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Learning from Secretary Jason Snyder of the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security

Tomorrow’s elections are consequential, but there’s little in the way of an overarching theme. Abortion is on the ballot in Ohio, and indirectly so in Pennsylvania. Kentucky and Mississippi will test the appeal of Democrat gubernatorial candidates in the deep-red South. Virginia could prove that its 2021 Republican wave was a fluke – or it could propel Gov. Glenn Youngkin into the 2024 presidential race. POLITICO runs down Tuesday’s tightest contests.

There are a ton of elections Tuesday. Here are 10 to watch. The last big set of elections before 2024 will have a lot of lessons. Here’s a cheat sheet.

Though only 2,811 votes were cast, New Hampshire Democrats on Tuesday scored big with a 12-point win in a special election in a traditionally Republican state House district. Democrat Hal Rafter’s victory left the GOP with just a one-seat advantage in the 400-member House. Another special election in November, in which the Democratic candidate is heavily favored, could force a tie and strip Republicans of control of the chamber.

Democrats also prevailed the same day in a special election in Pennsylvania, preserving a one-vote margin in the House there.

Flipped seat sets the stage for even split in N.H. House - The Boston Globe Democrat Hal Rafter of Nottingham prevailed over Republican James Guzofski of Northwood in Tuesday’s special election.

California’s Senate president pro tempore, Toni Atkins, will be turning over her gavel next year due to term limits. But POLITICO reports that there’s a lot of “buzz” in Sacramento surrounding the quiet but fast political ascent of her anointed successor, Democratic Sen Mike McGuire.

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In conjunction with the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Serlin Haley invites you to attend a special event on July 18. "Creating an Effective & Resilient Transportation System" will feature a panel that includes Mass. Secretary of Transportation Gina Fiandaca and MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng, among others. Click below for details.

Special Event: Creating an Effective & Resilient Transportation System That Moves Us Forward - Boston Chamber Chamber CEO, James E. Rooney. and MBTA General Manager, Steve Poftak, will discuss the upcoming Orange Line closure and its impact.

Thank you Cristi Pedotto of speaking to the at the . Your insights on changes in refrigerant are insightful.

Day 1 of the Home Warranty Conference at the Grand America
Great start in Salt Lake City!

Recent election trends in the northeast indicate a growing divide between rural and urban voters, especially in Maine. Though Maine has voted Democratic in each presidential election since 2000, in 2016 the state shifted rightward as Trump made inroads in the rural 2nd district.

Biden would go on to win the state in 2020 but without flipping back the 2nd district to the Democrats, which speaks to the increasing divide.

Pennsylvania provides a second example, where the state’s overall Republican lean relative to the national popular vote has shifted in recent years, as the Democrats made gains in the suburbs of Philadelphia and other Keystone state cities. Still though, the state is likely to get ample attention from both sides in 2024.

Leaning Into State Trends: The Northeast and Greater South – Sabato's Crystal Ball Leaning Into State Trends: The Northeast and Greater South By J. Miles ColemanIn: 2024 PresidentPosted April 20, 2023 Dear Readers: Please join the Center for Politics and the Jefferson Council for the University of Virginia next Tuesday (April 25) at 7 p.m. for an evening with Pulitzer Prize-winnin...

Always a great start to the day with US Secretary Marty Walsh

As the 2023 gets underway, states across the country will be living up to their reputations as the laboratories of democracy. State budgets remain in the black thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law and higher than expected tax revenues. Legislatures may continue to upgrade infrastructures, expand internet access to underserved areas, and bolster workforce development initiatives.

Yet, concerns of a looming recession remain high along with an eventual slow in the level of federal dollars, so fiscal fights may return quickly in 2023 after having been somewhat absent the last 2-years.

7 themes that will dominate state legislatures in 2023 - Pluribus News Several issues, including abortion and mental health, are likely to pop up across the country as state lawmakers begin convening this month.

The 2022 midterms were destined to bring a fair amount of change to state legislative leadership (House Speakers and Senate Presidents) around the country, with just under a third of the number not returning due to retirements, term limits, or other factors.

However for the incumbent leaders that did choose to return the elections went well, with most top leaders securing re-election to their offices.

Election Day 2022: Results for Legislative Leaders Election Day 2022: Results for Legislative Leaders. Explore our table with 2022 elections results for each state.

State Government Affairs Council Advanced Certificate program attendees at NAPA, CA at completion of the Numbers team training exercise 19 seconds

The 2022 midterms saw incumbent governors fare well across the board, both in favorable states and in more challenging political environments. Tony Evers in Wisconsin and Laura Kelly in Kansas pulled off successful re-election bids, despite running as Democrats in battleground or otherwise solidly Republican states, respectively.

