Category: State
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New Missouri congressional map awaits governor’s signature, referendum effort underway
Missouri is expected to become the second state to officially redraw its congressional district boundaries ahead of the 2026 elections. A bill that aims to net one additional Republican U.S. House seat awaits Gov. Mike Kehoe’s signature after the legislature gave it final approval on Sept. 12. The new map would draw the state’s 5th…
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Ballotpedia publishes 15th Annual State Legislative Competitiveness Report
Ballotpedia’s 15th Annual State Legislative Competitiveness Report shows state legislative contests this year are less competitive than the record high in 2021 but still the second-most competitive of any odd year since 2011. In 2025, the nationwide State Legislative Competitiveness Index is 38.1, down from 40.0 in 2021 but above the average of 31.6 since…
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Maine became the seventh state to approve initiative and referendum 117 years ago, on September 15
Voters in Maine approved a constitutional amendment establishing the state’s initiative and referendum process 117 years ago, on September 15. The vote was 53,785 (68.7%) to 24,543 (31.3%). Maine was the seventh state to adopt the initiative and referendum, and the first state east of the Mississippi River. The constitutional amendment provided for an indirect…
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A look at campaign fundraising in North Carolina’s state supreme court elections
In 2026, incumbent North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls (D) will be up for re-election. According to the North Carolina Board of Elections, as of September 11, 2025, Earls has raised over $585,000, while state Rep. Sarah Stevens (R), the only other candidate who has filed, has raised almost $141,000. In elections going back…
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Understanding primaries – State primary laws and types, explained
State laws governing primaries can be confusing. In some states, political parties control their primaries, including whether to hold a primary at all. Elsewhere, primaries are mandatory. Lawmakers and voters also frequently amend primary rules, whether making minor changes or significant ones. To understand the procedures governing primary elections, a voter needs to understand what…
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State legislative session updates: possible special sessions
As of Sept. 8, eight state legislatures are in regular session for this year, and one state is in special session, according to the 2025 MultiState Insider Resource. California’s regular session ends on Sept. 12. North Carolina’s regular session ends on Nov. 5. Massachusetts’ regular session ends on Nov. 19. The remaining five states—Michigan, New…
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California Prop 50 campaigns top $41.4m, exceeding combined funding for three prior initiatives to create, expand, and repeal the Citizens Redistricting Commission
The campaign committees surrounding California Proposition 50 received a combined $41.4 million as of Sept. 4. Supporters received $21.3 million, while opponents received $20.1 million. That combined total ($41.4 million) for Proposition 50, which qualified for the ballot on Aug. 21, exceeds the aggregate total surrounding the three citizen-initiated ballot measures to create the Citizens…
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This week, 166 years ago, voters in southern California approved a measure to separate from the state and form a new territory
Dividing California into two or more states has been discussed several times in recent years—State of Jefferson, Six Californias, Cal 3, and now a two-state proposal from Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher (R-3). While there have been attempts at statewide ballot measures to divide California, the legislature referred just one to the ballot: the Pico…
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State supreme court vacancy count for August 2025
In this month’s state supreme court vacancy update, Ballotpedia tracked announced retirements, nominations, appointments, confirmations, and the swearing-in of justices from Aug. 1 to Sept. 1, 2025. Ballotpedia tracks court vacancies in all 52 state supreme courts. Announced retirements: During August 2025, two justices announced their future retirement from office, and one justice died in…
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Democrats are running for every state legislative seat this year, Republicans running for 88%
Democrats are running for every state legislative seat up for election in 2025, and Republicans are running for 88% of them. That means 12% of seats this year are guaranteed to Democrats due to a lack of Republican competition in those races, and none are guaranteed to Republicans due to a lack of Democratic competition.…