Year: 2025
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Sen. Joni Ernst becomes the eighth U.S. Senate member who is not seeking re-election in 2026
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) announced on Sept. 2, 2025, that she will not seek re-election to the U.S. Senate in 2026. On her retirement, Ernst said, “I never imagined this farm girl would have the opportunity to serve as a lieutenant colonel and then a United States senator. […] While this chapter of elected service…
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Tracker: Article III federal judicial nominations by president by days in office since 2001
There were 890 authorized federal judicial posts and 49 vacancies as of Aug. 29, 2025. Forty-eight of those vacancies were for Article III judgeships. This report is limited to Article III courts, where appointees are confirmed to lifetime judgeships. In the past month: By Aug. 29, 2025—222 days in office—President Donald Trump (R) had nominated…
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Ballot measure update: Redistricting measure certified in California for 2025 during past two weeks; no new measures certified for 2026
The California State Legislature voted to send a redistricting amendment to the Nov. 4, 2025, ballot—bringing the total number of certified measures for 2025 to 30, which is equal to the average for odd-numbered year election cycles since 2011. 2025 ballot measures For 2025, 30 statewide ballot measures have been certified in nine states—California, Colorado,…
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President Donald Trump (R) ends August with 44% approval, same as July
At the end of August, approval polling averages showed President Donald Trump (R) at 44% approval. Fifty-three percent of voters disapproved of his performance. This is the lowest approval rating he’s received during his presidency. He first received this approval rating in April. The highest approval rating Trump has received is 54%, last seen on…
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President Donald Trump (R) issued 17 executive orders in August, two more than he issued last month
President Donald Trump (R) issued 17 executive orders in August, bringing his total to 198 in his second term. To view the titles and text of each order he issued in August, click here. Trump issued two more orders this month than he did in July, when he issued 15 executive orders. Trump issued 46…
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Democrats are running for every state legislative seat this year, Republicans running for 88%
Democrats are running for every state legislative seat up for election in 2025, and Republicans are running for 88% of them. That means 12% of seats this year are guaranteed to Democrats due to a lack of Republican competition in those races, and none are guaranteed to Republicans due to a lack of Democratic competition.…
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Voters in 18 states have decided 41 death penalty ballot measures since 1912, approving 91% of measures to permit or expand it and 27% of measures to abolish it
Since 1912, voters in 18 states have decided 41 total ballot measures related to the death penalty. Measures that would permit the death penalty were more common than measures that would abolish it. Out of the 41 measures, 11 were designed to abolish the death penalty, while 22 measures proposed reinstating, permitting, or requiring the…
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Texas enacted a new congressional map for the 2026 U.S. House elections
Texas enacted new congressional district boundaries on Aug. 29, 2025, the first state among many that are considering map redraws ahead of the 2026 U.S. House elections. Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed the new map into law in a video posted to X, saying, “I’m about to sign the law that creates the One Big…