Meanwhile incumbent Republican Mike Dunleavy is expected to win re-election in Alaska’s ever idiosyncratic political environment. The only incumbent to fall by the wayside is the now-outgoing governor of Nevada, Steve Sisolak, who lost to Republican challenger Joe Lombardo.

What Happened in the States – Sabato's Crystal Ball What Happened in the States Democrats picked up governorships, state legislative chambers; Republican state court victories could have redistricting implications By Louis JacobsonIn: 2022 Governor, 2022 State RacesPosted November 17, 2022 Dear Readers: Join us at noon eastern today for a Twitter Spa...

With a divided federal government on the horizon, policy and regulatory action at the state level will be playing a key role in the coming years. As always, Serlin Haley will be ready.

With D.C. divided, lobbying turns to the states - Pluribus News The prospects of a federal government divided between Democrats and Republicans who are barely on speaking terms has special interest and industry groups turning to state governments to make progress on policy and legislative fights over the next two years.

Democrats and Republicans are both heavily competing for control of critical state house and senate chambers across the country, emphasizing the role state legislators play in the development of policy nationwide. The Democrats have put a lot of time, effort, and financial resources in trying to wrest back control in Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and Arizona.

Republicans, too, are going on the offense in states like Nevada, where close races for the U.S. senate and governor are likely to keep the battle for the state legislature contentious. The GOP also has designs on Alaska, where they will attempt to break the moderate collation that currently controls the Speaker’s gavel in Juno.

The 9 state legislatures at play in the midterm elections - Pluribus News Both parties are watching nine states, where just a handful of legislative seats could shift power from one side to the other.

Across the country most governors are earning positive reviews from a majority of their constituents. At the top of the of the leaderboard are three Republican governors of otherwise predominately blue states, in Charlie Baker (MA), Phil Scott (VT), and Larry Hogan (MD), though it is worth mentioning that Baker and Hogan are leaving their offices in January.

Most Democratic governors, meanwhile, continue to outperform President Biden’s comparatively low approval ratings. Governors Gretchen Whitmer (MI), Janet Mills (ME), Andy Beshear (KY) and Tim Walz (MN) are all comfortably above the 50% approval threshold.

Whitmer’s Approval Ticks Up in Michigan Ahead of Midterms as Most Governors Continue to Earn Positive Reviews Charlie Baker (R-Mass.) reclaims his status as America’s most popular governor

As city traffic begins to return to pre-pandemic levels across the country, we are seeing increased discussion at the municipal level over who has the rights to the streets and roads. This debate will have a particular impact for those in the gig economy, as well as the growing population of electric bike users.

Cyclists, Pedestrians and Motorists Clash Over COVID Street Changes Some cities are making permanent changes to discourage driving.

State legislatures across the country face a wave of coming turnover in the months ahead, as hundreds of legislators in states both large and small are heading for the exits. Though some are seeking other offices or are returning to the private sector, many are leaving in aftermath of the decennial redistricting process, while others are leaving after having sized up the looming midterms political climate.

State leadership especially will bear the effects of the approaching change: at least 33 House speakers, majority or minority leaders or Senate presidents nationwide have or will depart this year, leaving their positions open for new faces to take the reins that will determine the future paths of their respective state parties.

The Great Resignation hits state legislative chambers Across the nation, employees have had enough. Scores are telling their bosses they will quit at the end of this year, fed up with working conditions, low pay and fraying relationships. Only in this…

UVA’s Crystal Ball is out with its handicaps for state legislatures heading into the 2022 election cycle. A smaller number of chambers are considered toss-ups this year, but there are a handful of houses that could change hands.

For the GOP, the Maine House and Senate are considered prime targets to flip to their control, while the Minnesota House is also considered a good opportunity. The Alaska House could also flip, but the situation there is unorthodox to say the least.

For the Democrats, the Michigan Senate looks like the best opportunity for a pick-up, but they will largely be restricted to playing defense this cycle. The Michigan House and the Minnesota Senate are in the “Lean Republican” camp, but a surge in Dem turnout this year could move those to the toss-up category.

The Battle for State Legislatures – Sabato's Crystal Ball The Battle for State Legislatures Looking for competition in sorted statehouses By Louis JacobsonIn: 2022 State RacesPosted May 19, 2022 Dear Readers: Crystal Ball Senior Columnist Louis Jacobson is analyzing several categories of state-level races for us this cycle. After taking a first look at att...

Here is a great example of one of the issues we work on.

Bringing common sense to assisted living - CommonWealth Magazine PEACE OF MIND for assisted living residents and their families – that’s what a bill before the Massachusetts Legislature would deliver. What small changes could make such a big difference? A handful of non-invasive treatments that are simple yet highly consequential. To understand the issue firs...

