Year: 2026

  • 2026 ballot titles required 17 years of education to read, down from a record 21 in 2025

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    In 2026, 164 statewide ballot measures were certified for the ballot in 40 states. The average FKGL for ballot titles, also known as ballot questions, was 17, which corresponds with a first-year graduate student. The average FRE for ballot titles was 18. The ballot language for the 164 statewide ballot measures in 40 states in…

  • Weekly Brew: October 16, 2026

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    Welcome to Ballotpedia’s Weekly Brew. Each week, we’ll bring you a collection of the most-viewed stories from the Daily Brew, condensed, along with other content from across Ballotpedia that we think you’ll like. Today’s Weekly Brew brings together content from the week of October 12 - October 16. This week’s top stories Here are the…

  • Tracker: Article III federal judicial nominations by president by days in office since 2001

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    There were 28 vacancies out of 890 authorized federal judicial posts as of Oct. 15. All 28 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 Oct. 15 — 634 days in office — President Donald Trump (R) had…

  • Los Angeles voters to choose new city attorney in November; incumbent eliminated in June primary

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    John McKinney and Marissa Roy are running in the nonpartisan election for Los Angeles City Attorney on November 3, 2026. Incumbent Hydee Feldstein Soto finished third in the city's June 2nd primary. This was the first time in nearly 100 years that an incumbent Los Angeles city attorney failed to advance from a primary. Roy…

  • Two Democrats face off in election for California's 34th Congressional District

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    Incumbent Jimmy Gomez (D) and Angela Gonzales-Torres (D) are running in the general election to represent California's 34th Congressional District on Nov. 3. Featuring two Democrats, the election is set against the backdrop of an investigation into Gomez over alleged sexual misconduct, divisions within the Democratic Party, and the two candidates' stances on U.S. aid…

  • Thirty attorney general offices are on the ballot in 2026; Democrats hold 16 and Republicans hold 14

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    Thirty states are holding elections for attorney general this year. Of those, Democrats currently control 16 offices and Republicans 14. Nationally, there are 27 Republican attorneys general and 22 Democratic attorneys general. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D) appointed Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez, whose office is officially nonpartisan. This means Democrats would need to gain…

  • A look at how elections are run in the U.S.

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    Welcome to the Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, Brew. By: Andrew Bahl Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: A look at how elections are run in the U.S. Today, we're sharing the ninth installment in our project marking America's 250th anniversary: The Blueprints of Democracy.  One thing most voters won't have…

  • Trump administration uses pocket rescission power for second time

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    This edition of Checks and Balances features the Trump administration’s second use of pocket rescission, and a roundup of recent administrative actions that state governments have used in data center policy In Washington Trump administration uses pocket rescission power for second time On September 25, President Donald Trump (R) sent a letter to Speaker of…

  • Republicans lead Democrats 24-20 in lieutenant governor offices with 31 seats on the 2026 ballot

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    Of the 31 lieutenant gubernatorial offices up for election this year, Democrats and Republicans each hold 15. The other office on the ballot is a new one. Arizona is holding its first election for lieutenant governor after voters created the office in 2022. This means the total number of offices is increasing from 45 to…

  • Record low number of uncontested incumbents in 2026 state legislative general elections

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    There are a record few uncontested incumbents in this year’s state legislative general elections. Of the 4,888 incumbents running for re-election, 979 of them (20%) are uncontested and guaranteed re-election. Ballotpedia uses the number and percentage of incumbents in uncontested general elections to help determine the overall competitiveness of an election cycle. A larger number…