Four out of five elections were uncontested in Illinois and Wisconsin on April 1
Illinois and Wisconsin held a combined 18,641 elections on April 1, primarily local elections to school boards, city councils, and other special districts. But, in both states, it was clear who the winners would be in the majority of those elections since more than four out of every five elections were uncontested.
An uncontested election is one where the number of candidates on the ballot is less than or equal to the number of seats up for election. Candidates running in uncontested elections are virtually guaranteed to win.
These rates exceed the typical percentage of uncontested elections Ballotpedia has observed nationwide. Throughout 2024, 70% of the 76,902 elections covered were uncontested; through March 2025, the uncontested rate was 34% of 564 elections.
Voters decide on trifecta status in New Jersey and Virginia this year
Every year, we release an annual report on state government trifecta vulnerability based on the states having regularly scheduled gubernatorial or legislative elections that year. A trifecta occurs when one party holds the governorship and majorities in both legislative chambers.
New Jersey and Virginia holding elections that could change their trifecta status this year. In Tuesday’s Brew, we looked at what’s at stake in those two states.
We rate New Jersey’s Democratic trifecta as somewhat vulnerable. No Senate seats are up for election this year, but voters will decide on all 80 seats in the General Assembly and the governor’s office.
We rate Virginia as having a moderate possibility of creating a Democratic trifecta. There are no Senate seats up for election in Virginia this year, but voters will decide on all 100 seats in the House of Delegates and the governor’s office.
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled on 25 cases so far this term—more than at this point in the last three terms
Through April 10, the U.S. Supreme Court has issued opinions in 25 cases. The court’s yearly term begins on the first Monday in October and lasts until the first Monday in October the following year. The 25 cases the court has issued opinions on so far this year are more than it has issued at this point in the last three terms.
So far, the court has issued unanimous decisions for 10 of the 25 cases. At this point in the 2023 term, the court issued unanimous decisions for eight of the 11 cases. The court has issued four unanimous decisions for the nine cases decided at this point in the 2022 term.
The court has issued 5-4 decisions for three of the 25 cases so far. At this point in the 2023 and 2021 terms, the court issued 5-4 decisions for no cases. The court issued two 5-4 decisions at this point in the 2022 term.