Politics and government news

What government is actually doing — laws and executive action, budgets and taxes, housing, schools, health, courts, public safety, transport, energy, voting and campaigns — across Washington, the states and city hall. Filter below or page through the full archive.

1,713 stories · page 19 of 58

News · WV

What to know about West Virginia’s 2026 elections

Elections and voting

West Virginians will vote for a U.S. senator and representatives in both congressional districts on Nov. 3, 2026.

The Ballot West Virginia News DeskSep 27, 2026

News · TX

2026 Texas elections: Key races and candidates

Elections and voting

Texas voters will decide a U.S. Senate seat, all 38 U.S. House seats and three statewide offices on Nov. 3.

The Ballot Texas Policy DeskSep 27, 2026

News · CA

California court orders sheriff to return seized ballots

Elections and voting

The California Supreme Court ruled that a sheriff may not continue holding ballots that had been seized.

The Ballot California DeskSep 27, 2026

News · MO

Supreme Court again rejects Trump-backed Missouri map

Elections and voting

The Supreme Court has rejected a Trump-backed Missouri congressional map for the third time.

The Ballot Missouri Policy DeskSep 27, 2026

News · CA

California court orders sheriff to return 650,000 ballots

Elections and voting

The California Supreme Court directed Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco to return 650,000 ballots that had been seized.

The Ballot California Policy DeskSep 27, 2026

News · TN

Tennessee passes map splitting majority-Black district

Elections and voting

The new congressional map divides Tennessee’s only majority-Black district, changing how the state’s U.S. House boundaries are drawn.

The Ballot Tennessee DeskSep 27, 2026

News · MO

Supreme Court blocks Missouri map switch for November

Elections and voting

The justices kept Missouri’s post-2020 census districts in place after ballots were mailed and absentee voting began.

The Ballot Missouri News DeskSep 27, 2026

News · WV

Parsi proposes data center limits in 2nd District race

Elections and voting

The Democratic nominee’s plan would pause new data centers nationwide and require local consent before future projects receive approval.

The Ballot West Virginia DeskSep 27, 2026

News · WA

Lawmakers question Congress’ ability to regulate AI

Education

Members of both parties say Congress lacks AI experience, moves too slowly or needs stronger political will to pass regulations.

The Ballot Washington Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

News · TN

White House removes CNN from pool for Tennessee trip

Education

CNN had been scheduled to travel on Air Force One and provide shared television coverage of President Donald Trump’s trip to Knoxville.

The Ballot Tennessee Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

News · IA

Heartland Republicans break with Trump over Iran war

Energy and environment

Republicans in Iowa, Michigan and Ohio are calling for a quick end to the Iran war as high fuel prices raise election concerns.

The Ballot Iowa News DeskSep 26, 2026

Candidate profile · ID

Candidate profile: Ben Adams

Elections and voting

Republican incumbent Ben Adams is seeking election in Idaho Senate District 12 in the 2026 general election.

The Ballot Idaho DeskSep 26, 2026

Race preview · GA

Georgia’s 8th District field for the 2026 House race

Elections and voting

Five candidates are listed in the contested race for Georgia’s 8th Congressional District ahead of the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

The Ballot Georgia Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

News · ME

Ranked-choice voting is set for Maine’s 2026 election

Elections and voting

Maine voters will need to check which 2026 contests use ranked-choice voting and follow the instructions printed on each ballot.

The Ballot Maine News DeskSep 26, 2026

Race preview · DE

Sophie Phillips is sole candidate in House District 18

Elections and voting

Democratic incumbent Sophie Phillips is running without a listed opponent in Delaware’s 2026 general election.

The Ballot Delaware Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

Explainer · DC

DC 2026 general election voter guide

Elections and voting

District voters should confirm official dates, ballot contests, registration rules and voting options before taking part in the 2026 general election.

The Ballot District of Columbia DeskSep 26, 2026

Race preview · CA

Paul Danbom and Michael Barkley contest California’s 5th

Elections and voting

Democrats Paul Danbom and Michael James Mr. Barkley are running in California’s contested 5th Congressional District election.

The Ballot California News DeskSep 26, 2026

Candidate profile · AR

Candidate profile: Jeremy Wooldridge

Elections and voting

Republican incumbent Jeremy Wooldridge is running in the uncontested 2026 general election for Arkansas House District 1.

The Ballot Arkansas DeskSep 26, 2026

News · OH

7 Northeast Ohio people indicted in Medicaid fraud case

Health care

Seven people from Northeast Ohio face Medicaid fraud allegations in a case not directly connected to an election or candidate.

The Ballot Ohio Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

News · VA

Spanberger starts push for tighter data center rules

Energy and environment

The governor signed an order on state secrecy agreements and proposed broader rules on local approvals, environmental standards and energy costs.

The Ballot Virginia Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

News · AL

Alabama attorney general announces TikTok settlement

Elections and voting

Alabama’s attorney general says the state has reached a multimillion-dollar settlement with TikTok Inc.

The Ballot Alabama DeskSep 26, 2026

News · VA

Virginia AG seeks more time for Dominion-NextEra review

Elections and voting

The attorney general asked Virginia’s State Corporation Commission to extend its review of the proposed Dominion-NextEra merger.

The Ballot Virginia News DeskSep 26, 2026

News · NC

Federal lawsuit targets NC absentee-ballot policies

Elections and voting

Voting-rights groups and voters want a federal court to block two absentee-ballot policies before North Carolina’s November 2026 election.

The Ballot North Carolina Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

News · ND

North Dakota’s 2026 election: Key races and voting history

Elections and voting

Voters will choose a U.S. House member, secretary of state and attorney general in North Dakota’s Nov. 3 election.

The Ballot North Dakota News DeskSep 26, 2026

News · WI

Wisconsin secretary of state primary results for 2026

Housing

NBC News projected Jay Schroeder and JoCasta Zamarripa as the Republican and Democratic primary winners.

The Ballot Wisconsin Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

News · MO

Supreme Court rejects Missouri congressional map effort

Elections and voting

The court turned aside a third Republican effort to use a map that could have created an opportunity to gain another House seat.

The Ballot Missouri DeskSep 26, 2026

Candidate profile · AK

Candidate profile: Ted Eischeid

Elections and voting

Democratic incumbent Ted Eischeid is running in Alaska State House District 22 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

The Ballot Alaska News DeskSep 26, 2026

Candidate profile · WV

Candidate profile: Bill Flanigan in House District 4

Elections and voting

Republican incumbent Bill Flanigan is running in West Virginia House District 4 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

The Ballot West Virginia Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

Candidate profile · WI

Candidate profile: Jonathan Philip Peetz in Wisconsin’s 6th

Elections and voting

Peetz is a Republican in the contested 2026 race for Wisconsin’s 6th Congressional District.

The Ballot Wisconsin News DeskSep 26, 2026

Candidate profile · VA

Candidate profile: Joshua Ertle in Virginia’s 7th District

Elections and voting

Joshua Ertle is running without a party affiliation in Virginia’s contested 7th District U.S. House race.

The Ballot Virginia DeskSep 26, 2026