Year: 2025

  • Budget reconciliation bill enacts first federal private school choice program

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    What’s the story? President Donald Trump (R) signed the formerly titled One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) into law on July 4, enacting the first federal private school choice program. Under the program: The tax credit program will apply to donations made starting in 2027. What’s the background? The bill passed the U.S. House of…

  • Ballotpedia has covered at least one election every week through the first half of 2025

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    Between Jan. 1 and June 30—the first 26 weeks of the year—Ballotpedia has covered 23,454 elections on 47 unique election dates. Political observers often point out that every year is an election year, emphasizing that many important elections take place in odd-numbered years, which tend to garner less attention and coverage. But that observation could…

  • How and when states count absentee and mail-in ballots

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    Welcome to the Thursday, July 10, 2025, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: How and when states count absentee and mail-in ballots Daily Brew readers may recall that back in April, we published a report analyzing why some states seem to count their ballots faster than…

  • Hall Pass: Your Ticket to Understanding School Board Politics, Edition #164

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    Welcome to Hall Pass, a newsletter written to keep you plugged into the conversations driving  school board governance, the politics surrounding it, and education policy.  In today’s edition, you’ll find: Reply to this email to share reactions or story ideas! On the issues: The debate over Alpha Schools In this section, we curate reporting, analysis,…

  • Ballot measure update: Two indirect initiatives to appear on ballot in Maine, one more legislative referral in Arizona

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    The number of certified statewide ballot measures for both 2025 and 2026 is trending above average compared to previous election cycles as of July 8. 2025 ballot measures For 2025, 29 statewide ballot measures have been certified in eight states—Colorado, Louisiana, Maine, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. This is five more than the…

  • Trump has not had any federal judicial nominees confirmed through July 1 of his first year of his second term

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    The U.S. Senate has not yet confirmed any of President Donald Trump’s (R) Article III federal judicial nominees through July 1, 2025, his first year of his second term in office. This is the fewest number of Article III judicial appointments through this point in all presidents’ second terms since Bill Clinton (D). The average…

  • Missouri becomes ninth state to ban foreign funding in ballot measure campaigns in 2025 as federal court upholds Kansas ban

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    Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) signed legislation that would prohibit foreign funding of ballot measure campaigns on July 9, 2025. This makes Missouri the 19th state to prohibit foreign nationals or governments from contributing to ballot measure committees. Senate Bill 152 (SB 152) takes effect on Aug. 28, 2025. The legislation prohibits ballot measure committees from…

  • A look at the Democratic primary for one of this year’s five special elections for the U.S. House

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, July 9, Brew.  By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: A look at the Democratic primary for one of this year’s five special elections for the U.S. House Five candidates are running in the Democratic primary for Arizona’s 7th Congressional District on July 15.…

  • Ballotpedia releases federal judicial vacancy count for July 2025

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    In this month’s federal judicial vacancy count, Ballotpedia tracked nominations, confirmations, and vacancies from June 2, 2025, to July 1, 2025. Ballotpedia publishes the federal judicial vacancy count at the start of each month. HIGHLIGHTS New vacancies There were 49 vacancies out of 870 active Article III judicial positions, a total vacancy percentage of 5.6,…

  • Nine candidates running in August 5 primary for mayor of Seattle, Washington

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    Nine candidates are running in the Aug. 5 nonpartisan primary election for mayor of Seattle. The two candidates who receive the most votes will advance to the November 4, 2025, general election. Incumbent Bruce Harrell was first elected in 2021, when he defeated M. Lorena González 58.6%-41.2%. The last incumbent Seattle mayor to win re-election…