Author: Lara Bonatesta

  • Voters in two Wisconsin cities to decide on ballot measures related to data center development

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    Welcome to the Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Voters in two Wisconsin cities to decide on ballot measures related to data center development The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked a host of new political debates and questions in recent…

  • Twenty-five states weigh legislation on foreign funding in elections

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    Welcome to the Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Twenty-five states weigh legislation on foreign funding in elections Lawmakers in 25 states are considering new state laws or constitutional amendments so far this year related to foreign funding in elections. Federal law…

  • A look at gubernatorial battlegrounds in 2026

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    Thirty-six states are holding elections for governor in 2026. Of those, Ballotpedia has identified seven as general election battlegrounds: These battleground races were selected using the following criteria. For more information on our methodology, click here: In addition to the competitiveness data above, races were included if they were particularly compelling or meaningful to the…

  • Of the $183 million raised for 2025 statewide ballot measures, 94% went to California Proposition 50

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Of the $183 million raised for 2025 statewide ballot measures, 94% went to California Proposition 50  In 2025, campaigns supporting and opposing 30 statewide ballot measures in nine states raised $183.15 million. Ninety-four…

  • Maria Lazar and Chris Taylor are running in the nonpartisan Wisconsin Supreme Court election on April 7

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    Welcome to the Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatetsa Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Maria Lazar and Chris Taylor are running in the nonpartisan Wisconsin Supreme Court election on April 7 Maria S. Lazar and Chris Taylor are running in the general election for Wisconsin Supreme Court…

  • Christian Menefee won the general election runoff for Texas' 18th Congressional District on Jan. 31

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    Christian Menefee (D) defeated Amanda Edwards (D) in the runoff general election for Texas' 18th Congressional District on Jan. 31. Menefee will serve the remainder of former Rep. Sylvester Turner's (D) term through January 2027. Turner died on March 5, 2025. Menefee and Edwards advanced to the runoff after no candidate received an outright majority…

  • Maria Lazar and Chris Taylor running in nonpartisan general election for Wisconsin Supreme Court on April 7, 2026

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    Maria S. Lazar and Chris Taylor are running in the general election for Wisconsin Supreme Court on April 7. Incumbent Rebecca Bradley is not running for re-election. Wisconsin’s Supreme Court elections are officially nonpartisan, but candidates often take stances on specific issues and receive backing from the state's political parties during their campaigns. Lazar's campaign…

  • Wisconsin Legislature sends amendments on worship during states of emergency and discrimination to the November ballot

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Wisconsin Legislature sends amendments on worship during states of emergency and discrimination to the November ballot On Jan. 21, the Wisconsin Legislature advanced two proposed constitutional amendments for the Nov. 3 statewide general…

  • 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…

  • OpenAI and Common Sense Media announce joint California ballot initiative to regulate minors' use of AI chatbots

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2025, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: OpenAI and Common Sense Media announce joint California ballot initiative to regulate minors' use of AI chatbots On Jan. 9, OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, and Common Sense Media, a nonprofit that focuses…