California official's resignation is 17th state legislator to resign amid allegations

View this email in your browser [Ballotpedia]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [The Tap]( Find special and state Supreme Court election results in today’s State and Local Tap, along with upcoming 2018 primary election news, and state legislature updates. If you’re looking for the full review of the week, check out our comprehensive edition of the Tap on Ballotpedia.org. [Launch the expanded edition of the State and local Tap](_California_official%27s_resignation_is_17th_state_legislator_to_resign_amid_allegations) Louisiana State Legislature opens special session on budget, taxes On Monday, February 19, the Louisiana State Legislature opened a [special session]( called by Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards to discuss taxes and the state budget. The special session is the 7th in two years, and the 5th to address state finances. The state faces a $994 million budget deficit in fiscal year 2019 resulting from temporary taxes that expire on June 30. Lawmakers instituted the temporary taxes in 2016 in response to a similar $1 billion budget deficit. - Republicans expressed support for higher sales taxes and for legislation to control spending while Democrats said they preferred changes to the state's income tax structure. Many tax proposals need a two-thirds majority in both chambers to pass. Gov. Edwards said he would support a temporary, partial extension of the sales tax. - The legislature has until the end of the special session on March 7 to raise revenue. They are not allowed to discuss revenue-raising measures during the regular session, which begins March 12. - Louisiana is one of 16 states under divided government. The Republican-controlled legislature, which has a 25-14 majority in the Senate and a 61-41 majority in the House, has blocked previous attempts to raise taxes supported by Democratic Gov. Edwards. - [Click here]( for more information about Louisiana’s state budget and finances. [States in session] New York Gov. Cuomo endorses Shelley Mayer (D) in Senate District 37 special election New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) [endorsed]( Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer (D) in a special election to fill New York State Senate District 37. Mayer is facing Julie Killian (R) in an election to replace Sen. George Latimer (D), who resigned in January 2017 to become a Westchester County executive. The special election will occur on April 24. Latimer had represented the district since 2012 and was usually elected with 55 percent of the vote or less. - The election could have consequences for the partisan control of the state Senate. If Democrats retain the seat, negotiations will continue between the mainline Democrats and the eight-member Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) on how to reunite their caucuses and take control of the chamber from Republicans. The IDC and Sen. Simcha Felder (D) currently caucus with Republicans, which gives them control of the chamber despite the Democrats having won a 32-31 majority in the 2016 elections. Democratic leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and IDC leader Jeff Klein have agreed to reunite their caucuses if Democrats win the special election and Felder ends his alliance with Republicans. - If Democrats are able to unify their caucuses and retake a majority during 2017, it will give them trifecta control of New York’s state government. If they do not reunify before the end of 2017, Democrats might be able to take control of the state Senate outright in the 2018 elections. Several of the IDC members are facing primary challenges from Democrats who oppose their alliance with Republicans. Dallet and Screnock advance as Burns is eliminated in Wisconsin Supreme Court primary Voters in Wisconsin headed to the polls Tuesday for a [nonpartisan primary election]( to determine who would appear on the April 3 general election ballot for a ten-year term on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Sauk County Circuit Judge Michael Screnock placed first in the primary and will advance to the general election alongside Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Rebecca Dallet, while attorney Tim Burns—who placed third—has been eliminated. According to unofficial election-night results compiled by the Associated Press, Screnock received 46 percent of the vote to Dallet's 36 percent and Burns' 18 percent. - Although the election is officially nonpartisan, Burns and Dallet received support from groups associated with the Democratic Party while Screnock received support from groups associated with the Republican Party. The April election will fill a seat currently held by Justice Michael Gableman, a member of the Court's 5-2 conservative majority. Burns has argued on the campaign trail that "a non-partisan judiciary is a fairy tale, and it always has been" and has run ads identifying himself as a member of the Democratic Party. An article in the Baraboo News-Republic [suggested]( that "the primary race could determine which is valued more by Democratic and liberal-leaning voters: judicial credentials, touted by Dallet, or ideology, where Burns may have an edge", citing University of Wisconsin professor Ryan Owens. - According to the Associated Press, [turnout for the primary election]( was 11.9 percent despite a winter storm that occurred that day. Although there were other local races on the ballot in some parts of the state, this was the only statewide race up for election Tuesday. In the preceding 20 years, the average turnout for Wisconsin spring primaries where the only statewide race was for a seat on the Supreme Court was 7.3 percent, according to the Wisconsin State Elections Commission. Linda Belcher (D) defeats Rebecca Johnson (R) in Kentucky House special election; seat flips from R to D Democrat [Linda Belcher]( has reclaimed her former seat on the Kentucky House of Representatives in a [special election]( on Tuesday, defeating Republican [Rebecca Johnson]( 68 to 32 percent. Johnson is the widow of [Dan Johnson]() (R), whose seat the election