Year: 2026
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Voters to decide at least three abortion-related ballot measures in 2026
In 2026, voters will decide three ballot measures related to abortion policy in Missouri, Nevada, and Virginia. Additional measures could qualify for the ballot in Colorado and Idaho. Two out of the three abortion-related ballot measures would provide for the constitutional right to an abortion. In Nevada, voters will decide Question 6, which would provide…
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Signatures submitted for Washington initiative to repeal legislation establishing an income tax for households earning over $1 million and ban income taxes in general
In Washington, signatures were submitted to the secretary of state on July 2, 2026, for a ballot initiative that would repeal legislation establishing an income tax for certain households and ban income taxes altogether. More specifically, the measure would repeal Senate Bill 6346 (SB 6346), which imposes a 9.9% tax on household income exceeding $1…
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Nebraska campaign submits signatures for initiative to raise legislative threshold for changing voter-approved measures and initiative process laws
Respect Nebraska Voters, the campaign behind an initiative to require a four-fifths legislative vote both to change laws governing the initiative and referendum process and to amend or repeal voter-approved initiatives, submitted more than 186,000 signatures on July 2. The initiated constitutional amendment would increase the vote threshold from two-thirds to four-fifths to change or…
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For the first time since 2014, both of Hawaii’s U.S. House incumbents are running in contested primaries
This year’s filing deadline for candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Hawaii was June 2, 2026. This year is the first since 2014 that both of Hawaii’s U.S. House incumbents — Reps. Ed Case (D-1st) and Jill Tokuda (D-2nd) — are running in contested primaries. There was one incumbent in a contested…
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Second Trump administration has seen historically high ambassador vacancies and political appointments
Seventeen months into President Donald Trump's (R) second administration, a historically high number of ambassador posts remain vacant. According to the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), an unprecedentedly high percentage of ambassadors appointed during Trump's second term have been political appointees. Ambassadors are the highest-ranking U.S. representative to their appointed countries or international organizations. Article…
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Ohio governor vetoes bill requiring photo ID for absentee voting
On June 24, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) vetoed legislation that would have required most voters to provide photo identification when either requesting or returning an absentee ballot. Currently, Ohio voters must provide either a copy of their state or federal photo ID or their driver's license number, state identification card number, or the last…
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Vermont enacts bill to limit how scholarships under Education Freedom Tax Credit can be used
On June 18, 2026, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) signed H.933, limiting the use of scholarship funds under the Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC) so they may benefit only public school students or students attending independent (or nonpublic) schools eligible to receive public funds, among other EFTC and unrelated tax policies. As of June 30,…
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South Carolina adopts REINS-style state law, prohibits judicial deference
On June 30, 2026, Gov. Henry McMaster (R) signed H 3021, making South Carolina the third state this year to enact a REINS-style law, and the fifth to prohibit judicial deference. The bill included other provisions related to executive agency procedure and oversight. H 3021 requires legislative approval for all executive agency regulations with estimated…
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Manny Rutinel defeats Shannon Bird in the Democratic primary for Colorado's 8th Congressional District
Manny Rutinel defeated Shannon Bird in the Democratic primary for Colorado's 8th Congressional District on June 30. The 8th District was created following the 2020 census. Yadira Caraveo (D), the district's first representative, won election 48.4%-47.7% in 2022. Gabe Evans (R), the incumbent heading into the 2026 election, defeated Caraveo 49.0%-48.2% in 2024. Analysis surrounding…
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Phil Weiser defeats Michael Bennet in the Democratic primary for governor of Colorado
Phil Weiser defeated Michael Bennet in the Democratic primary for governor of Colorado on June 30. Incumbent Jared Polis (D) was term-limited. Bennet, a U.S. senator from Colorado, and Weiser, the state's attorney general, made resisting President Donald Trump (R) and affordability central to their campaigns. On resisting Trump, both accused the other of not…