As inflation continues to rise, state and local governments are having to contend with increasing costs including capital projects, routine service delivery, and salary and pension expenses. It’s not all bad news, however, as inflation also boosts sales tax revenues and creates budget surpluses.

Most states now find themselves in relatively good shape financially, with rainy-day funds reestablished as they navigate an uncertain economic landscape.

What Inflation Means for State and Local Budgets Rising costs are starting to put pressure on budgets and may increase pension risk. Still, government balance sheets are in good shape and the economy remains in growth mode.

While substantial turnover in an election year is not entirely unusual in state legislatures, we are going to be seeing a higher than average amount of state legislative leaders leaving their posts in 2022.

Whether it be to seek a new elected position, to take up a post in the federal government, or even for the private sector, currently about 30 party leaders have indicated they will be heading for the exits, and thus handing power over to a new generation of leaders.

Mass leadership exit hits nation's state legislatures Nearly a third of the top leaders in the nation’s 99 state legislative chambers will quit their posts this year, signaling a wave of turnover that will hand power to a new generation.

Historical trends suggest the GOP will have a favorable environment to take control of a number of governor mansions across the country in the 2022 election cycle. However, Democrats are looking to fight back aggressively in several states where the Democratic incumbents are battling hard to diverge from current electoral headwinds.

Yet in the end, gubernatorial races tend to be distinct from national political trends, so ultimately local and regional politics may have the most significant impact.

This Year’s Most Vulnerable Incumbent Governors Are Democrats No Democratic governor has been defeated since 2014. Look for that to change in November.

Long-time State Representative Carolyn Dykema has announced her intention to formally resign from the State Legislature next month, having accepted a position as a policy director at Nexamp, a solar energy company. Her departure shortly after the bill-reporting Joint Rule 10 deadline will leave the House Chairmanship of the Joint Committee on the Environment open for the time being.

Alison King Sits Down With Sen. Elizabeth Warren NBC10 Boston Political Reporter Alison King sat down for a one-on-one interview with Massachusetts Democrat Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

Last night was an off-year election cycle that nonetheless saw a variety of change being brought to state and municipal government in a few closely watched races. In the northeast, 36 year old Councilor Michelle Wu, a noted progressive and Chicago native, became the first elected female mayor of Boston and Democrat Eric Adams was elected New York City’s second Black mayor.

Meanwhile, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy remains pitted against Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli in a race that is still too close to call. In Virginia, Glenn Youngkin successfully claimed the governor’s mansion for the GOP, while the Commonwealth’s Republicans also look poised to take the State House of Delegates as well.

Election Day in review: Virginia flips, NYC elects new mayor and New Jersey's tight governor's race Education, critical race theory energized voters in the closely watched Virginia election. New York and Boston elected new mayors.

The Maine Legislature yesterday approved new congressional, legislative and county commission maps without much fanfare. All the maps were approved by a two-thirds majority in both chambers and Gov. Janet Mills soon provided her signature, making Maine the second state, after Oregon, to complete the redistricting process. A number of municipalities have shifted districts as a result of population movement and change over the past decade, particularly with regard to the congressional districts.

The deadlines for redistricting were supposed to be in August, but the Maine Supreme Judicial Court provided extra time to complete the work because the census numbers were delayed.

Maine completes redistricting without gerrymandering drama AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The Maine Legislature approved new congressional, legislative and county commission maps Wednesday without bitter bipartisan fights and gerrymandering that plagued efforts in other states.

The Public Affairs Council virtual 2021 State and Local Government Relations Conference is next week! Network and learn from your peers and hear 25 experts at leading organizations discuss current and emerging trends and best practices. Highlights include bipartisan advocacy, handling controversy, giving testimony, launching state campaigns, and more. Plus, there’s an in-person outdoor reception for anyone in the area. Don’t miss this 9/28-9/30 conference- sign up today! pac.org/slgr

State and Local Government Relations Conference - Public Affairs Council Leading experts and practitioners in state and local government relations gather to discuss current and emerging trends, best practices.

The city of Boston has a diverse slate of candidates to choose from as its mayoral race starts to enter the home stretch. Four women and one man, all people of color, are the major contenders running for the office. Next week on September 14 the city will have a preliminary election, which will serve to narrow the field to only two finalists who will be on the ballot for the general election in November.

Voters in the preliminary will also narrow down the field of candidates for at-large city councilors from 17 to eight. The preliminary is non-partisan, meaning anyone can vote no matter what their party registration is, although all the major candidates are Democrats.

‘This Race Is Historic': Diverse Candidates Vying for Votes in Boston Mayor's Race Even before the results are in, the Boston mayoral race will make history with a diverse candidate pool — made up mainly of women — vying for people’s vote. The race is in its final stretch before the preliminary election on Sept. 14, with only two candidates moving on to the general election....