The Republicans’ walkout created legislation that will now punish them for their extended protest. Lawmakers have been waiting for weeks to learn how new Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade will enforce the new law enacted by voters last year. Will Republican senators who walked away from this year’s legislative session be barred from running for reelection next year? Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade announced last week that they would.
Clarity was seemingly sought as advice from DOJ attorneys to the secretary determined the wording being disputed by Republicans was included in the ballot measure. It had to clarify if lawmakers who accrue more than 10 unexcused absences “may complete their current term, even though the election occurs before it is over. We found no suggestion prior to enactment that the Measure was understood or intended to allow absent legislators to serve an additional term,” the DOJ said.
The conclusion did not come as a surprise to voters who overwhelmingly voted last year to create consequences for legislative walkouts via Measure 113. The Republicans will sue to overturn the decision. The GOP lawmakers said the measure was done in haste and so sloppily worded that they are technically allowed to serve another term before consequences for a walkout begin.
Abortion, parent related issues caused the Republicans to protest the legislative process with their absence. Ten conservative lawmakers ran afoul of Measure 113 this year, and six are up for reelection in 2024. The majority of those have said they plan to run. “We believe the plain language of Measure 113 allows for members to run again in 2024 elections,” Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp, one of the 10 senators who walked, said in a statement. “We disagree with the Secretary of State’s determination and will challenge it in court.”
Measure 113 was created and used strategically. It sought to curtail legislative walkouts that have become increasingly common by imposing serious penalties for any lawmakers who accrue 10 or more unexcused absences in a single legislative session. As the measure was sold to voters, any such politician would be banned from running for reelection, or seeking election in the other chamber, once their current term expires. The measure, and it sailed through with more than 68% of the vote.
