ICYMI: Top stories of the week


A look at mayoral partisanship in 2025

In Tuesday’s Brew, we examined partisanship in this year’s mayoral elections in the 100 most populous U.S. cities and all 50 state capitals. 

Twenty-eight of the 100 largest cities are holding mayoral elections in 2025.

Heading into the year, 21 of these cities had a Democratic mayor, and seven had a Republican mayor.

Nationally, 

  • 65 of the 100 largest cities have a Democratic mayor 
  • 25 have a Republican mayor 
  • One has a Libertarian mayor
  • Seven have independent or nonpartisan mayors
  • Three mayors’ party affiliations are unknown

Learn More

Florida Senate minority leader changes party affiliation from Democrat to Independent 

On April 24, Florida Senate Minority Leader Jason Pizzo announced that he was changing his partisan affiliation from Democrat to Independent. That same day, Senate Democrats elected Sen. Lori Berman as the new minority leader.

Following Pizzo’s announcement, Republicans have a 27-10-1 majority in the Florida Senate with two vacancies. Florida is one of 23 Republican trifectas.

Since 1994, 191 state legislators have switched parties. This includes 53 state senators and 138 state representatives.

Ninety-one state lawmakers switched from Democrat to Republican, including 26 senators and 65 representatives. Twenty-five state lawmakers switched from Republican to Democrat, including eight senators and 17 representatives.

Learn More

Republican Party committees lead in cumulative fundraising through March 31

According to the most recent Federal Election Commission (FEC) reports, the three main Democratic Party fundraising committees have raised a cumulative $96 million and spent $89 million in the 2026 election cycle. The three committees associated with the Republican Party have raised $113 million and spent $75 million.

Learn More

Arkansas becomes the fifth state to ban foreign spending on ballot measures in 2025

Arkansas is the 14th state to pass a law prohibiting foreign spending in ballot measure campaigns and the fifth state to do so this year—a record for the most states enacting such laws in a single year. 

Arkansas House Bill 1837 (HB 1837) prohibits foreign nationals from donating directly or indirectly to ballot measure committees. It also requires these committees to affirm in campaign finance reports that they have not knowingly received contributions or expenditures from prohibited sources. 

Learn More