Category: State
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Eric Swalwell’s resignation leaves California’s 14th Congressional District vacant
On April 14, 2026, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) resigned, leaving California’s 14th Congressional District vacant. Swalwell resigned after the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN reported on allegations of sexual misconduct. As of April 14, 2026, Republicans have a 217 to 213 majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, with four vacancies. Additionally, Rep. Kevin Kiley…
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Appeals court allows enforcement of Indiana law banning student ID for voting
On April 20, a federal appeals court ruled that an Indiana law removing student IDs from the list of eligible voter identification could be enforced, overturning a lower court ruling from earlier this month. The decision from a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit allows the law to be…
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Virginia voters to decide a constitutional amendment tomorrow to allow for new congressional maps for 2026 midterm elections
Virginia voters will decide on a constitutional amendment in a special election on April 21 to determine if the state will use the general assembly’s newly drawn congressional maps for the 2026 elections. The constitutional amendment would allow the Virginia General Assembly to conduct congressional redistricting between January 1, 2025, and October 31, 2030, if…
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Washington legislators update state voting rights act, enact eight other election-related bills
The Washington Legislature adjourned its 2026 regular session on March 12. During that time, lawmakers sent 10 election-related bills to Gov. Bob Ferguson (D), who signed all of them in March and April. Among those 10 bills were two amending the state’s voting rights act. HB 1750 prohibits political subdivisions from adopting election policies or…
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Mississippi legislators enact citizenship checks for voter list maintenance, seven other election-related bills
The Mississippi Legislature adjourned its regular session on April 15 after enacting eight election-related bills, all of which were signed by Gov. Tate Reeves (R). Among those bills was SB 2588, which requires the secretary of state to annually compare the state's voter rolls with the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program maintained by…
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Oklahoma voters to decide constitutional amendment changing Judicial Nominating Commission structure on Nov. 3, 2026
The Oklahoma State Legislature referred a constitutional amendment related to the nomination of judges within the state to the Nov. 3, 2026, statewide general election ballot. On April 9, 2026, legislators passed the amendment, which would change the structure of the state's Judicial Nominating Commission. The ballot measure would restructure the Judicial Nominating Commission, which…
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Oklahoma Supreme Court strikes down fossil fuel divestment law
On April 7, 2026, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that the Oklahoma Energy Discrimination Elimination Act of 2022 is unconstitutional when applied to the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS). The court also issued a permanent injunction preventing state Treasurer Todd Russ (R) from enforcing the law against OPERS. The ruling upheld a 2024 Oklahoma…
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Mikie Sherrill to become first New Jersey governor in 20 years to live in the state's official governor's residence
On April 3, Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) announced she would be moving into Drumthwacket, the official residence of the governor of New Jersey. Sherrill will be only the third governor to live in the mansion since it was designated the official governor's residence in 1981. Only Governors James Florio (D-N.J.), who left office in 1994,…
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Maine voters to decide sports eligibility initiative based on sex on birth certificates after legislature adjourns without a vote
The Maine State Legislature adjourned on April 14, 2026, without a vote on the initiated measure that would require that public school sports teams designated for girls or boys be limited to students of the corresponding sex. Mainers will vote on the initiative on Nov. 3, 2026. Effect of the measure Under the measure, public…
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Virginia Gov. Spanberger signs bill to rejoin ERIC
On April 13, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed legislation requiring the state to rejoin the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC). Virginia was previously an ERIC member but withdrew from the organization in 2023, under former Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R). Senate Bill 57 requires the state commissioner of elections to apply to rejoin ERIC and…