Year: 2025

  • A look ahead at the 2026 U.S. Senate race in Minnesota

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    Voters in Minnesota will elect one member to the U.S. Senate in the general election on Nov. 3, 2026. Incumbent Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), who first assumed office in 2018, announced that she would not seek re-election in 2026. As of April 28, 2025, noteworthy declared and potential candidates included the following. Click here to…

  • An early look at the 2026 U.S. Senate election in Texas

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    Voters in Texas will elect one member to the U.S. Senate in the general election on November 3, 2026. Cook Political Report‘s Jessica Taylor wrote, “Texas isn’t initially a top Democratic target, but the minority party only has two obvious offensive opportunities in North Carolina and Maine. In order to find a way to flip…

  • Keri Heintzeman (R) won the special election in Minnesota Senate District 6

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    Keri Heintzeman (R) defeated Denise Slipy (D) in the special election for District 6 of the Minnesota Senate on April 29, 2025, winning 60% of the vote to Slipy’s 40%. The previous incumbent, Justin Eichorn (R), resigned on March 20, 2025, after his arrest for allegedly attempting to solicit a minor for sex. In the…

  • North Dakota voters to decide on ballot measure limiting constitutional amendments to a single subject at June 2026 primary election

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    Voters in North Dakota will decide on a constitutional amendment on June 9, 2026, that would establish a single-subject requirement for constitutional amendments. The proposal follows a 2024 measure that voters rejected, which would have established a single-subject rule for all citizen-initiated measures and enacted other changes. Single-subject rules require ballot measures to focus on…

  • Breaking down President Donald Trump’s first 100 days of his second term in office

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, April 30, Brew.  By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Breaking down President Donald Trump’s first 100 days of his second term in office April 29 marked the 100th day of President Donald Trump’s (R) second term in office. Today, we’ll give you the…

  • Texas to become 16th state to pass universal school choice program

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    What’s the story? The Texas State Legislature passed Senate Bill (SB) 2 on April 24, 2025, and Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has said on social media that he will sign it once it reaches him. Texas is the 16th state to enact a universal education savings account (ESA) program providing public funds for alternatives to…

  • Fannie Mae closes ESG department

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    In this week’s edition of Economy and Society: In Washington, D.C., and around the world Fannie Mae closes ESG department What’s the story? Fannie Mae—the Federal National Mortgage Association, a government-sponsored enterprise (GSE)—shut down its ESG department, firing over 30 employees, including Laurel Davis, head of the company’s mission and impact program. Why does it…

  • Arkansas is fifth state in 2025 to ban foreign spending on ballot measures

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    Arkansas is the 14th state to pass a law prohibiting foreign spending in ballot measure campaigns and the fifth state to do so in 2025—a record for the most states enacting such laws in a single year. In previous years, no more than one state passed a similar law per year. Arkansas House Bill 1837…

  • A look at mayoral partisanship in 2025

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    Welcome to the Tuesday, April 29, 2025, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: A look at mayoral partisanship in 2025  As part of our continued coverage of local elections, today we’re examining partisanship in this year’s mayoral elections in the 100 most populous U.S. cities and…

  • Political speech or governmental mechanics: Ohio case asks if ballot summary reviews regulate speech or lawmaking

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    The U.S. Supreme Court declined on April 22, 2025, to block a district court’s ruling that found that Ohio’s fair and truthful requirement for ballot initiative petitions violates the First Amendment. This law requires the Ohio Attorney General to determine whether submitted petition summaries are fair and truthful statements of the proposed law before advancing…