2014 State Election Results

Transcription

1 2014 State Election Results Gubernatorial Elections In 2014, gubernatorial elections were held in 36 states and three territories, representing 15 seats held by Democrats and 24 held by Republicans. As of January 9, 2015, Democrats were reported to have held on to 10 seats while Republicans held on to 22. Republicans gained 4 seats in the states of Arkansas, Illinois, Maryland, and Massachusetts. Democrats gained 1 seat in Pennsylvania. Republicans and Democrats each lost 1 seat in Alaska and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), respectively, to Independent candidates. Candidates in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna Islands (CNMI), the USVI, and Vermont failed to win 50 percent of the vote. As a result, run-off elections were held in the CNMI and the USVI, and the legislature decided the winner, incumbent Governor Shumlin (D), in Vermont. There were 30 incumbent governors running for reelection: State Incumbent Elected Alabama Robert Bentley Robert Bentley Alaska Sean Parnell Bill Walker California Jerry Brown Jerry Brown Colorado John Hickenlooper John Hickenlooper Connecticut Dan Malloy Dan Malloy Florida Rick Scott Rick Scott Georgia Nathan Deal Nathan Deal Guam Eddie Calvo Eddie Calvo Idaho C.L. Butch Otter C.L. Butch Otter Illinois Pat Quinn Bruce Rauner Iowa Terry Branstad Terry Branstad Kansas Sam Brownback Sam Brownback Maine Paul LePage Paul LePage Michigan Rick Snyder Rick Snyder Minnesota Mark Dayton Mark Dayton Nevada Brian Sandoval Brian Sandoval New Hampshire Maggie Hassan Maggie Hassan New Mexico Susana Martinez Susana Martinez New York Andrew Cuomo Andrew Cuomo Northern Mariana Eloy S. Inos Eloy S. Inos Islands Ohio John Kasich John Kasich Oklahoma Mary Fallin Mary Fallin Oregon John Kitzhaber John Kitzhaber Pennsylvania Tom Corbett Tom Wolf South Carolina Nikki Haley Nikki Haley South Dakota Dennis Daugaard Dennis Daugaard Tennessee Bill Haslam Bill Haslam Vermont Peter Shumlin Peter Shumlin Wisconsin Scott Walker Scott Walker Wyoming Matthew Mead Matthew Mead Association of State and Territorial Health Officials Crystal Drive, Ste 450, Arlington, VA

2 There were nine open races in which the incumbent governor was term-limited, lost in the primary election, or did not seek reelection. State Incumbent Elected Arizona Jan Brewer Doug Ducey Arkansas Mike Beebe Asa Hutchinson Hawaii Neil Abercrombie David Ige Maryland Martin O Malley Larry Hogan Massachusetts Deval Patrick Charlie Baker Nebraska Dave Heineman Pete Ricketts Rhode Island Lincoln Chafee Gina Raimondo Texas Rick Perry Greg Abbott US Virgin Islands John dejongh, Jr. Kenneth Mapp Gubernatorial election results are available on the Politico website. More information on state gubernatorial races is also available on the National Governors Association website. State Legislatures There were 6,049 state legislative seats up for election in November Following Tuesday s election, state chambers shifted to the GOP. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), Republicans gained majorities in the Colorado Senate, Maine Senate, Minnesota House, Nevada Assembly and Senate, New Hampshire House, New York Senate, New Mexico House, Washington Senate, and West Virginia House and Senate. Democrats held on to majorities in the Iowa Senate and the Kentucky House. Several races were still too close to call, leaving control of several chambers unclear. Overall, the number of divided state governments will increase. For more details on the composition of your state legislature see the StateVote Election Night 2014 Composition of State Legislatures website. State Ballot Initiatives On November 4, voters in 41 states and the District of Columbia considered 147 statewide ballot measures. There were a number of health-related questions on state ballots addressing the issues of abortion, health care reform, marijuana, the labeling of genetically modified foods, and minimum wage, among others. Of note, voters in Alaska and Oregon passed measures to legalize marijuana; voters in the District of Columbia passed a measure to legalize possession of marijuana for personal use; and a measure to legalize medical marijuana in Florida failed. A measure for the labeling of genetically modified foods failed to pass in Colorado and, after a December recount, Oregon. Measures to increase the minimum wage passed in 5 states - Alaska, Arkansas, Illinois, Nebraska, and South Dakota. A measure entitling workers to earn and use paid sick leave passed in Massachusetts. Alabama passed a constitutional amendment stating every citizen has the right to bear arms. Washington voters passed an initiative requiring background checks for the sale and transfer of firearms. More information on the results of state ballot initiatives is available on the NCSL website.

