Year: 2025
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Ten candidates are running for mayor of Oakland on April 15
Ten candidates are running in the April 15 nonpartisan, special general election for mayor of Oakland. Incumbent Kevin Jenkins is not running. The Oakland City Council selected Jenkins to serve as interim mayor after voters recalled former mayor Sheng Thao 60.6%-39.4% on Nov. 5, 2024. Click here to learn more about the recall. This was…
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President Donald Trump (R) has issued most executive orders of any 21st century president
Across his first and second term, President Donald Trump (R) has issued 301 executive orders. This is more than any other president in the 21st century. Looking at his second term in office, the number of executive orders Trump has issued following his swearing-in (81) is higher than Obama, Bush, Biden, and Trump’s first term…
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State supreme court vacancy count for February 2025
In this month’s state supreme court vacancy update, Ballotpedia tracked announced retirements, nominations, appointments, confirmations, and the swearing-in of justices from February 1 to February 28, 2025. Ballotpedia tracks court vacancies in all 52 state supreme courts. Announced retirements: Two chief justices announced their intentions to retire later this year. Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice…
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Thirty states have adopted English as an official language, 11 through ballot measures since 1920
President Donald Trump (R) issued an executive order “[designating] English as the official language of the United States” on March 1, 2025. While the federal government had never before provided for an official national language, 30 states have designated English as their official language. Three—Alaska, Hawaii, and South Dakota—also recognize some indigenous languages as co-official…
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Idaho enacts universal private school choice tax credit, becoming the 14th state with a universal school choice program
What’s the story? Gov. Brad Little (R) signed House Bill (HB) 93 into law on Feb. 27, 2025, making Idaho the 14th state to adopt a universal private school choice program. Universal private school choice programs provide families with public funds to cover expenses incurred by private education. Vouchers, ESAs, and education tax credits are…
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Arkansas governor signs four bills revising initiative and referendum rules, including signature gathering period, ballot language approval, and circulator requirements
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) signed four bills into law, changing state and local initiative and referendum processes. The bills are Senate Bill 102, Senate Bill 207, House Bill 1221, and House Bill 1222. Senate Bill 102 (SB 102) applies state initiative requirements to local initiative petitions. Changes include: SB 102 passed with support…