Year: 2026

  • President Trump has appointed 37 federal judges through May 1 of the second year of his second term

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    President Donald Trump (R) has appointed, and the Senate has confirmed, 37 Article III federal judges through May 1 of the second year of his second term in office. This is the third-most Article III judicial appointments through this point in all presidents’ second terms since President Bill Clinton (D). The average number of federal…

  • Jay Edwards (R) defeated Kristina Daley Roegner (R) in the Republican primary for Ohio Treasurer on May 5, 2026

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    Jay Edwards (R) defeated Kristina Daley Roegner (R) in the Republican primary for Ohio Treasurer on May 5, 2026. Incumbent Robert Sprague (R) ran for secretary of state. Vice President J.D. Vance (R) endorsed Edwards. Gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy (R), who ran for president in 2024, endorsed Roegner. Politico's Jacob Wendler said, "The otherwise sleepy…

  • Senate Committees release $72 billion budget reconciliation spending package

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    On May 4, 2026, two U.S. Senate committees released the first version of a proposed budget reconciliation spending package that mostly includes funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and would increase the deficit by $72 billion over the following decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Corresponding committees in the U.S. House have…

  • Five statewide candidate filing deadlines in the next two weeks

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    As we enter May, the 2026 primary election calendar continues to come into view. Four states and the Virgin Islands have statewide candidate filing deadlines in the next two weeks. The map and bulleted list below show which states have candidate filing deadlines scheduled between May 9th and May 22nd. Looking Back Five states and…

  • Hall Pass: Your Ticket to Understanding School Board Politics, Edition #204

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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 race-based teacher hiring In this section, we curate reporting,…

  • Proxy advisors sue Indiana and Kansas over disclosure laws

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    In this week’s edition of Economy and Society: In the states Proxy advisors sue Indiana and Kansas over disclosure laws What’s the story? Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Glass Lewis filed lawsuits in April 2026 challenging state laws in Indiana and Kansas that require the proxy advisory firms to disclose when their voting recommendations differ…

  • Idaho initiative campaigns submit signatures for measures on abortion and medical marijuana

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, May 6, 2026, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Idaho initiative campaigns submit signatures for measures on abortion and medical marijuana   On May 1, supporters of two Idaho initiatives that would add a right to reproductive freedom to state law and…

  • Incumbent Jim Ross defeated Steve Cavender, Hunter Crow, and Shaun Mallory in the nonpartisan general election for mayor of Arlington, Texas, on May 2, 2026

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    Incumbent Jim Ross defeated Steve Cavender, Hunter Crow, and Shaun Mallory in the nonpartisan general election for mayor of Arlington, Texas, on May 2, 2026. As of March 2026, Ross and Cavender led in endorsements and local media attention. Ross was first elected mayor in 2021, when he defeated Michael Glaspie 54.4%-45.6%. He was re-elected…

  • Nebraska becomes first state to implement Medicaid work requirements after passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

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    On May 1, Nebraska became the first state to implement Medicaid work requirements after Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The OBBBA directs states to adopt policies requiring able-bodied Medicaid recipients in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) expansion group to work 80 hours per month beginning January 1, 2027. Nebraska became the…

  • European Commission unveils $711 billion clean energy investment plan

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    The European Commission released AccelerateEU on April 21, 2026, a policy package designed to accelerate the European Union's shift to clean energy while providing relief to households and industry facing volatile fossil fuel markets. The Commission estimates the plan requires €660 billion ($775 billion) in annual investment through 2030 to meet energy transition goals. Commission…