3 Abortion CO Amendment 67 Definition of Person and Child. In the interest of the protection of pregnant mothers and their unborn children from criminal offenses and neglect and wrongful acts, the words person and child in the Colorado Criminal Code and the Colorado Wrongful Death Act must include unborn human beings. ND Constitutional Measure 1 Relating to the Inalienable Right to Life of Every Human Being at Every Stage of Development. This measure would provide that the inalienable right to life of every human being at any stage of TN Constitutional Amendment 1 development must be recognized and protected. Abortion. Proposes new provision to Article I to provide that nothing in Constitution of Tennessee secures or protects right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion; states that the people retain the right through their elected state representatives and state senators to enact, amend, or repeal statutes regarding abortion, including, but not limited to, circumstances of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest or when necessary to save the life of the mother. Bond Measures Related to Health/Environmental Health CA Proposition 1 Water Bond. Funding for Water Quality, Supply, Treatment, and Storage Projects. Relating to a water quality, supply and infrastructure improvement program, by providing the funds necessary therefor through an election for the issuance and sale of bonds of the State of California and for the handling and disposition of those funds, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately. ME Question 4 Bond Issue (research center). Do you favor a $10,000,000 bond issue, to be awarded through a competitive process and to be matched by $11,000,000 in private and other funds, to build a research center and to discover genetic solutions for cancer and the diseases of aging, to promote job growth and private sector investment in this State, to attract and retain young professionals and make the State a global leader in genomic medicine? Question 5 Bond Issue (biological laboratory). Do you favor a $3,000,000 bond issue, to be awarded through a competitive process and to be matched by $5,700,000 in private and public funds, to modernize and expand infrastructure in a biological laboratory specializing in tissue repair and regeneration located in the State in order to increase biotechnology workforce training, retain and recruit to the State multiple biomedical research and development groups and create a drug discovery and development facility that will improve human health and stimulate biotechnology job growth and economic activity?

4 RI Question 6 Question 6 Question 7 Bond Issue (clean water). Do you favor a $10,000,000 bond issue to ensure clean water and safe communities across Maine; to protect drinking water sources; to restore wetlands; to create jobs and vital public infrastructure; and to strengthen the State's longterm economic base and competitive advantage? Mass Transit Hub Infrastructure Bonds. Approval of this question will allow the State of Rhode Island to issue general obligation bonds, refunding bonds, and temporary notes in an amount not to exceed thirty-five million dollars ($35,000,000) to fund enhancements and renovations to mass transit hub infrastructure throughout the State of Rhode Island to improve access to multiple intermodal sites, key transportation, healthcare, and other locations. Clean Water, Open Space and Healthy Communities Bonds. Approval of this question will allow the State of Rhode Island to issue general obligation bonds, refunding bonds, and temporary notes in an amount not to exceed fifty-three million dollars ($53,000,000) for environmental and recreational purposes. Environmental Health/Conservation FL Amendment 1 Water and Land Conservation - Dedicates funds to acquire and restore Florida conservation and recreation lands. Funds the Land Acquisition Trust Fund to acquire, restore, improve, and manage conservation lands including wetlands and forests; fish and wildlife habitat; lands protecting water resources and drinking water sources, including the Everglades, and the water quality of rivers, lakes, and streams; beaches and shores; outdoor recreational lands; working farms and ranches; and historic or geologic sites, by dedicating 33 percent of net revenues from the existing excise tax on documents for 20 years. NJ Public Question 2 Constitutional Amendment Dedicating State Funds for Open Space, Farmland, and Historic Preservation, and Changing Existing Dedication for Water Programs, Underground Storage Tanks, and Hazardous Site Cleanups. Do you approve amending the Constitution to dedicate certain State revenues each year for environmental programs? The Constitution now dedicates four percent of the money collected from the Corporation Business Tax to help pay for some environmental programs. This amendment raises the amount from four percent to six percent beginning on July 1, The amendment also changes, beginning July 1, 2015, some of the programs funded by the current dedication. The new dedication would be used mostly to preserve and steward open space, farmland, historic sites, and flood-prone areas. Funds would also be used to improve water quality, remove and clean up underground tanks, and clean up polluted sites. Lastly, the amendment dedicates money received from leases and other uses

