On March 2, the Arizona legislature passed HB 4115. It requires initiative circulators who are being paid to tell every person approached, and to say what state the circulator lives in, and that the circulator is being paid. Here is the text. This may violate the First Amendment, which protects against compelled speech.
On March 10, Georgia held special elections for one U.S. House seat and three state legislative seats. Here are the Secretary of State’s webpage results.
For U.S. House, 14th district, no one received a majority, so there will be a runoff in April. The three Democrats combined got 39.81%. In November 2024, the Democratic nominee had received 35.63%.
For State Senate, 53rd district, various Democrats received 26.99%. In November 2024 the Democratic nominee had received 21.23%.
For State Representative, 130th district, no comparison is possible because in November 2024 the Democratic nominee had been the only candidate on the ballot.
On March 12, a Missouri state trial court ruled that the Missouri Constitution does not bar mid-district redistricting. Wise v State of Missouri, Circuit Court, Jackson Cuonty, 2516-cv31273. Here is the decision.
On March 10, New Hampshire held a special election to fill the vacant State House seat in the Carroll County 7th district. The results: Democratic 51.9%; Republican 48.1%. When this seat had last been up, in November 2024, the results had been: Republican 56.8%; Democratic 43.2%.
On March 11, the Delaware Senate Executive Committee heard Delaware HB 65. It moves the non-presidential primary from September to the date of the presidential primary, whatever that date of the presidential primary turns out to be; the bill doesn’t specify. Currently the Delaware presidential primaries are in April but they might be moved to an earlier month. HB 65 passed the House last year. Delaware has two-year legislative sessions.
If this bill passes, the deadline for a group to qualify a new party will be much earlier, possibly even as early as January of the election year. This is because the deadline for a new party to qualify is tied to the date of the non-presidential primary. Delaware is in the Third Circuit, which ruled in 1997 in Council of Alternative Parties v Hooks that the New Jersey deadline for new party candidates could not be earlier than the date of the non-presidential primary. 121 F 3d 876.
