Video & Transcript : 'candidate' :
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MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Election Laws Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Election Laws
Transcript Highlights:
- I would also just add to that, as a candidate, one of the things I did as a candidate was help educate
- Not only does RCV encourage more candidates to run, it also encourages the candidates that do run to
- We had three strong candidates.
- Voters whose first-choice candidate lost would see their second- or third-choice candidate win.
- , voting for other candidates.
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on Election Laws
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Election Laws held a public hearing focused primarily on ranked choice voting (RCV) legislation and several local home rule petitions, along with one petition to authorize remote participation in Concord town meetings. Chairs Keenan and Hunt outlined hearing procedures and noted the committee would hear both in-person and virtual testimony. The committee also took testimony on Concord’s request for remote participation in open and special town meetings, with supporters arguing it would make town meeting more accessible to residents with childcare, mobility, work, or disability barriers while preserving direct democracy.
A large portion of the hearing centered on RCV local-option bills and municipal petitions from communities including Concord, East Hampton, Salem, Chelsea, Arlington, Revere, Amherst, and others. Supporters—among them local officials, legislators, election advocates, educators, veterans, and nonprofit leaders—said RCV would reduce vote-splitting, encourage more candidates, promote more positive campaigning, improve representation, and increase turnout. East Hampton officials described their existing use of RCV, saying it produced record turnout, was easy for voters to understand with education, and could be expanded to multi-winner races without major added cost. Concord and Amherst witnesses said their voters had already approved local steps toward RCV and urged the committee to let municipalities implement the system without further delay.
Testimony in favor of the local-option RCV bill emphasized home rule and local control, with several witnesses arguing the state should not block communities that have already voted to adopt RCV. Speakers from MassVOTE, the AFT Massachusetts, Voter Choice Massachusetts, Progressive Massachusetts, the Boston Teachers Union, and Veterans for All Voters said the reform would strengthen democracy, broaden participation, and save money by avoiding low-turnout preliminary elections. Some witnesses also referenced examples from Cambridge, Maine, and Utah to argue that RCV is workable, nonpartisan, and familiar to voters. The hearing ended with no votes or final committee action taken in the transcript provided.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Appropriations Committee Jan 20th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- This is a suspense file candidate without objection. SB 574 will move to suspense.
- This is a suspense file candidate without objection. SB 288 will move to suspense.
- This is a suspense file candidate without objection. SB 327 will move to suspense.
- This is a suspense file candidate without a... Questions of the committee?
- This is a suspense file candidate without objection, SB 347 will move to suspense.
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Appropriations met in Room 2200 of the O Street Building and took roll, establishing a quorum. The committee announced 25 measures on the agenda, all of which were suspense file candidates, and reminded witnesses to limit comments to fiscal issues. The Department of Finance had no comments on the bills.
Most bills were taken up with no presentation, no opposition, and no committee questions, and were moved to suspense without objection. These included SB 46, SB 342, SB 490, SB 574, SB 758, SB 58, SB 73, SB 99, SB 247, SB 288, SB 327, SB 347, SB 417, SB 828, SB 492, SB 501, SB 557, SB 623, SB 667, SB 742, SB 747, SB 811, SB 837, and SB 849. Several bills drew brief support testimony from local governments, housing and labor groups, and other advocates, but no bills were held for further discussion.
The only bill with substantive author presentation was SB 381 by Senator Wahab, which would allow adopted adults and descendants to obtain original birth certificates through an administrative process and create a nonbinding contact preference form for birth parents. Supporters said the bill addresses equal access, health, identity, and court backlog concerns, and noted similar laws in other states with little or no fiscal impact. After testimony, SB 381 was also moved to suspense without objection. The committee later reopened the record to note Senator Richardson’s arrival, then adjourned after concluding the agenda.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Election Laws Feb 10th, 2026
Joint Committee on Election Laws
Transcript Highlights:
- RCV also provides an incentive for candidates to find common ground because candidates are looking for
- Voters rank candidates in order of preference.
- based on next choices until one candidate has majority support.
- Voters who rank their candidates are assured their votes are not wasted.
- This process continues until one of the candidates has over 50% of the votes.
