Year: 2025

  • Texas legislators refer 17 constitutional amendments for Nov. 2025 ballot—the most for a single election date since 2003

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    Welcome to the Friday, June 6, 2025, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Texas legislators refer 17 constitutional amendments for Nov. 2025 ballot—the most for a single election date since 2003 The Texas Legislature adjourned on June 2, ending its 2025 legislative session. During the 140-day…

  • Chavez-Lopez and Tordillos running in June 24 special runoff election for San Jose City Council District 3

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    Gabby Chavez-Lopez and Anthony Tordillos are running in the June 24, 2025, special runoff election for San Jose City Council District 3. Chavez-Lopez and Tordillos advanced to the runoff from the nonpartisan special general election on April 8, 2025. Chavez-Lopez received 30.0% of the vote and Tordillos received 22.2%. The two advanced to a runoff…

  • President Trump has appointed no federal judges through June 1 of his first year of his second term

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    President Donald Trump (R) has appointed and the Senate has confirmed no Article III federal judges through June 1, 2025, his first year of his second term in office. This is the fewest Article III judicial appointments through this point in all presidents’ second terms since President Bill Clinton (D). The average number of federal…

  • Nevada becomes 21st state to adopt cellphone ban or limit

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    What's the story? Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) signed Senate Bill (SB) 444 on May 28, 2025, requiring school boards in Nevada to adopt policies limiting the use of electronic communication devices, including cellphones, during instruction in schools. The law required school boards to prohibit students from accessing their cellphones during class. Both the Nevada State Senate…

  • Iowa becomes the sixth state to ban ranked-choice voting this year

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    Welcome to the Thursday, June 5, Brew.  By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Iowa becomes the sixth state to ban ranked-choice voting this year On June 2, Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed House File 954 (HF 954), making Iowa the sixth state to ban ranked-choice voting (RCV)…

  • State supreme court vacancy count for May 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 May 1, 2025, to May 31, 2025. Ballotpedia tracks court vacancies in all 52 state supreme courts. Justice retirements: One justice announced his retirement, and two justices were sworn out of office in May…

  • 43% of last May’s elections were uncontested

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    Throughout May, Ballotpedia covered 2,891 elections in 24 states, 43% of which were uncontested. That’s down from April, when 81% of the 19,290 covered were uncontested. Ballotpedia defines an uncontested election as one where the number of candidates running is less than or equal to the number of seats up for election. This analysis does…

  • Hall Pass: Your Ticket to Understanding School Board Politics, Edition #159

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    Welcome to Hall Pass, a newsletter written to keep you plugged into the conversations driving  school board governance, the politics surrounding it, and education policy.  In today’s edition, you’ll find: Reply to this email to share reactions or story ideas! On the issues: The debate over cellphones in schools In this section, we curate reporting,…

  • Iowa Gov. Reynolds signs bill banning RCV

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    On June 2, 2025, Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed HF 954, making Iowa the sixth state to ban ranked-choice voting (RCV) this year.  The new law says: “An election in this state shall not be conducted using ranked choice voting or instant runoff voting.”  The bill also makes other changes to election laws in the…