Category: State
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Mayes Middleton defeated Chip Roy in the May 26 Republican primary runoff for Texas Attorney General
Mayes Middleton (R) defeated Chip Roy (R) 55.2% to 44.8% in the Republican primary runoff for Texas Attorney General on May 26. Middleton and Roy were the top two finishers among the four candidates in the March 3 primary. They advanced because no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the primary. Middleton…
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How Gov. Cox is reshaping Utah's highest court
On Aug. 31, the Utah Supreme Court will see its fourth vacancy in nine months. Chief Justice Matthew Durrant announced on May 22 his upcoming retirement from the state's highest court. His announcement came two weeks after Justice Diana Hagen resigned amid a pending investigation by the Utah Judicial Conduct Commission. In January 2026, Gov.…
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Louisiana voters to decide constitutional amendment prohibiting the expropriation of property by foreign adversaries
The Louisiana State Legislature referred a constitutional amendment related to the expropriation of property by foreign adversaries to the Nov. 3, 2026, statewide general election ballot. Legislators passed the amendment on May 21, 2026. In Louisiana, a two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required during a single session to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That…
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New York replaces 2030 emissions goal with 2040 target
New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) announced a proposed $268 billion budget on May 7, 2026, that would change emissions reduction targets and regulatory deadlines under the state's 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). Hochul said, “an agreement has been reached with legislative leaders on key priorities.” Under the proposed budget, lawmakers will…
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Tennessee Enacts REINS-style bill, the second REINS state in 2026
On May 19, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) signed HB 1913 into law. The bill introduces a REINS-style requirement for agency rulemaking, under which the legislature must approve of proposed rules exceeding a cost threshold. The bill also requires rulemaking agencies to seek feedback from trade organizations that would be affected by a proposed rule,…
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The highest number of Oklahoma state legislative incumbents being challenged this year is more than at any point since 2010
Forty-one Oklahoma state legislative incumbents face primary contests in 2026, the most at any point since 2010. This is a 41% increase in the number of incumbents facing challengers compared to 2024. Four of the contested incumbents are Democrats, and 37 are Republicans. Thirty are state representatives, and 11 are state senators. Oklahoma has 63…
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Oklahoma to have first open Republican gubernatorial primary since 2018
Nine candidates are running for the Republican nomination for governor of Oklahoma on June 16, 2026. Four have led in media attention: Gentner Drummond (R), Chip Keating (R), Mike Mazzei (R), and Charles McCall (R). Incumbent Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) is term-limited and retiring from public office. The Oklahoman's Alex Gladden wrote, "In Oklahoma, a…
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Redistricting turns California's 41st District into a Democratic district, setting up intra-party fight
Incumbent Linda Sánchez (D), Hector De La Torre (D), Shonique Williams (D), and Mitch Clemmons (R) are running in the top-two primary for California's 41st Congressional District on June 2, 2026. As of May 2026, Sánchez and De La Torre led in endorsements and fundraising. The election is taking place in the context of redistricting…
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Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signs order requiring state to issue guidance on immigration enforcement at polling places
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed an executive order on May 20 requiring the state Department of Elections to issue guidance for election workers on engaging with federal immigration officers at polling places, among other directives. There is no timeline for when the agency must issue the guidelines, but the order requires the department to…
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South Carolina changes municipal election date laws, approves three other pieces of election-related legislation in 2026
The South Carolina Legislature adjourned its 2026 regular legislative session on May 14 after approving four pieces of election-related legislation. Among those was H 3556, which establishes certain dates when municipal elections may be held in odd-numbered years. The bill also allows only municipalities with more than 10,000 residents to have a municipal elections commission…