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on Election Laws
Keywords:
ranked choice voting, instant runoff voting, RCV, Bedford, municipal elections, town offices, local option, ballot question, election reform, plurality voting, multi-seat elections, single-seat elections, town clerk, tie-breaking, ballot tabulation, Boston elections, voter preference, local government
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Election Laws Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Election Laws
Transcript Highlights:
- RCV also provides an incentive for candidates to find common ground because candidates are looking for
- couldn't get an extra candidate, you could get an extra delegate, making the case for their candidate
- It allows people to vote for the candidate they truly believe can win.
- Voters rank candidates in order of preference.
- based on next choices until one candidate has majority support.
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on Election Laws
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Election Laws held a hearing on ranked choice voting, focusing primarily on Boston’s home rule petition (H. 4262) and Bedford’s petition (H. 4916). Committee chairs Dan Hunt and Senator Keenan opened the hearing, explained the three-minute testimony limit, and noted that written testimony would also be accepted. The hearing featured testimony from a wide range of supporters, including advocacy organizations, community leaders, Boston City Council members, and Bedford residents.
Witnesses generally argued that ranked choice voting would produce majority-supported winners, reduce vote-splitting and negative campaigning, encourage coalition-building, and give voters more freedom to rank candidates without fear of wasting their vote. Several speakers emphasized local control and said Boston and Bedford should be allowed to decide for themselves whether to adopt the system. Others highlighted potential benefits for women, historically marginalized communities, and voter participation more broadly. Boston councilors and supporters also described the city’s local approval process and said the proposal would still require voter ratification if enacted by the legislature.
No opposition testimony was presented in the excerpt. The committee took no substantive vote on the bills during the hearing; after testimony concluded, the chairs thanked participants and the committee adjourned.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Election Laws Feb 10th, 2026
Joint Committee on Election Laws
Transcript Highlights:
- RCV also provides an incentive for candidates to find common ground because candidates are looking for
- Where candidates couldn't get an extra candidate, you could get an extra delegate, making the case for
- Voters rank candidates in order of preference.
- based on next choices until one candidate has majority support.
- Voters who rank their candidates are assured their votes are not wasted.
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on Election Laws
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Election Laws held a hearing on ranked choice voting, focusing primarily on H. 4262 for Boston and H. 4916 for Bedford. Committee chairs Dan Hunt and Senator Keenan opened the hearing, limited testimony to three minutes per person, and heard from a long list of advocates, local officials, and organizations. The hearing ended with no further registered speakers and the committee adjourned after inviting additional written testimony.
Testimony was overwhelmingly in support of ranked choice voting. Supporters included RepresentWomen, Reclaim Roxbury, the Boston Teachers Union, Veterans for All Voters, MassVOTE, the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, Our Revolution Massachusetts, and Bedford residents and organizers. Speakers argued that ranked choice voting would reduce the spoiler effect, encourage coalition-building and less negative campaigning, improve majority support for winners, and expand voter participation and representation, especially for women, young voters, and historically marginalized communities. Several speakers emphasized local control and said Boston and Bedford should be allowed to decide for themselves through their home rule petitions.
Boston City Councilors and the City Council president also testified in favor, describing the city’s low municipal turnout, the council’s approval of the petition, and the fact that Boston voters previously supported a statewide ranked choice voting measure. Councilor Rutsi L. Jean explained the petition’s development through council hearings and working sessions, while Council President Ruthzee Louijeune said the proposal would be subject to a binding referendum if enacted and urged the legislature to let Boston residents pursue top-four ranked choice voting. Bedford speakers similarly said their town meeting supported the idea but that legislative approval was still needed. No opposition testimony or votes were taken during the hearing.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:09:14.519><c> often</c> because potential candidates often because potential candidates often
- </c> deadline he saw that a second candidate deadline he saw that a second candidate had<00:09:41.480
- </c><00:09:49.440><c> would</c> and both candidates would and both candidates would automatically<00:
- :10:59.360><c> did</c> because I and other candidates could did because I and other candidates could
- One candidate at a time.
Committee:
Senate Elections
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- This is a suspense file candidate without objection. SB 574 will move to suspense.
- This is a suspense file candidate without objection. SB 288 will move to suspense.
- This is a suspense file candidate without objection. SB 327 will move to suspense.
- This is a suspense file candidate without objection, SB 347 will move to suspense.
- This is a suspense file candidate without objection, SB 347 will move to suspense.