5 ND Constitutional Measure 5 of State open space lands to pay for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. Clean Water, Wildlife and Parks Amendment. This initiated measure would add a new section to Article X of the North Dakota Constitution creating the Clean Water, Wildlife, and Parks Trust (the Trust ) and the Clean Water, Wildlife, and Parks Fund (the Fund ) to be financed by five percent of the revenues from the State s share of oil extraction taxes. Ten percent of that amount of annual revenues would be deposited in the Trust with the principal invested by the State Investment Board; the earnings from the Trust would be transferred to the Fund to be spent on programs after January 1, Ninety percent of the annual revenues would be deposited into the Fund to be used to make grants to public and private groups to aid water quality, natural flood control, fish and wildlife habitat, parks and outdoor recreation areas, access for hunting and fishing, the acquisition of land for parks, and outdoor education for children. The Fund would be governed by a Clean Water, Wildlife, and Parks Commission comprised of the governor, attorney general, and agriculture commissioner. A thirteenmember Citizen Accountability Board would be appointed for three-year terms to review grant applications and make recommendations to the Commission. Every twenty-five years, the people would vote on the question of whether to continue the financing from the oil extraction taxes. Drugs, Devices and Alcohol AZ Proposition 303 Use Of Investigational Drugs, Biological Products And Devices. Allows a manufacturer to make available to an eligible terminally ill patient a drug, biological product or device that has successfully completed phase one of a clinical trial but has not been approved for general use by the United States Food and Drug Administration. A "yes" vote shall have the effect of allowing a manufacturer to make an investigational drug, biological product or device to an eligible terminally ill patient. It exempts a patient from regulatory action based solely on the physician's recommendation of the drug, product or device to the eligible terminally ill patient and classifies, as a class 1 misdemeanor, any attempt by a state official, employee, or agent to block access of the investigational drug, biological product or device to an eligible terminally ill patient. AR Issue 4 Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Amendment. The proposed amendment would legalize the sale, manufacture and transportation of alcohol statewide. CA Proposition 46 Drug and Alcohol Testing of Doctors. Medical Negligence Lawsuits. Requires drug and alcohol testing of doctors and reporting of positive test to the California Medical Board. Requires Board to suspend doctor pending investigation of positive test and

6 ND Constitutional Measure 7 take disciplinary action if doctor was impaired while on duty. Requires doctors to report any other doctor suspected of drug or alcohol impairment or medical negligence. Requires health care practitioners to consult state prescription drug history database before prescribing certain controlled substances. Increases $250,000 cap on pain and suffering damages in medical negligence lawsuits to account for inflation. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: State and local government costs associated with higher net medical malpractice costs, likely at least in the low tens of millions of dollars annually, potentially ranging to over one hundred million dollars annually. Potential net state and local government costs associated with changes in the amount and types of health care services that, while highly uncertain, potentially range from minor to hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Remove the Requirement that a pharmacy must be owned by a pharmacist. This initiated measure would amend section of the North Dakota Century Code to remove the requirement that an applicant for a permit to operate a pharmacy must be a licensed pharmacist, a business controlled by licensed pharmacists, or a hospital pharmacy or post graduate medical residency training program. Firearms/Hunting Amendment 3 Alabama Right to Bear Arms. Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to provide that every citizen has a fundamental right to bear arms and that any restriction on this right would be subject to strict scrutiny; and to provide that no international treaty or law shall prohibit, limit, or otherwise interfere with a citizen's fundamental right to bear arms. AL Amendment 5 Right to Hunt, Fish, and Harvest Wildlife. Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to amend Amendment 597, now appearing as Section of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, to clarify that the people have the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife subject to reasonable regulations that promote conservation and management of fish and wildlife and preserve the future of hunting and fishing. MS Statewide Initiative Measure 1 Establish the Right to Hunt, Fish and Harvest Wildlife as a Constitutional Right. Section 12A. The people have the right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife, including by the use of traditional methods, subject only to laws and regulations that promote wildlife conservation and management and that preserve the future of hunting and fishing, as the Legislature may prescribe by general law. Public hunting and fishing shall be a preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife. This section may not be construed to modify any provision of law relating to trespass,

