Welcome to the Wednesday, Feb. 4, Brew.

By: Briana Ryan

Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:

1. Eighty-four percent of school board incumbents won re-election in 2025 — the highest percentage since 2022
2. Five justices were sworn into state supreme courts in January
3. Four candidates are running in the Republican primary for Indiana's 4th Congressional District on May 5

Eighty-four percent of school board incumbents won re-election in 2025 — the highest percentage since 2022

One of our major commitments to our readers and voters everywhere is to cover elections at every level of government. The bulk of that coverage is at the local level — the one closest to voters. 

Our coverage of school board elections in 2025 included all school districts in the 100 most populous cities and the 200 largest school districts by student enrollment. That means we covered school board elections in 187 school districts across 29 states last year. Those school districts had a total enrollment of 4,877,739 students. 

Last year had the lowest average number of candidates per seat since 2022. An average of 1.8 candidates ran per seat in 2025 compared to 1.9 in 2024, 1.9 in 2023, and 2.2 in 2022. Thirty-six percent of races were unopposed, up from 32% in 2024 and the highest rate since 2022.

Sixty-nine percent of eligible incumbents ran for re-election — the same as in 2024. In 2023, 62% of eligible incumbents ran. In 2022, 68% of eligible incumbents ran. 

Looked at another way, that means 31% of school board seats we covered were open last year — the same as in 2024. In 2023, 38% were open. In 2022, 32% were open.

Incumbents had a successful 2025, with 84% of those running for re-election winning. That's up from 83% in 2024 and the highest rate since 2022.

Incumbents won 58% of the seats up for election last year, while non-incumbents won 42%. That's the highest percentage of seats won by incumbents since 2022. It's also the lowest percentage of seats won by non-incumbents since 2022. In all four election years, some seats went to write-in candidates or remained unfilled after the election.

Of the 29 states with school board elections that we covered in 2025, Texas had the most seats up for election with 196. Ohio was second, with 61. California, Louisiana, and South Carolina tied for the fewest seats up for election, with one each. Alaska, Arizona, and Idaho had the second fewest seats up for election, with two each.

Click here for more information about these school board elections.

Five justices were sworn into state supreme courts in January

In this month's state supreme court vacancy update, we followed announced retirements, nominations, appointments, confirmations, and the swearing-in of justices from Dec. 31, 2025, to Jan. 31, 2026. We follow vacancies in all 52 courts of last resort.

Five justices were sworn into office

• On Jan. 1, Junius P. Fulton III was sworn into the Virginia Supreme Court. The Virginia General Assembly appointed him to the seven-member Court in April 2025.
• On Jan. 1, Colleen Melody was sworn into the Washington Supreme Court. She is Gov. Bob Ferguson’s (D) first nominee to the nine-member Court.
• On Jan. 2, Derek Vaughn was sworn into the Nebraska Supreme Court. He is Gov. Jim Pillen’s (R) third nominee to the seven-member Court.
• On Jan. 14, Adam Tanenbaum was sworn into the Florida Supreme Court. He is Gov. Ron DeSantis' (R) eighth nominee to the seven-member Court.
• On Jan. 30, Sanjay Tailor was sworn into the Illinois Supreme Court. The seven-member Court appointed him in January 2026.

Two nominees were named to the Vermont Supreme Court

• On Jan. 5, Gov. Phil Scott (R) nominated Christina Nolan and Michael Drescher to the five-member Court. The nominations were Scott's fourth and fifth opportunities to select a justice for the Court. On Jan. 29, the Vermont Senate Judiciary Committee voted to confirm Nolan and reject Drescher's nomination.

Three candidates were appointed

• On Jan. 12, the Illinois Supreme Court appointed Sanjay Tailor. Under Illinois law, when a midterm vacancy occurs on the Court, the remaining justices appoint a successor. Once appointed, the justice must serve at least 60 days before appearing on the ballot in a partisan election for a full ten-year term.
• On Jan. 14, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) appointed Adam Tanenbaum to the Florida Supreme Court. He is DeSantis' eighth appointment to the seven-member Court.
• On Jan. 22, Gov. Bill Lee (R) appointed Kyle Hixson to the Tennessee Supreme Court. He is Lee's fourth appointment to the five-member Court.

Five justices retired, and one justice announced her upcoming retirement

• On Dec. 31, Charles Canady retired from the Florida Supreme Court. Former Gov. Charlie Crist (R) initially appointed him to the Court in 2008.
• On Dec. 31, Mary Yu retired from the Washington Supreme Court. Former Gov. Jay Inslee (D) initially appointed her to the Court in 2014.
• On Jan. 1, Bernard Goodwyn resigned as chief justice of the Virginia Supreme Court. Former Gov. Tim Kaine (D) appointed him to the Court in 2007. Goodwyn served as chief justice from 2022 until his retirement.
• On Jan. 5, Melissa Hart resigned from the Colorado Supreme Court. Former Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) initially appointed her to the Court in 2017.
• On Jan. 5, Justice Karen L. Valihura announced that she would not seek reappointment to the Delaware Supreme Court. Former Gov. Jack Markell (D) appointed her to the Court in 2014.
• On Jan. 29, Mary Jane Theis retired from the Illinois Supreme Court. The Court initially appointed her in 2010.

Other state supreme court news

On Jan. 31, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) signed SB 134 into law. The bill, among other provisions, increases the number of Utah Supreme Court justices from five to seven. With the expansion, Utah will join 28 other states that have seven justices on their state supreme courts. Check out our previous coverage of the expansion in the Jan. 9 Daily Brew.

Click here to learn more about state supreme court vacancies in January.

Four candidates are running in the Republican primary for Indiana's 4th Congressional District on May 5

Four candidates are running in the Republican primary for Indiana's 4th Congressional District on May 5. Incumbent Rep. Jim Baird (R) and Craig Haggard (R) lead in media attention.

Baird, who turns 81 in June, is the fourth-oldest Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter's Erin Covey wrote that in 2024, Baird had "a lackluster primary performance, winning 65% against two no-name challengers." Haggard first announced his intention to run for the district in November 2023, initially saying he would run if Baird retired.

Baird has represented the district since 2019. He is running on his experience and on advancing President Donald Trump’s (R) agenda, writing on Facebook, "I will continue working with President Trump... to deliver results for Hoosiers, growing our economy, standing up for American agriculture, strengthening our military, securing our border, and putting America First."

Haggard has represented District 57 in the Indiana House of Representatives since 2022. In a statement announcing his campaign, Haggard said he "plans on focusing his efforts in Congress on better securing our national security, tackling the growing debt crisis, and ensuring our military and veterans are properly represented and cared for."

The Indianapolis Star's Marissa Meador wrote that Baird was "likely to face a messy Republican primary against a Statehouse Republican." 

Haggard has campaigned on bringing new leadership to the district, saying, "I respect the Congressman's service and what he has done, but [what] I think from talking to people is they want someone to show up. They want someone to govern, fight and champion things in D.C., and I think I will do that." 

On the campaign, Baird said, "I know how to stay focused under fire. I will not be distracted by political games. My mission remains serving the people of the 4th District and earning their support in 2026."

Chad Elwartowski (R) and Anthony Hustedt-Mai (R) are also running.
Click here for more information about this Republican primary. Also, if you're an Indiana voter, check out our Sample Ballot Lookup here to prepare for Election Day.