Committee:
Senate Appropriations
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Appropriations met with a quorum and heard a large suspense-file agenda of 25 measures, reminding witnesses to focus on fiscal impacts. Most authors waived presentation, and the Department of Finance had no comments. The committee took public testimony on each item, with several bills receiving support from local governments, housing and transportation organizations, and other advocacy groups; one bill, SB 501, drew opposition from the Motorcycle Industry Council unless amended.
Among the bills discussed in more detail was SB 381 by Senator Wahab, which would allow adopted adults and descendants to obtain original birth certificates through an administrative process and create a nonbinding contact preference form for birth parents. Supporters argued the bill addresses equal rights, health, identity, and court backlog concerns, and may have minimal or even offsetting fiscal effects. The committee also heard support for housing-related measures such as SB 417, transportation-related SB 667, and other bills on the agenda, though testimony was generally brief and limited to fiscal considerations.
With no objections and no committee questions on the suspense-file candidates, the committee moved each measure to suspense, including SB 46, SB 342, SB 490, SB 574, SB 758, SB 73, SB 99, SB 247, SB 288, SB 327, SB 347, SB 381, SB 417, SB 828, SB 492, SB 501, SB 557, SB 623, SB 667, SB 742, SB 747, SB 811, SB 837, and SB 849. The roll was briefly left open for a late-arriving member, Senator Richardson, whose attendance was then recorded, and the meeting adjourned after all agenda items were sent to suspense.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- We had no questions or comments on SB 46, which is a suspense file candidate.
- This is a suspense file candidate without objection. SB 574 will move to suspense.
- This is a suspense file candidate without objection. SB 288 will move to suspense.
- This is a suspense file candidate without a... Questions of the committee?
- file candidate as well, so without objection, SB 492 will move to suspense.
Committee:
Senate Appropriations
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
JHA Public Hearing - Tue Jan 28, 2025 @ 2:00 PM HST
Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- candidates and candidate campaign<01:14:54.320><c> candidate</c><01:14:54.639><c> committee</c><01:14
- :55.480><c> or</c> campaign candidate committee or campaign candidate committee or non-candidate<01:14
- </c> and all donate it to candidate and all donate it to candidate B<01:27:22.000><c> candidates</c><
- or candidate committee that a candidate or candidate committee may<01:31:05.920><c> receive</c><01:31
- ><c> and</c> candidates and candidate committees and candidates and candidate committees and other<01
Committee:
House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs
Summary:
The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs held its first hearing of the 33rd Legislature and heard several measures, beginning with HB 131, which would allow agencies to disclose government records to researchers for certain purposes and direct the Office of Information Practices to adopt uniform rules. OIP supported the bill, saying it would help researchers access government records, while DLNR questioned whether the bill was necessary, raised concerns about costs and exemptions, and suggested a definition change regarding media. The Public First Law Center and other supporters said the bill would not remove existing exemptions or create new disclosure requirements, but would simply authorize rulemaking to create a clearer process for research access. Common Cause Hawaiʻi raised concern about including news media in the measure. The chair emphasized that the rulemaking process would allow agencies and the public to work through details, and the committee moved on without a recorded vote in the transcript.
The committee then heard HB 411, which would create uniform administrative penalty procedures under the state ethics code and lobbyist law, and HB 412, which would expand lobbying definitions to cover certain communications with high-level executive officials about procurement and make some contracts voidable if awarded through unethical lobbying. The Ethics Commission supported HB 411 as an efficiency measure that would streamline the charge process without changing substantive rights, while HB 412 was described as a narrow transparency measure modeled on other states. The State Procurement Office warned that voiding contracts could cause delays, warranty issues, third-party complications, and higher reprocurement costs. The Ethics Commission responded that any contract revocation would be at the Attorney General’s discretion and likely reserved for egregious cases, and that the threat of voiding a contract would help deter noncompliance. The committee also heard HB 413, which clarifies that lobbyist campaign contribution prohibitions apply during periods when both houses of the Legislature are in session; the Ethics Commission and Campaign Spending Commission both supported the bill and the Ethics Commission requested amendments to clarify jurisdiction between state and county lobbyist enforcement.
Finally, the committee took up HB 149, which would require domestic and foreign corporations to report independent expenditures and political contributions to shareholders. The only testimony noted in the transcript was written comments from Matson, which said the requirement would be expensive and cumbersome and that the information is already publicly available through existing campaign finance reporting websites. No votes or final committee actions on the bills were recorded in the provided transcript.
