Year: 2026

  • Hall Pass: Your Ticket to Understanding School Board Politics, Edition #226

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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: On the issues: The debate over Career and Technical Education (CTE) In this section, we curate reporting, analysis, and commentary on the issues school board members…

  • Supreme Court hears major climate liability case

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    In this week’s edition of Economy and Society: In Washington, D.C. Supreme Court hears major climate liability case What's the story? The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Oct. 5 in Suncor Energy v. Boulder County, a case concerning whether federal law prevents state and local governments from using state law to seek damages…

  • New Hampshire U.S. Senate race between Chris Pappas (D) and John Sununu (R) will help determine control of the chamber

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    Chris Pappas (D), John Sununu (R), and Edmond Laplante (Constitution Party) are running in the general election for U.S. Senate in New Hampshire on Nov. 3. Incumbent Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D), who first assumed office in 2009, did not seek re-election. This U.S. Senate race is among several that will help determine which party controls…

  • Internal Revenue Service issues regulations for Education Freedom Tax Credit

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    On Oct. 2, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued regulations that determine how the Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC) will run and, in turn, how many states participate. The EFTC — also known as the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC), or IRS Section 25F — will allow individuals to receive federal tax credits for donations…

  • 8% of officials named in recall efforts have been removed from office so far this year, lower than the 16-year average

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: 8% of officials named in recall efforts have been removed from office so far this year, lower than the 16-year average Through Oct. 2, a total of 35 officials have been removed from…

  • President Trump has appointed 56 federal judges through October 1 of the second year of his second term

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    President Donald Trump (R) has appointed, and the Senate has confirmed, 56 Article III federal judges through Oct. 1, 2026, the second year of his second term in office. This is the third-highest number of Article III judicial appointments through this point in a president's second term since President Bill Clinton (D). Presidents since Clinton…

  • Here's what to know about casting an absentee/mail-in ballot in the November election

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    Welcome to Ballot Bulletin: Ballotpedia's Weekly Election Policy Digest. Every Tuesday, we deliver the latest updates on election policy around the country, including nationwide trends and recent legislative activity.  In this week’s edition, we cover 13 bills state legislatures acted on last week and look at absentee/mail-in voting policies across the country ahead of the…

  • State supreme court vacancy count for September 2026

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    In this month's state supreme court vacancy update, Ballotpedia tracked announced retirements, nominations, appointments, confirmations, and the swearings-in of justices from Sept. 2 to Oct. 2, 2026. Ballotpedia tracks court vacancies in all 52 state supreme courts. Justices sworn into office: Four justices were sworn into office between Sept. 2 and Oct. 2, 2026. Candidates…

  • DLCC and RSLC both target Pennsylvania Senate, where Republicans have held a majority for 32 years

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    Elections for 25 of the 50 districts in the Pennsylvania Senate will take place on Nov. 3, 2026. Ahead of the general elections, Republicans have a 27-23 majority in the chamber. Republicans have controlled the chamber since gaining a majority in the 1994 general elections. Democrats last had a majority in the chamber in 1993,…

  • First initiative qualifies for the 2028 ballot in California

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    An initiative to establish a first-time homebuyer down payment loan program for University of California staff qualified for the Nov. 7, 2028 ballot in California. The measure, sponsored by AFSCME 3299, would require the University of California system to establish a down-payment loan program for support staff who have worked for UC for at least…