Category: Federal
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Ballotpedia releases federal judicial vacancy count for July 2025
In this month’s federal judicial vacancy count, Ballotpedia tracked nominations, confirmations, and vacancies from June 2, 2025, to July 1, 2025. Ballotpedia publishes the federal judicial vacancy count at the start of each month. HIGHLIGHTS New vacancies There were 49 vacancies out of 870 active Article III judicial positions, a total vacancy percentage of 5.6,…
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State supreme court vacancy count for June 2025
In this month’s state supreme court vacancy update, Ballotpedia tracked announced retirements, nominations, appointments, confirmations, and the swearing-in of justices from June 1 to June 30, 2025. Ballotpedia tracks vacancies in all 52 state supreme courts. Justice retirements: One justice stepped down from her state’s highest court in June 2025. On June 27, Beth Walker…
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President Donald Trump’s rate of issuing new executive orders decreases again in June
President Donald Trump (R) issued nine executive orders in June, bringing his total to 166. To view the titles and text of each order he issued in June, click here. Trump issued 46 executive orders in January 2025, more than any other month of his presidency. With only nine orders, June 2025 marks the month…
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Supreme Court limits nationwide injunctions in Trump v. CASA, Inc.
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6–3 decision in Trump v. CASA, Inc. on June 27, holding that federal district courts exceeded their authority by issuing universal injunctions—orders that block a federal policy nationwide, not just for the parties in the case. The Court did not decide the constitutionality of the underlying executive order concerning…
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Rep. Dwight Evans announces he will not seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026
Rep. Dwight Evans (D-Penn.) announced on June 30, 2025, that he will not seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026. On his retirement, Evans said in a statement, “After some discussions this weekend and thoughtful reflection, I have decided that the time is right to announce that I will not be seeking…
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President Donald Trump (R) ends June with 45% approval, 53% disapproval
At the end of June, approval polling averages showed President Donald Trump (R) at 45% approval. Fifty-three percent of voters disapproved of his performance. The lowest approval rating he’s received during his presidency is 44%, last seen on June 25, 2025. The highest approval rating Trump has received is 54%, last seen on Jan. 22,…
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Vice President J.D. Vance casts fifth tie-breaking vote to pass One Big Beautiful Bill Act
On July 1, 2025, Vice President J.D. Vance cast his fifth tie-breaking vote in the U.S. Senate to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the budget reconciliation bill currently before Congress. Fifty Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while 45 Democrats, two Independents who caucus with Democrats, and Republican Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine),…
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Chevron deference overturned one year ago today
The U.S. Supreme Court’s June 28, 2024, decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo (consolidated with Relentless, Inc. v. Department of Commerce) eliminated Chevron deference. In a 6–3 ruling, the Court held that judges must independently interpret ambiguous federal statutes rather than defer to agency interpretations. The majority wrote that such deference violated the judiciary’s…
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Nineteen members of Congress have announced they will not seek re-election in 2026
Since May 22, 2025, one member of the U.S. Congress has announced that he will not seek re-election in 2026. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) announced on May 27 that he will run for governor of Alabama in 2026 rather than re-election to the U.S. Senate. As of June 10, The Cook Political Report and Inside…
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Democrats to hold firehouse primary for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District June 28
On June 3, 2025, Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) called a special election for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District to be held Sept. 9, 2025. Incumbent Gerald Connolly (D) died on May 21, 2025. Virginia law requires political parties to nominate their candidates 60 days before special elections, in this case by July 11. The 11th Congressional…