Year: 2026
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St. Paul, Minnesota, tenant repair and rent-deduction ballot initiative will be on Nov. ballot
Voters in St. Paul, Minnesota, will decide on an initiated measure on Nov. 3 that would allow tenants to arrange certain repairs to their residences when their landlords do not complete the repairs after receiving written notice. The initiative, described as establishing a tenant right to repair, would apply when a landlord does not make…
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Daniel McKee (D) becomes first Rhode Island governor to lose a primary since Bruce Sundlun (D) in 1994
Helena Foulkes defeated incumbent Daniel McKee in the Democratic primary for governor of Rhode Island on Sept. 9. The last incumbent Rhode Island governor to lose in a primary was Bruce Sundlun (D) in 1994. The Democratic primary was a rematch between McKee and Foulkes. McKee became governor on March 2, 2021, after then-Gov. Gina…
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David Morales defeats incumbent Brett Smiley in the Democratic primary for mayor of Providence, Rhode Island
David Morales (D) defeated incumbent Brett Smiley (D) in the Democratic primary for mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, on Sept. 9. Providence's Democratic mayoral primary featured a moderate Democrat, Smiley, and a democratic socialist, Morales. Smiley, a first-term mayor, said his administration reduced violent crime, removed ATVs and dirt bikes from the streets, added new…
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Ballotpedia releases federal judicial vacancy count for September 2026
In this month’s federal judicial vacancy count, Ballotpedia tracked nominations, confirmations, and vacancies from Aug. 2 through Sept. 1, 2026. Ballotpedia publishes the federal judicial vacancy count at the start of each month. HIGHLIGHTS New vacancies There were 27 vacancies out of 870 active Article III judicial positions, a total vacancy percentage of 3.1, which…
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North Carolina enacts bill restricting judicial deference by administrative law judges
North Carolina became the fifth state to restrict judicial deference through legislation in 2026 when Gov. Josh Stein (D) signed Senate Bill (SB) 445, the Regulatory Review Act of 2026, into law on Aug. 11. The new law prohibits administrative law judges (ALJs) from engaging in the practice of judicial deference to state agencies’ interpretations…
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First time two Democrats appear in the general election for California commissioner of insurance
Ben Allen (D) and Jane Kim (D) are running in the general election for California commissioner of insurance on Nov. 3. They defeated nine other candidates to advance from the top-two primary on June 2. Kim received 26.8% of the vote and Allen 19.6%. Incumbent Ricardo Lara (D) is term-limited. The commissioner of insurance regulates…
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Missouri voters to decide amendment requiring voter approval for certain legislative changes to initiative process and voter-approved laws
On Sept. 3, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that an initiative related to the state's initiative process may appear on the Nov. 3, 2026, ballot. The initiative would amend the constitution to establish the citizen initiative and referendum process as fundamental rights and prohibit the state legislature from “weakening citizens’ initiative and referendum powers.” The…
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Michigan voters to decide measure that would prohibit certain entities from political spending
In November, Michigan voters will decide on a ballot initiative that would prohibit certain organizations and individuals from making campaign contributions. The campaign supporting the measure, Michiganders Out of Money in Politics, submitted enough valid signatures earlier this year to qualify for the ballot. The initiative was then sent to the legislature to consider—in Michigan,…