Year: 2025

  • Ballot measure update: Two indirect initiatives to appear on ballot in Maine, one more legislative referral in Arizona

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    The number of certified statewide ballot measures for both 2025 and 2026 is trending above average compared to previous election cycles as of July 8. 2025 ballot measures For 2025, 29 statewide ballot measures have been certified in eight states—Colorado, Louisiana, Maine, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. This is five more than the…

  • Trump has not had any federal judicial nominees confirmed through July 1 of his first year of his second term

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    The U.S. Senate has not yet confirmed any of President Donald Trump’s (R) Article III federal judicial nominees through July 1, 2025, his first year of his second term in office. This is the fewest number of Article III judicial appointments through this point in all presidents’ second terms since Bill Clinton (D). The average…

  • Missouri becomes ninth state to ban foreign funding in ballot measure campaigns in 2025 as federal court upholds Kansas ban

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    Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) signed legislation that would prohibit foreign funding of ballot measure campaigns on July 9, 2025. This makes Missouri the 19th state to prohibit foreign nationals or governments from contributing to ballot measure committees. Senate Bill 152 (SB 152) takes effect on Aug. 28, 2025. The legislation prohibits ballot measure committees from…

  • A look at the Democratic primary for one of this year's five special elections for the U.S. House

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, July 9, Brew.  By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: A look at the Democratic primary for one of this year’s five special elections for the U.S. House Five candidates are running in the Democratic primary for Arizona's 7th Congressional District on July 15.…

  • Ballotpedia releases federal judicial vacancy count for July 2025

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    In this month’s federal judicial vacancy count, Ballotpedia tracked nominations, confirmations, and vacancies from June 2, 2025, to July 1, 2025. Ballotpedia publishes the federal judicial vacancy count at the start of each month. HIGHLIGHTS New vacancies There were 49 vacancies out of 870 active Article III judicial positions, a total vacancy percentage of 5.6,…

  • Nine candidates running in August 5 primary for mayor of Seattle, Washington

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    Nine candidates are running in the Aug. 5 nonpartisan primary election for mayor of Seattle. The two candidates who receive the most votes will advance to the November 4, 2025, general election. Incumbent Bruce Harrell was first elected in 2021, when he defeated M. Lorena González 58.6%-41.2%. The last incumbent Seattle mayor to win re-election…

  • Arkansas leads in anti-ESG laws

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    In this week’s edition of Economy and Society: Around the world EU member states ask for cuts to deforestation rules What’s the story? Eighteen of the European Union’s 27 member states sent a letter July 7 asking the EU to scale back its upcoming deforestation rules, set to take effect in December. The countries argued…

  • Vermont, Ohio, North Carolina, and Oregon enact K-12 cellphone bans

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    Welcome to the Tuesday, July 8, 2025, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Vermont, Ohio, North Carolina, and Oregon enact K-12 cellphone bans  As part of our ongoing coverage of education policy, we’ve been following state legislation to ban cellphone use in K-12 schools.  Here’s the…

  • State supreme court vacancy count for June 2025

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    In this month's state supreme court vacancy update, Ballotpedia tracked announced retirements, nominations, appointments, confirmations, and the swearing-in of justices from June 1 to June 30, 2025. Ballotpedia tracks vacancies in all 52 state supreme courts. Justice retirements: One justice stepped down from her state's highest court in June 2025. On June 27, Beth Walker…

  • Robe & Gavel: Federal Judicial Vacancy Count released for July 2025

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    Robe & Gavel: Federal Judicial Vacancy Count released for July 2025 Welcome to the July 7 edition of Robe & Gavel, Ballotpedia’s newsletter about the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) and other judicial happenings around the U.S. There are days we live as if death were nowhere in the background; from joy to…