Year: 2025

  • Senate Finance Committee holds confirmation hearing for Jamieson Greer for U.S. trade representative

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    The Senate Finance Committee held a confirmation hearing for Jamieson Greer for U.S. trade representative on Feb. 6, 2025. At the time the hearing ended, the committee had not scheduled a meeting to vote on his nomination. Greer must receive a majority approval vote in the committee before his nomination can be put up for…

  • Trump did not appoint any federal judges through February 1 of his first year of his second term

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    President Donald Trump (R) has appointed and the Senate has confirmed zero Article III federal judges through February 1, 2025, his first year of his second term in office. The average number of federal judges appointed by previous presidents through February 1 of his first year in office is zero. The Senate had confirmed none…

  • Two school board recall efforts start collecting signatures in first week of February

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    Petitioners attempting to recall school board members in Arizona and Idaho were approved to collect signatures in the first week of February 2025.  In Arizona, two members of the Liberty Elementary School District Governing Board—Kristopher Kenyon and Bryan Parks—were named in recall petitions. Supporters of the recall said over a dozen teachers had resigned since…

  • ICYMI: Top stories of the week

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    Nine states will have new signature requirements for citizen initiatives in 2025 The number of valid signatures required to place a citizen initiative on the ballot in nine states will change in 2025. That's because the 26 states that allow for some form of statewide initiative or referendum base their signature requirements on another number.…

  • The Ballot Bulletin: Ballotpedia's Weekly Digest on Election Administration, Feb. 7, 2025

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    Welcome to The Ballot Bulletin: Ballotpedia’s Weekly Digest on Election Administration. Every Friday, we deliver the latest updates on election policy around the country, including nationwide trends and recent legislative activity.  In this week’s Ballot Bulletin, we cover 679 bills state legislatures acted on in the past week. Weekly highlights The big takeaways from the…

  • Nine states will have new signature requirements for citizen initiatives in 2025

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    Welcome to the Friday, Feb. 7, Brew.  By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Nine states will have new signature requirements for citizen initiatives in 2025 The number of valid signatures required to place a citizen initiative on the ballot in nine states will change in 2025. That's…

  • Three candidates are running in the nonpartisan primary for Wisconsin's Superintendent of Public Instruction

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    Welcome to the Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Three candidates are running in the nonpartisan primary for Wisconsin's Superintendent of Public Instruction  Incumbent Jill Underly, Brittany Kinser, and Jeff Wright are running in the nonpartisan primary for Wisconsin's superintendent of public…

  • Nevada initiative to exempt teachers from strike ban moves to legislature, could appear on 2026 ballot

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    In Nevada, voters may decide on an initiative that would exempt public school teachers from the state’s prohibition on strikes. Petitioners submitted signatures on Nov. 18, 2024, and enough valid signatures were found to certify the measure to the legislature on Dec. 11, 2024. If the legislature does not act on the measure or rejects…

  • Scott Turner confirmed as secretary of housing and urban development

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    The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Scott Turner as secretary of housing and urban development on Feb. 5, 2025. The Senate voted 55-44 in favor of his nomination with two Democrats, Sens. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and all 53 Republicans voting in favor. This was the twelfth member of President Donald Trump’s…

  • State supreme court vacancy count for January 2025

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    In this month's state supreme court vacancy update, Ballotpedia tracked announced retirements, nominations, appointments, confirmations, and the swearing-in of justices from December 31, 2024, to January 31, 2025. Ballotpedia tracks court vacancies in all 52 state supreme courts. Announced retirements: Since last month's state supreme court vacancy count, two justices have stepped down before their…