration” by Soo Rin Kim (ABC News) for Yahoo News

Redistricting

California: “How Local Independent Commissions Are Changing California Redistricting” by Sameea Kamal for CalMatters

Seattle’s mayoral race, a hotly contested race between current and former Seattle City Council presidents, ended in a landslide victory for Bruce Harrell with 65% of the votes.

The election, a race between progressive and moderate Democrats, was affected by the progressive agenda of defunding the police and addressing homelessness.

The incumbent Jenny Durkan and progressive candidate Lorena Gonzalez both took political hits over their handling of the coronavirus pandemic and BLM protests.

Durkan did not seek reelection. Bruce Harrell is Seattle’s First Asian American Mayor.

State Representative Brian Clem has announced he will leave the Oregon Legislature before the end of his term.

Clem, a Democrat from House District 21, stated he will vacate his seat to take care of his ailing mother, who is currently combating Alzheimer’s.

An interim state representative will be voted on by Marion County commissioners from a list of three to five candidates prepared by precinct Democrats.

While no specific date has been set, Clem said his replacement should be chosen before the 2022 legislative session.

Kentucky Republicans are projected to sweep the three legislative special elections and retain their supermajority.

Michael ‘Sarge’ Pollock is projected to defeat Democrat Eddie Rogers to win House District 51, filling the vacancy created by the death of Rep. John “Bam” Carney.

Timmy Truett is projected to defeat Democrat Mae Suramek to win House District 89 and succeed former Rep. Robert Goforth, who resigned in August.

Dr. Donald Douglas is projected to defeat Democrat Helen Bukulmez to win Senate District 22, filling the vacancy created by the death of Sen. Tom Buford.

Mike Carey is projected to succeed former Rep. Steve Stivers and fill the vacant seat in U.S. House District 15.

Carey, a coal lobbyist backed by former President Donald Trump, is projected to defeat Democrat Allison Russo by 16 percentage points.

Democrat Thom Welby will serve as the next Pennsylvania state representative for District 113.

Welby defeated challenger Dominick Manetti handily in the special election and will serve the remainder of the term that ends next November.

The seat was left vacant after Sen. Marty Flynn won election to the state Senate.

Democrat Gina Curry will serve as the next state representative for District 164 after defeating Brian Shariff Taylor in a special election.

District 164 was left vacant after former Rep. Margo Davidson resigned following theft charges.

Curry will serve the remainder of the term that ends next November.

Republican Winsome Sears is set to become the first female and first woman of color to serve as Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor after defeating Del. Hala Ayala in the general election.

Sears is also the first Black Republican woman to be elected to the Virginia Assembly back in 2001 when she was elected to represent House District 90.

She had also challenged U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott in 2004 but was ultimately unsuccessful.

Cuyahoga County, Ohio Council Rep. Shontel Brown will succeed former Rep. Marcia Fudge and fill the vacant seat in U.S. House District 11.

Brown, a Democrat, soundly defeated Republican Laverne Gore by over 57 percentage points.

Democrat Sam Zurier defeated Alex Cannon in a special election to serve as the next Rhode Island state Senator for District 3.

The District 3 seat became vacant after Sen. Gayle Goldin resigned earlier this year to take a job with the Biden administration.

Aftab Pureval defeated City Councilman David Mann to become the first Asian Pacific mayor in Cincinnati’s city history and the only one in the Midwest.

Pureval, a former refugee from New Delhi, is currently the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts.

Former Savannah, Georgia Mayor Edna Jackson wins the special election for State House District 165.

Jackson’s victory was by a significant margin avoiding the need for a runoff election.

Jackson will succeed longtime friend, the late Rep. Mickey Stephens, in representing District 165, which mostly includes East Savannah.

Alabama State Rep. Howard Sanderford has announced he will not seek reelection in 2022 after 33 years in office.

Sanderford first secured his seat in the Alabama House of Representatives after winning a special election in 1989.