Welcome to the Friday, August 25, Brew.
Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:
- 41 statewide measures certified in 2023—the most since 2007
- Here’s what’s next for the Republican presidential debates
- #FridayTrivia: How many state legislative incumbents have lost in primaries this year?
41 statewide measures certified in 2023—the most since 2007
Here’s a look at where things stand with statewide ballot measures this year and an update on the latest activity.
A total of 41 statewide measures are certified for the ballot this year in eight states. That’s 13 more measures than the average certified at this point in odd-numbered years from 2011 to 2021—and the most in a single odd-numbered year since 2007, when 45 measures were on the ballot in 10 states.
Voters will decide the majority of those measures in November.
One new measure was certified for the ballot last week:
Ohio Marijuana Legalization Initiative
There are no more potential citizen-initiated ballot measures for 2023 because the deadlines to submit signatures have passed in all states. Six of the 41 state ballot measures in 2023 are initiatives—five are initiated statutes, and one is an initiated constitutional amendment. The six citizen initiatives this year are the most in an odd-numbered year since 2011, when 12 were on the ballot.
The other 35 measures are legislative referrals—measures that legislatures voted to put on the ballot. That number is the same as the number in 2021.
Unlike the odd-numbered years from 2013 to 2021, there will be no advisory questions on the ballot in Washington. On April 20, Gov. Jay Inslee (D) signed a bill eliminating the mandatory advisory votes on bills to increase taxes. An average of five advisory votes appeared on the ballot for each odd-numbered year in Washington from 2013 to 2021.
For 2024, 47 statewide measures have been certified in 22 states. That’s one more measure than the average number certified at this point from 2010 to 2022. From 2010 to 2022, there were an average of 164 statewide measures on the ballot in even-numbered years. By this time in even-numbered years from 2010 through 2022, an average of 46 statewide measures had been certified for the ballot.
Learn more about this year’s statewide measures at the link below.
Here’s what’s next for the Republican presidential debates
ICYMI (although you likely didn’t), eight Republican presidential candidates debated on Wednesday in Milwaukee, Wisconsin—where the eventual nominee will be selected at the Republican National Convention in July 2024.
The following eight candidates participated:
- N.D. Gov. Doug Bergum
- Frmr. N.J. Gov. Chris Christie
- Fla. Gov. Ron DeSantis
- Frmr. U.N. Amb. Nikki Haley
- Frmr. Ark. Gov. Asa Hutchinson
- Frmr. V.P. Mike Pence
- Vivek Ramaswamy
- U.S. Sen. Tim Scott
Mike Pence had the most speaking time and Asa Hutchinson had the least.
Candidates spoke for an average of about nine and a half minutes in this first debate. In the first Democratic primary debate on June 26-27, 2019, which featured 20 candidates, each candidate spoke for an average of about eight minutes.
Click here to read a summary of the candidates’ debate statements.
Each of these candidates met a polling and fundraising threshold to qualify for the debate and signed several Republican National Committee pledges, including one to support the eventual Republican presidential nominee.
Former President Donald Trump met the qualifying thresholds but said in an Aug. 10 interview that he did not plan to sign the loyalty pledge. On Aug. 20, Trump announced he would not join the debate.
Now that the first debate is over, here’s what comes next.
The Republican Party will hold a second presidential primary debate in Simi Valley, Calif., at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on Sept. 27. Fox News, Univision, and Rumble will broadcast the debate live.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) will raise the criteria to qualify for the second debate from those set for the first debate:
- Candidates will be required to receive at least 3% in two national polls, or 3% in one national poll and two polls conducted in early states. The first debate required candidates to receive 1% in three national polls, or 1% in two national polls and two early state polls.
- Candidates will be required to have 50,000 unique donors, with at least 200 donors from 20 different states or territories. The first debate required candidates to have 40,000 unique donors from 20 different states or territories.
Candidates will also be required to sign pledges agreeing to:
- Not participate in any debates not sanctioned by the RNC for the rest of the election cycle
- Support the eventual party nominee
- Participate in the RNC data-sharing agreement
In the 2016 election cycle, Democrats held nine debates, and Republicans held 12. In 2020, Democrats held 11.
Click below to see our full 2024 presidential coverage.
#FridayTrivia: How many state legislative incumbents have lost in primaries this year?
In the Tuesday, Aug. 22 Brew, we brought you the latest figures on state legislative incumbents defeated in primaries this year.
The number of state legislative incumbents who don’t make it out of their primary elections is typically low—an average of eight each year in odd-numbered cycles between 2011-2021.
How many have lost in primaries this year (here’s a hint: it’s more than the average over the last decade)?
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