Author: Joseph Brusgard
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An early look at the most competitive state legislative chambers in 2026
Eighty-eight state legislative chambers will be up for election this year. Of these chambers, Republicans control 51, Democrats control 34, and three are held under divided government. Nationwide, Republicans hold 56 chambers, Democrats hold 40, and three are held under divided government. Both parties are looking to expand their majorities or gain control of chambers,…
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Tim Walz's withdrawal leaves only two governors seeking a third term in 2026
On Jan. 5, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) announced he was withdrawing his bid for a third consecutive term, saying, "I came to the conclusion that I can't give a political campaign my all. Every minute I spend defending my own political interests would be a minute I can't spend defending the people of Minnesota…
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Utah Gov. Spencer Cox's (R) proposal could be first expansion of a state's supreme court since 2016
In Utah, Governor Spencer Cox’s (R) most recent budget proposal includes nearly $3 million allocated to increasing the number of justices on the state’s Supreme Court and its Court of Appeals by two justices each. Currently, the Supreme Court has five justices, and the Court of Appeals has seven. Utah is one of 15 states…
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State executives are retiring in two out of three states where the filing deadline has passed
The filing deadline for candidates seeking office in 2026 has passed in three states: Arkansas (Nov. 11), Illinois (Nov. 3), and Texas (Dec. 8). In Illinois and Texas, at least one state executive official is not seeking re-election, while in Arkansas, every incumbent state executive official is running for another term. In Illinois, six state…
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Democrats gained two state financial offices as a result of the 2025 elections
In the 2025 elections, there were zero directly elected state financial officers up for election. However, as a result of the gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia, Democrats are likely to gain two offices, both in Virginia, as Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger (D) will appoint replacements for Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s (R) appointees. State financial officers…
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Alabama’s 2026 governor race could be the first time in U.S. history that directly elected Democratic and Republican senators run in a general election for governor
Former U.S. Senator Doug Jones (D) announced on November 24 that he would run for governor of Alabama. Jones faces three other Democrats for the nomination. On the Republican side, U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who defeated Jones in 2020, faces one other Republican for the nomination. Jones’ entry makes him the fourth senator running for…
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Emilio Gonzalez and Eileen Higgins are candidates in the runoff election for mayor of Miami, Florida, on Dec. 9, 2025
Emilio Gonzalez and Eileen Higgins are candidates in the runoff election for mayor of Miami, Florida, on Dec. 9, 2025. This is the first runoff election for mayor since 2001. The two advanced from a 13-candidate field in the nonpartisan election on Nov. 4, 2025. In the November 4 election, Higgins received 36% of the…
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Only nine state supreme court justices have lost retention elections since 1990
In 38 states, a state supreme court justice has to run for re-election to their seat. Of those states, 20 use retention elections, where voters vote for or against a specific justice, as opposed to voting for multiple candidates. Ballotpedia has analyzed the results of retention elections going back to 1990. Historically, justices have won…
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John E. Sununu is the third former Senator running in 2026
On October 22, 2025, former U.S. Senator John E. Sununu (R) announced his campaign for U.S. Senate in New Hampshire in 2026. Incumbent Jeanne Shaheen (D), who defeated Sununu in 2008, is retiring from public office. In the Republican primary, Sununu will face two other candidates, former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown and Tejasinha Sivalingam. On…
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In 215 races, both candidates share the same last name
In 215 contests across 15 states, 438 candidates running for office this year share the same last name. Every single one of these contests is for a local election. Of these contests, all but one are nonpartisan elections. One contest, District 20 of the New York City Council, was a partisan contest where Allen Wang…