Year: 2025
-
Scott Bessent confirmed as secretary of the Treasury
The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Scott Bessent as secretary of the Treasury on Jan. 27, 2025. The Senate voted 68-29 in favor of his nomination with 15 Democrats, one independent who caucuses with Democrats, and 52 Republicans voting in favor. This was the fifth member of President Donald Trump’s (R) Cabinet confirmed in his…
-
Voters in 30 states have decided on 42 constitutional amendments to create state initiative and referendum processes since 1898
In the U.S., 26 states have adopted constitutional amendments for citizen-initiated ballot measures. As state constitutional amendments require voter approval, except in Delaware, creating ballot initiative processes requires ballot measures, either from state legislatures or constitutional convention. Most of these amendments originated during the progressive and populist movements of the 1890s to 1920s. Beginning in…
-
Virginia’s two-session rule for constitutional amendment: House of Delegates election could affect the future of proposed amendments on abortion, marriage, and voting
Virginia voters may decide on constitutional amendments related to abortion, same-sex marriage, and voting rights restoration for persons convicted of felonies in 2026. However, their placement on the 2026 ballot may depend on a Democratic majority in the state legislature following the state legislature elections later this year. In Virginia, for a constitutional amendment to…
-
Kristi Noem confirmed as secretary of homeland security
The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Kristi Noem as secretary of homeland security on Jan. 25, 2025. The Senate voted 59-34 in favor of her nomination with 23 Republicans and 7 Democrats voting in favor. This was the fourth member of President Donald Trump’s (R) Cabinet confirmed in his second presidential term. Trump announced on…
-
Pete Hegseth confirmed as secretary of defense
The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense on Jan. 24, 2025. The Senate voted 51-50 in favor of his nomination with Vice President J.D. Vance (R) casting the first tie-breaking vote of his vice presidency in favor of Hegseth’s confirmation. This was the third member of President Donald Trump’s (R)…
-
Fifty-eight minor party candidates received more votes than the margin-of-victory (MOV) in the 2024 elections
In 2024, 58 minor party or independent candidates received more votes than the margin of victory in their election. Margins of victory can be used to measure electoral competitiveness or political party or candidate strength. This page identifies those elections where the difference between the winning and losing candidates was smaller than the number of…
-
Signatures submitted for Maine initiative to establish extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs), a type of firearms regulation
Signatures have been submitted in Maine for a ballot initiative to establish a process for extreme risk protection orders, a policy related to firearms regulation. The ballot initiative, unless approved by the legislature, would appear on the ballot for Nov. 4, 2025. The Maine Gun Safety Coalition reported submitting more than 80,000 signatures to the…