This San Diego Union Tribune story says that because Congressmember Darrell Issa, a Republican, is retiring, there may be two strong Republicans running to replace him. Because there are also four strong Democrats running for the same seat, the story speculates that the two Republicans might capture the first and second place slots in June 2018, leaving no Democrat on the general election ballot, even though Hillary Clinton carried the 49th district by seven points in November 2016 and Democrats had been hoping to win this seat even before Issa said he wouldn’t run again.

On January 8, the Kentucky House Committee on Elections, Constitutional Amendments, and Intergovernmental Affairs unanimously passed HB 23. It moves Kentucky elections for statewide state officials from the odd year just prior to a presidential election year, to presidential election years.

Kentucky has been electing its Governors in the odd year just prior to presidential election years ever since 1851, so this would be a big change for the state. The bill says that the officers elected in 2019 would have five-year terms, and the next elections for those offices would be 2024. If the bill passes the legislature, then the voters will vote on the idea, probably in November 2018.

The only other states that elect their Governors in the odd year before a presidential election year are Louisiana and Mississippi.

On January 9, the City Council of Washington, D.C., tentatively passed B22-0192. It sets up public financing for candidates for Mayor and City Council.