Year: 2026

  • Weekly Brew: January 23, 2026

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    U.S. Supreme Court rules candidates may challenge election laws before Election Day On Jan. 14, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that candidates have standing to sue over election laws they believe to be unconstitutional before voting takes place.  Bost v. Illinois State Board of Elections allows U.S. Rep. Michael Bost (R-Ill.) and two 2024…

  • The Ballot Bulletin: Ballotpedia's Weekly Digest on Election Administration, January 23, 2026

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    Welcome to The Ballot Bulletin: Ballotpedia’s Weekly Digest on Election Administration. Every Friday, we deliver the latest updates on election policy around the country, including nationwide trends and recent legislative activity.  In this week’s Ballot Bulletin, we cover 137 bills state legislatures acted on in the past week. We also highlight Ballotpedia’s contribution to the…

  • These 2026 state elections will shape K-12 education policy

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    Welcome to the Friday, Jan. 23, Brew. By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: These 2026 state elections will shape K-12 education policy Governors, state legislators, and both appointed and elected state education officials are the key drivers of state education policies.  This year, voters in most states…

  • Alaska's federal elections are using ranked-choice voting (RCV) for the third consecutive cycle

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    On January 12, 2026, former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola (D) announced her campaign for U.S. Senate against incumbent Dan Sullivan (R). With Peltola’s entry into the race, we’re taking a look at Alaska’s use of ranked-choice voting (RCV) since its adoption in 2020 and how it's played out in other statewide elections. Peltola was first…

  • Supreme Court hears case on presidential power to dismiss independent agency officials

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    Highlights from this edition of Checks and Balances include a Supreme Court case on presidential power to dismiss independent agency officials, and 2025 restrictions on judicial deference standards in six states In Washington Supreme Court hears case on presidential power to dismiss independent agency officials On Dec. 8, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral…

  • More former members of Congress have announced candidacies for a non-consecutive term in any cycle since 2016

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    This year, 19 former House members announced candidacies for a non-consecutive term. Three former Senators have announced campaigns for office, meaning a total of 22 former members of Congress have announced candidacies, the highest number in any cycle going back to 2016. The 19 House members are running in 13 states, though two — Rod…

  • Both candidates for Caroline County, Va., Treasurer complete Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey

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    Both candidates running in a Feb. 3 special election for Caroline County, Va., Treasurer—Zachary R. Hulo and C. Priscilla Voit—completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office. All survey respondents are asked to tell voters about their three key campaign…

  • Virginia could become the seventh state to adopt a new congressional map since 2024

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    Welcome to the Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Virginia could become the seventh state to adopt a new congressional map since 2024 The Democratic-controlled Virginia General Assembly passed a constitutional amendment that would allow legislators to redraw congressional districts between 2025…

  • Hall Pass: Your Ticket to Understanding School Board Politics, Edition #188

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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 Idaho’s education tax credit program In this section, we…

  • Rep. Julia Letlow becomes the 15th U.S. House member to run for the U.S. Senate in 2026

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    Rep. Julia Letlow (R-La.) announced on Jan. 20, 2026, that she will run to represent Louisiana in the U.S. Senate in 2026 rather than for another term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) is also running in the Republican primary. As of Jan. 20, 2026, independent race forecasters The Cook…