was called to fill. Dan Johnson committed suicide on December 13. On December 11, allegations that Johnson had molested a 17-year old girl were reported. Johnson denied the accusations against him in a Facebook post on December 13. - Belcher was elected to serve out the rest of 2018; she must run for election in November in order to retain the seat. Both Belcher and Johnson have already filed to run for the seat later this year. Belcher is the only Democrat that filed for the seat, and Johnson will face Thomas Huff in the Republican primary on May 22. If Johnson wins the Republican nomination, she and Belcher will face off again in November. - Belcher held the District 49 seat from 2009 to 2013 and from 2015 to 2017. She was defeated by Dan Johnson 50.4 to 49.6 percent in the 2016 general election. In 2014, she defeated the Republican opponent 53 to 47 percent. As the incumbent in 2012, she lost to Republican Russell Webber by the same margins: 53 to 47 percent. - Once Belcher takes office, Republicans will have a 62-37 majority in the Kentucky House of Representatives. Kentucky is one of 26 states with a Republican trifecta: a Republican governor and Republican majorities in the both chambers of the state legislature. [Map of state government trifectas] Ohio gubernatorial candidate Jon Heavey disqualified over signature requirements Physician [Jonathan Heavey]( (D) was disqualified from the Ohio gubernatorial election Wednesday after the Ohio Secretary of State found that he had not submitted the required number of signatures on his nominating petitions. Heavey, who has not previously sought elected office, submitted 2,173 signatures on his nominating petitions. However, a review of signatures conducted by county elections boards and certified by the Ohio Secretary of State found that all but 854 of the submitted signatures were invalid, leaving Heavey short of the 1,000 signature requirement. Heavey, who announced his intention to seek the seat earlier this month, had contributed $1.5 million to his own campaign account last December, entering the new year with more funds on hand than any of his Democratic opponents with the exception of former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray (D). Heavey announced Thursday that he would challenge the ruling. - Heavey's disqualification leaves six candidates remaining on the [May 8 Democratic primary]() ballot, including Cordray and former Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D). The winner of the May 8 primary will face the winner of the Republican primary between Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor (R) and Attorney General Mike DeWine (R) in the November general election. - Because the governor is a Republican and the Republican Party holds majorities in both houses of the state Legislature, Ohio is one of 26 Republican trifectas. It has held this status since the 2010 elections, when the Republican Party took the governorship and gained a majority in the state House of Representatives. Similarly, since the governor, attorney general, and secretary of state are all Republicans, Ohio is one of 22 Republican triplexes. This makes Ohio one of 21 states with a Republican trifecta and a Republican triplex. Alaska governor appoints Shower, Zulkosky as new state senator and representative Alaska Governor Bill Walker (I) appointed [Mike Shower]( to represent District E of the Alaska State Senate. Alaska Senate Republicans confirmed Shower's appointment. Shower is replacing Mike Dunleavy (R), who resigned on January 8 to focus on a 2018 gubernatorial campaign. - Shower was Walker's third appointment to the seat. Senate Republicans rejected Walker's first appointment, and his second appointment withdrew. - [Tiffany Zulkosky]( was appointed by the governor and confirmed by House Democrats to fill the District 38 seat in the Alaska House of Representatives. Zulkosky succeeds former officeholder Zach Fansler (D), who resigned on February 2, after a woman accused him of slapping her in the face twice. - Alaska state legislative vacancies must be filled by the governor within 30 days after the vacancy happened. The appointed member must be from the same political party as the person he or she succeeds, and must be confirmed by a majority of the relevant party in the same chamber as the predecessor. - State Senate District E and State House District 38 are up for election in November 2018. [Click here]( to learn more about the 2018 Alaska State Senate elections and [click here]( for more information about the 2018 Alaska House of Representatives elections. - Alaska is one of 16 states under divided government: Independent Bill Walker holds the governor’s office and Republicans hold a majority in the state Senate, while Democrats control the state House. Although Republicans have a numerical majority in the House, Democrats control the chamber due to a 22-18 majority coalition with three Republicans and the two independents. Texas State Sen. Carlos Uresti found guilty on 11 counts of felony charges A 12-person jury unanimously found Texas State Sen. [Carlos Uresti]( (D-District 19) guilty on all charges in federal court. Uresti was charged in an 11-count indictment, including multiple counts of fraud and money laundering, in May 2017. - The charges were in connection with FourWinds Logistics, a now-bankrupt oilfield services company that the government alleged defrauded investors. Uresti, the company's general counsel, allegedly received a commission for recruiting investors. According to Texas Monthly, Uresti claimed he was unaware of FourWinds' fraudulent activities. - U.S. District Judge [David Ezra]( is expected to sentence Uresti on June 25. - Uresti said of the verdict, "This is a shock to all of us. This is not the verdict we were expecting.” He said he would appeal the verdict and had no plans to resign. Texas Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Sen. [José Rodriguez]() (D-District 29) said the caucus "is calling upon Sen. Uresti to resign his position.” - Lt. Gov. [Dan Patrick]( (R), who presides over the state Senate, relieved Uresti of his committee assignments, effective immediately. - State law