Year: 2025
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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…
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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)…
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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…
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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…
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John Ratcliffe confirmed as director of the Central Intelligence Agency
The U.S. Senate voted to confirm John Ratcliffe as director of the Central Intelligence Agency on Jan. 23, 2025. The Senate voted 74-25 in favor of his nomination with all 53 Republicans and 21 Democrats voting in favor. This was the second member of President Donald Trump’s (R) Cabinet confirmed in his second presidential term. …
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Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee holds confirmation hearing for Brooke Rollins for secretary of Agriculture
The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee held a confirmation hearing for Brooke Rollins for secretary of Agriculture on Jan. 23, 2025. At the time the hearing ended, the committee had not scheduled a meeting to vote on her nomination. Rollins must receive a majority approval vote in the committee before her nomination can be…