UT
Utah 2025 Regular Session
Government Operations Interim Committee - November 19, 2025
Government Operations Interim Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- For example, if the written name reasonably resembles a valid write-in candidate or when no other candidate
- If a voter wants to vote for a write-in candidate, they write the name of the appropriate candidate.
- who are legally on the ballot, which includes write-in candidates. ...a fee for candidates who are legally
- If the person is a valid write-in candidate who has registered as a write-in candidate, will those votes
- And so that was one candidate, possibly. ...proceed with that process, and so that was one candidate,
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House State Government & Tribal Relations Jan 28th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- If a deceased candidate is the only candidate to have filed for the office during a regular or special
- If a deceased candidate is the only candidate to have filed for the office during a regular or special
- RCW 29A.36.180 for disqualified candidates.
- When there's a disqualified candidate, there's often certain evidentiary hearings to make sure the candidate
- If someone is removed and there's just one candidate, you can still sign up as a write-in candidate and
Summary:
The committee held public hearings on several bills. HB 2356 would let a homicide victim’s next of kin seek a court injunction to block examination of law enforcement records in homicide cases; staff explained current Public Records Act rules, the sponsor said the bill was intended to protect families and children after especially graphic cases, and open-government testimony opposed the measure as an unnecessary secrecy expansion. HB 2460 and HJR 4212 would change vacancy-filling rules for partisan offices so an appointee must be from the same party only if the former officeholder had declared a party preference; the sponsor said this would address vacancies involving no-party-preference officials and avoid delays or litigation. HB 2631 would create a pilot to extend the governor’s customer-experience initiative to the Secretary of State, Fish and Wildlife, and the Insurance Commissioner, with deadlines for liaisons, metrics, reports, and service-improvement plans; the sponsor and supporters emphasized better service and accessibility, while agency representatives raised concerns about cost, autonomy, and whether participation should be optional. HB 2574 would streamline procedures when a candidate dies before or after ballots are printed, allowing removal from ballots or noncounting of votes based on a death certificate; the sponsor said it would avoid unnecessary recounts and costs. HB 2572 would require county-tribal election meetings and create an electronic ballot return portal for certain voters, including tribal voters on reservations, military and overseas voters, and voters with disabilities; county auditors and election officials supported the tribal outreach and access goals but stressed the need for security testing and careful implementation of the portal.
In executive session, the committee considered five bills and adopted amendments on two of them. For HB 2333, which addresses protections against political violence for elected officials, candidates, election officials, and criminal justice participants, the committee adopted amendment Omley 307 to allow P.O. boxes or ACP addresses in campaign-related filings and contributions, then advanced the substitute bill on a 4-3 vote. HB 2462, concerning authority to counter unpiloted aircraft systems, was advanced 5-2. HB 2419, which expands the address confidentiality program to certain administrative law judges and Office of Administrative Hearings employees, was amended to include the chief administrative law judge and then advanced 5-2. HB 2176, exempting collaborative drug therapy agreement information from the Public Records Act, advanced 4-3 after debate over privacy versus transparency. HB 2491, exempting personal information submitted to Washington Technology Solutions for digital experience platform services, also advanced 5-2. The committee then adjourned.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- The bill includes the when, where, and how of voting, in addition to candidate statements from candidates
- </c> how of voting in addition to candidate how of voting in addition to candidate statements<00:01:24.159
- from candidates for federal statements from candidates for federal offices,<00:01:26.479><c> statewide
- candidates.
- </c> done it is they take their candidate done it is they take their candidate filing<00:18:33.039><c
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:08:53.680><c> so</c> potential spurless Party candidate so potential spurless Party candidate
- </c> enforcement or uh a political candidate enforcement or uh a political candidate but<00:19:23.919
- uh that might be a national candidate uh that might be a national candidate<00:26:45.399><c> and</c>
- <00:26:45.559><c> so</c> candidate and so candidate and so um<00:26:47.960><c> and</c><00:26:48.320><
- </c> supporting the candidate or the party supporting the candidate or the party okay<00:31:05.279><c
Committee:
Senate Elections
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House State Government & Tribal Relations Jan 28th, 2026 at 01:30 pm
State Government & Tribal Relations
Transcript Highlights:
- without the consent of the nonpartisan candidate.