prohibits felons from holding elective office in Texas. The law would go into effect once appeals have been exhausted and a final conviction has been reached. - Uresti's Senate seat is up for election in 2020. National Republicans weighing in on tight Texas state Senate primary Less than two weeks before the March 6 election decides [the Republican primary]( in Texas State Senate District 8, both Angela Paxton, the wife of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), and Phillip Huffines, the brother of Texas state Sen. Donald Huffines (R), are bringing in Republicans with national profiles to support their campaigns. Paxton has enlisted former U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Rick Santorum (R-Penn.) to appear at a fundraiser, while U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) will appear at a rally for Huffines. - The race has been hotly contested by both candidates so far, with a number of high-profile endorsements, millions of dollars in campaign spending, and a series of negative campaign ads. A poll released by Paxton’s campaign on February 20 showed her with a 47 percent to 32 percent lead. The polling memo said, "While Huffines may recover a little from being staggered and the race may tighten heading into Election Day, the political winds are clearly at Paxton’s back." - Paxton generally leads Huffines in endorsements as she is supported by Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick, Congressman Sam Johnson, the Texas Association of Business, and the Texas Realtors Associations. Huffines, however, has loaned himself millions of dollars and had spent over $2.7 million on his campaign. Ken Paxton recently guaranteed a $2 million loan to his wife’s campaign. That prompted a campaign ad by Huffines that claimed the Paxtons had enriched themselves through public office. Paxton’s campaign ads targeting Huffines have focused on his past donations to Democratic candidates. Huffines responded that he only donated to Democrats who supported his position on tort law. - Despite the high stakes spending and endorsements in the race, the candidates do not represent different ideological camps of the Republican Party. In its endorsement of Paxton, the Dallas Morning News said, "On the issues, the differences between first-time candidates Angela Paxton and Phillip Huffines are razor-thin. Both are staunch social and fiscal conservatives who are spending big bucks to woo essentially the same far-right Republican primary voters in the conservative state Senate District 8." - More generally, the 2018 Texas state legislative Republican primaries feature a conflict between Republicans allied with House Speaker Joe Straus (R) and those opposed to him. Pro-Straus Republicans include many House incumbents who are facing primary challenges and organizations such as the Texas Association of Business. Anti-Straus Republicans include members of the Texas Freedom Caucus and organizations like Empower Texans and Texas Right to Life. Issues the two sides disagree on include school finance and property taxes. Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick and most Republicans in the state Senate typically supported the anti-Straus side on those issues. Ted Cruz wades into Texas state House GOP primaries U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) issued six endorsements in contested [Texas state House Republican primaries](, according to the Texas Tribune. All six endorsements—four in open seats and two of incumbents—were for candidates associated with the wing of the Republican Party opposed to outgoing House Speaker Joe Straus (R). - Both state House incumbents Cruz endorsed—Mike Lang and Kyle Biedermann—are members of the anti-Straus Texas Freedom Caucus who are facing primary challengers from pro-Straus Republicans. The other four candidates Cruz endorsed—Stuart Spitzer, Thomas McNutt, Steve Toth, and Jonathan Boos—were endorsed by the anti-Straus group Empower Texans and are facing at least one pro-Straus opponent in their primaries for open House seats. - Generally, Straus-aligned and Straus-opposed Republicans disagree on issues like school financing and property tax rates. The pro-Straus wing supports higher levels of state support for public education and more leeway for property tax growth before voters are asked to approve the increase. The anti-Straus supports funding for school choice programs like private school vouchers and either lowering the threshold for when voters must approve property tax increases or abolishing property taxes and replacing them with a consumption tax. - The Straus-led House quarreled with the anti-Straus Senate in a 2017 special session over school finance, property taxes, and a bill that would have regulated bathroom usage in Texas. Straus blocked the Senate’s proposal on property taxes and the bathroom bill, but he unenthusiastically accepted a Senate bill that decreased the amount of public education funding the House asked for from $1.8 billion to $351 million. Straus is not running for re-election, meaning the outcome of the 2018 primaries will decide which faction has more influence when a new speaker is selected in 2019. - Cruz has also issued endorsements in four of the six open congressional seats in Texas that were previously held by Republicans. His endorsements in Districts 5 and 21 were for two of his former staffers, Jason Wright and Chip Roy, respectively. Further Cruz endorsements include his support for Kevin Nicholson in the Wisconsin Senate Republican primary, Matt Rosendale in the Montana Senate Republican primary, and Steve Lonegan in the New Jersey 5th Congressional District Republican Primary. [Looking for more?](_California_official%27s_resignation_is_17th_state_legislator_to_resign_amid_allegations) The Tap has thousands of loyal readers each week. Want to reach them? Advertise in this email! Contact ads@ballotpedia.org for details. The Lucy Burns Institute, publisher of Ballotpedia, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law. Donations to the Lucy Burns Institute or Ballotpedia do not support any candidates or campaigns. 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