7 WA Initiative 591 Initiative 594 property rights, the regulation of commercial activities or the maintenance of levees pursuant to Article 11. Concerns firearms. This measure would prohibit government agencies from requiring background checks on the recipient of a firearm unless a uniform national standard is required. This measure would also state that government agencies may not confiscate firearms from citizens without due process. Background Checks for Firearm Sales and Transfers. This measure would apply the background check requirements currently used for firearm sales by licensed dealers to all firearm sales and transfers where at least one party is in Washington. Background checks would thus be required not only for sales and transfers of firearms through firearms dealers, but also at gun shows, online, and between unlicensed private individuals. Background checks would be required for any sale or transfer of a firearm, whether for money or as a gift or loan, with specific exceptions described below. Background checks would be required whether the firearm involved is a pistol or another type of firearm. Violations of these requirements would be crimes. GMO Labeling CO Proposition Labeling Genetically Modified Food. Shall there be a change to the 105 Colorado Revised Statutes concerning labeling of genetically modified food; and, in connection therewith, requiring food that has been genetically modified or treated with genetically modified material to be labeled, "Produced With Genetic Engineering" starting on July 1, 2016; exempting some foods including but not limited to food from animals that are not genetically modified but have been fed or injected with genetically modified food or drugs, certain food that is not packaged for retail sale and is intended for immediate human consumption, alcoholic beverages, food for animals, and medically prescribed food; requiring the Colorado department of public health and environment to regulate the labeling of genetically modified food; and specifying that no private right of action is created for failure to conform to the labeling requirements? OR Measure 92 Requires food manufacturers, retailers to label "genetically engineered" foods as such; state, citizens may enforce. Current law does not require labeling of genetically engineered food. Measure requires retailers of genetically-engineered raw food to include Genetically Engineered on packages, display bins, or shelves; suppliers must label shipping containers. Requires manufacturers of packaged food produced entirely or partially by genetic engineering to include Produced with Genetic Engineering or Partially Produced with Genetic Engineering on packages. Defines "genetically engineered" food as food produced from organisms with genetic material changed through in vitro

8 nucleic acid techniques and certain cell-fusing techniques; exempts traditional plant-breeding techniques like hybridization. Does not apply to animal feed or food served in restaurants. Directs agencies to implement law. Permits state, injured citizen to sue manufacturer, retailer for knowing/intentional violation; attorney fees for prevailing citizen. Other provisions. Insurance/Medicaid CA Proposition 45 Approval of Healthcare Insurance Rate Changes. Requires health insurance rate changes to be approved by Insurance Commissioner before taking effect. Requires sworn statement by health insurer as to accuracy of information submitted to Insurance Commissioner to justify rate changes. Provides for public notice, disclosure and hearing on health insurance rate changes, and subsequent judicial review. Does not apply to employer large group health plans. Prohibits health, auto and homeowners insurers from determining policy eligibility or rates based on lack of prior coverage or credit history. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Increased state administrative costs ranging in the low millions to low tens of millions of dollars annually to regulate health insurance rates, funded with revenues collected from filing fees paid by health insurance companies. IL Statewide Advisory Question 2 Women's Health Referendum Act. Shall any health insurance plan in Illinois that provides prescription drug coverage be required to include prescription birth control as part of that coverage? Amendment 1 Creates the Medical Assistance Trust Fund as a constitutional fund, creates accounts for each provider paying fees into the fund, and provides for uses of the fund. Do you support an amendment to authorize the legislature to create the Louisiana Medical Assistance Trust Fund, for the payment of Medicaid reimbursement to the health care provider groups paying fees into LA the fund? Amendment 2 Provides for a hospital stabilization formula and assessment and creates the Hospital Stabilization Fund and provides for uses of the fund. Do you support an amendment to create the Hospital Stabilization Fund to stabilize and protect Medicaid reimbursements for health care services by depositing assessments paid by hospitals, as authorized by the legislature, into a fund to support Louisiana hospital reimbursement? SD Initiated Measure 17 Require Health Insurers to Include All Willing and Qualified Health Care Providers on their Provider Lists. The initiated measure establishes who is entitled to be on the insurer's list of providers. The measure requires that all insurers list all health care providers who are willing, qualified and meet the conditions for participation established by the insurer.

9 Marijuana AK Measure 2 An Act to tax and regulate the production, sale and use of marijuana. This bill would tax and regulate the production, sale, and use of marijuana in Alaska. The bill would make the use of marijuana legal for persons 21 years of age or older. The bill would allow a person to possess, use, show, buy, transport, or grow set amounts of marijuana, with the growing subject to certain restrictions. The bill would ban the public use of marijuana. The bill would prohibit a person under 21 years of age from using false identification to buy or try to buy marijuana or marijuana accessories. DC Initiative 71 Legalization of Possession of Minimal Amounts of Marijuana for Personal Use Act of This initiative, if passed, will make it lawful under District of Columbia law for a person 21 years of age or older to: possess up to two ounces of marijuana for personal use; grow no more than six cannabis plants with 3 or fewer being mature, flowering plants, within the person s principal residence; transfer without payment (but not sell) up to one ounce of marijuana to another person 21 years of age or older; and use or sell drug paraphernalia for the use, growing, or processing of marijuana or cannabis. FL Amendment 2 Use of Marijuana for Certain Medical Conditions. Allows the medical use of marijuana for individuals with debilitating diseases as determined by a licensed Florida physician. Allows caregivers to assist patients medical use of marijuana. The Department of Health shall register and regulate centers that produce and distribute marijuana for medical purposes and shall issue identification cards to patients and caregivers. Applies only to Florida law. Does not authorize violations of federal law or any nonmedical use, possession or production of marijuana. GU Proposal 14A Allows for the legalization of medical marijuana. A proposal to direct the Department of Public Health and Social Services to regulate the use of marijuana as treatment for medical conditions or diseases specified in the proposal or designated by the Department at a later time. It further directs the Department to develop rules within nine (9) months, consistent with the proposal to regulate all aspects of the use of marijuana for medical purposes on Guam. The proposal further removes the criminal penalties relating to marijuana when used by qualified patients pursuant to the act. OR Measure 91 Allows possession, manufacture, sale of marijuana by/to adults, subject to state licensing, regulation, taxation. "Yes" vote allows possession, authorizes in-state manufacture, processing, sale of marijuana by/to adults; licensing, regulation, taxation by state; retains current medical marijuana laws. "No" vote retains laws classifying cannabis as a controlled substance; prohibiting most

10 sale, possession, manufacture of cannabis; permitting production, possession of cannabis for medical use. USVI Referendum Non-binding referendum on medicinal marijuana. Modern medical research has discovered many beneficial uses for marijuana, also known as cannabis, in treating numerous symptoms associated with certain medical conditions. Should the Legislature of the Virgin Islands consider legislation to allow for the cultivation and use of cannabis (commonly known as marijuana) for medical and research purposes? WA Advisory Vote 8 Concerns marijuana excise tax. The legislature eliminated, without a vote of the people, agricultural excise tax preferences for various aspects of the marijuana industry, costing an estimated $24,903,000 in the first ten years, for government spending. Minimum Wage AK Ballot Measure An Act increasing the Alaska minimum wage to $8.75 per hour 3 effective January 1, 2015, $9.75 per hour effective January 1, 2016 and thereafter adjusted annually for inflation. This bill would raise Alaska s minimum wage from $7.75 per hour to $8.75 per hour as of January 1, The bill would raise the minimum wage to $9.75 per hour as of January 1, The bill would adjust the minimum wage each year for inflation after The bill creates a method for this adjustment. Under the bill, if the adjusted minimum wage is less than one dollar over the federal minimum wage, Alaska s minimum wage will be one dollar over the federal minimum. Tips or gratuities would not count toward the minimum wage. AR Issue 5 An Act to Increase the Arkansas Minimum Wage. The measure would increase the state s minimum wage from $6.25 to $7.50 per hour on January 1, 2015, $8.00 per hour January 1, 2016, and $8.50 per hour on January 1, IL Statewide Advisory Question 1 Minimum Wage Increase Referendum Act. Shall the minimum wage in Illinois for adults over the age of 18 be raised to $10 per hour by January 1, 2015? NE Initiative 425 Minimum Wage Increase. A vote FOR will amend the Nebraska statute establishing a minimum wage rate for employees to increase the current state minimum wage from seven dollars and twenty-five cents ($7.25) per hour to eight dollars ($8.00) per hour on January 1, 2015, and to nine dollars ($9.00) per hour on January 1, A vote AGAINST will not cause the Nebraska statute establishing a minimum wage rate for employees to be amended in such manner. Shall the Nebraska statute establishing a minimum wage rate for employees be amended to increase the current state minimum wage from seven dollars and twenty-five cents ($7.25) per hour to eight dollars ($8.00) per hour on January 1, 2015, and to nine dollars ($9.00) per hour on January 1, 2016?

11 SD Initiated Measure 18 Increase the State Minimum Wage. The initiated measure amends state law to raise South Dakota's hourly minimum wage for nontipped employees from $7.25 to $8.50 per hour, effective January 1, Thereafter, this minimum wage will be annually adjusted by any increase in the cost of living. The cost of living increase is measured by the change in Consumer Price Index by the U.S. Department of Labor. Paid Sick Leave MA Question 4 Earned Sick Time for Employees. A YES VOTE would entitle employees in Massachusetts to earn and use sick time according to certain conditions. A NO VOTE would make no change in the laws regarding earned sick time.