- of the nonpartisan candidate.
- If a deceased candidate is the only candidate to have filed for the office during a regular or special
- When there's a disqualified candidate, there's often certain evidentiary hearings to make sure the candidate
- If someone is removed and there's just one candidate, you can still sign up for write-in candidate and
Bills:
HB2356 , HB2574 , HB2572 , HB2460 , HJR4212 , HB2631 , HB2333 , HB2462 , HB2419 , HB2176 , HB2491
Committee:
House State Government & Tribal Relations
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- . candidates. candidates.
- This is the candidate. This office, this is the candidate.
- This is the candidate. This office, this is the candidate.
- This is the candidate. This office, this is the candidate.
- </c> a candidate. a candidate.
Committee:
Senate Elections
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Education Study Nov 20th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- How do EPPs decide what courses candidates have to take?
- requirements, so we talked about the teacher candidate-specific ones.
- Most teacher candidates complete two to three courses, six to nine credit hours, while teacher candidates
- , teacher candidates begin To gain classroom experience early in their studies, teacher candidates complete
- The candidate goes deeply into one content area.
AL
Alabama 2026 Regular Session
Alabama Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee Feb 4th, 2026
Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- But there was no law saying that municipal candidates had to have one.
- But there was no law saying that municipal candidates had to have one.
- But there was no law saying that municipal candidates had to have one.
- But there was no law saying that municipal candidates had to have one.
- But there was no law saying that municipal candidates had to have one.
Keywords:
unclaimed vehicles, towing, Department of Revenue, notification requirements, abandoned vehicles, real estate, residential property, single-family home, homeowner protection, property solicitation, unsolicited offer, wholesaling, real estate wholesaling, assignment contract, equitable interest, investment property, house flipping, predatory real estate practices, title cloud, deceptive trade practices
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- pulled down candidate um addresses from pulled down candidate um addresses from places<00:02:29.520><
- So I way uh candidates are treated.
- </c> caucus candidates? caucus candidates?
- , but there's lots of candidates.
- , but there's lots of candidates.
Summary:
The committee took up House File 3363, a bill focused on protecting the privacy and safety of legislators and other candidates by limiting public access to home addresses and related information in campaign finance and election filings. The author said the bill was prompted by the events of June 14 and was intended to make temporary Campaign Finance Board changes permanent. No public testimony was offered, and the author explained that the bill had been narrowed and reorganized after a Senate delete-everything amendment expanded its scope.
Members then considered a series of amendments. The A1 amendment, which added security devices and security services as allowable non-campaign disbursements, was adopted after questions about family relationships and whether payments to relatives could qualify. The A2 through A9 amendments were also adopted, covering data classification or redaction of street addresses in Campaign Finance Board reports, lobbyist gift reports, candidate affidavits of candidacy, nominating petitions, local government candidate reports, and retroactive redaction of existing reports. The A4 amendment was modified by A12 to apply city, state, and ZIP code reporting to political committees, political funds, and party units. The A13 amendment removed a proposed misdemeanor penalty tied to disclosure violations, and the A14 amendment was adopted to give caucus and chamber leaders access to actual candidate addresses, though members noted the language still needed refinement and that the intent was to continue working on it.
There was discussion about whether the address-access language in A14 would apply to all candidates or only legislative candidates, and whether it would affect residency disputes; staff said it would not change complaint or court processes, but could be a data point. Several members said they had concerns about the breadth of the language but were willing to keep working on it. After the amendments were adopted, the committee moved to the bill as amended and recommended that House File 3363 be re-referred to the Judiciary Committee.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- , uh, candidates themselves.
- , uh, candidates themselves.
- , uh, candidates themselves.
- , uh, candidates themselves.
- , uh, candidates themselves.
Committee:
Senate Elections
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs (04/15/2025)
Election Law and Municipal Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:24:53.440><c> There's</c> candidates. It's not their role. There's candidates.
- </c> harbor for if your local if a candidate harbor for if your local if a candidate or<00:26:02.400>
- They have candidate forums that they do, invite candidates, have candidate introductory nights and the
- ><c> have</c><00:47:02.640><c> candidate</c> invite candidates, have candidate invite candidates, have
- I mean do we see candidate nights? that. I mean do we see candidate nights?
Committee:
Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs