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 21 of 58

Candidate profile · NE

Candidate profile: Jim Pillen in Nebraska’s 2026 governor race

Elections and voting

Republican incumbent Jim Pillen is a candidate for governor in Nebraska’s Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

The Ballot Nebraska DeskSep 26, 2026

Candidate profile · MT

Candidate profile: Eric Tilleman for Montana House District 23

Elections and voting

Republican incumbent Eric Tilleman is the only listed candidate in the 2026 general election for Montana House District 23.

The Ballot Montana DeskSep 26, 2026

Candidate profile · MS

Candidate profile: Don Hartness

Elections and voting

Don Hartness is listed as a Republican incumbent, with no specific race or election directly linked to his profile.

The Ballot Mississippi News DeskSep 26, 2026

News · TN

Dylan Lewis out for Tennessee’s Week 4 game vs Texas

Elections and voting

The SEC availability report lists Tennessee safety Dylan Lewis as out and two other Volunteers as questionable against Texas.

The Ballot Tennessee DeskSep 26, 2026

News · MD

Maryland man indicted in fatal Fairfax County stabbing

Elections and voting

A Maryland man faces a formal criminal accusation connected to a stabbing that killed a person in Fairfax County.

The Ballot Maryland DeskSep 26, 2026

News · IN

Indiana attorney general sues IHSAA over board quota

Elections and voting

The lawsuit challenges an IHSAA board requirement tied to race, placing the association’s governance policy before a court.

The Ballot Indiana News DeskSep 26, 2026

News · NC

Voting advocates sue N.C. board over mail ballot rules

Elections and voting

The legal challenge concerns changes to how North Carolina election officials process ballots submitted by mail.

The Ballot North Carolina DeskSep 26, 2026

News · ME

California court orders return of 650,000 seized ballots

Elections and voting

The California Supreme Court directed the Riverside sheriff to return 650,000 ballots that had been seized.

The Ballot Maine DeskSep 26, 2026

News · CA

California court orders sheriff to return 650,000 ballots

Elections and voting

The California Supreme Court directed the Riverside County sheriff to give back 650,000 ballots the office had seized.

The Ballot California DeskSep 26, 2026

News · NJ

New Jersey won’t provide county boards lawyers in RNC suit

Elections and voting

County election boards involved in an RNC lawsuit over voting records will not receive lawyers from the state.

The Ballot New Jersey News DeskSep 26, 2026

News · MS

Warren County board president enters Mississippi Senate race

Foreign policy

The Warren County board president has announced a campaign to succeed an outgoing Mississippi senator.

The Ballot Mississippi DeskSep 26, 2026

News · IL

Halpin Announces More Aid for Food Security

Foreign policy

Illinois State Sen. Halpin announced additional food-security aid in a development not tied to an election or candidate.

The Ballot Illinois News DeskSep 26, 2026

News · NC

What to know about North Carolina’s 2026 elections

Elections and voting

Election Day is Nov. 3, with North Carolina entering the cycle under divided party control across major state and federal offices.

The Ballot North Carolina Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

News · MS

Senate passes Vicksburg military park expansion bill

Elections and voting

The Senate approved legislation that would expand Vicksburg National Military Park, advancing the proposal in the federal lawmaking process.

The Ballot Mississippi Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

News · CA

California court finds sheriff’s ballot seizure unlawful

Elections and voting

The California Supreme Court ruled that a Republican sheriff unlawfully took possession of more than 650,000 ballots.

The Ballot California Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

News · NJ

New Jersey enacts Borinqueneers license plate law

Elections and voting

A Ruiz and Cruz-Perez bill creating a New Jersey license plate honoring the Borinqueneers has been signed into law.

The Ballot New Jersey DeskSep 26, 2026

News · GA

Rural farm votes shape Georgia governor campaign

Elections and voting

Fuel costs, trade impacts and Trump are emerging as central themes in the competition for Georgia’s rural farm voters.

The Ballot Georgia DeskSep 26, 2026

News · MT

Court lets Butte-Silver Bow data center initiative proceed

Elections and voting

The Supreme Court cleared the Butte-Silver Bow data center initiative to continue through the local initiative process.

The Ballot Montana Policy DeskSep 25, 2026

News · AL

Faulkner proposes Alabama youth sports commission

Elections and voting

State Rep. Faulkner has proposed creating a state commission focused on youth sports in Alabama.

The Ballot Alabama DeskSep 25, 2026

News · CA

California court orders sheriff to return seized ballots

Elections and voting

The California Supreme Court ruled that a sheriff unlawfully seized more than 650,000 ballots and must return them.

The Ballot California News DeskSep 25, 2026

News · CA

Why California declared an emergency ahead of El Niño

Energy and environment

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order lets California prepare state personnel, equipment and infrastructure for possible winter flooding and landslides.

The Ballot California DeskSep 25, 2026

News · AR

Election security plan released before midterms

Elections and voting

The plan was released ahead of the midterms but is not directly tied to a specific race, election or candidate.

The Ballot Arkansas News DeskSep 25, 2026

Candidate profile · MN

Candidate profile: Luke Gulbranson in Minnesota’s 8th District

Elections and voting

Luke Gulbranson is a Democrat running in the contested 2026 general election for Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District.

The Ballot Minnesota News DeskSep 25, 2026

Candidate profile · MI

Candidate profile: Lydia Lynn Christensen

Elections and voting

Lydia Lynn Christensen is a Libertarian candidate in Michigan’s contested 2026 U.S. Senate race.

The Ballot Michigan Policy DeskSep 25, 2026

Candidate profile · KY

Donald Ray Wenzel: Kentucky U.S. Senate candidate

Elections and voting

Republican Donald Ray Wenzel is among 22 candidates in Kentucky’s contested 2026 U.S. Senate race.

The Ballot Kentucky News DeskSep 25, 2026

News · NM

Haaland, Torrez, Serrato target online safety and AI

Housing

The New Mexico proposals focus on protections for children, parents and consumers who interact with social media and artificial intelligence companies.

The Ballot New Mexico News DeskSep 25, 2026

News · MD

Maryland DNR Moves Wills Mountain Park Toward Opening

Elections and voting

Maryland DNR has announced the next phase of work toward opening Wills Mountain State Park.

The Ballot Maryland News DeskSep 25, 2026

News · ME

White House TV pool unsettled during Xi visit

Elections and voting

CNN regained access to White House grounds, but the pool status of ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox News remained unclear Thursday.

The Ballot Maine News DeskSep 25, 2026

News · NY

Polymarket sues New York attorney general over regulation

Elections and voting

Polymarket is asking a court to block New York’s attorney general from regulating its prediction market.

The Ballot New York DeskSep 25, 2026

News · CA

California court orders 650,000 Prop. 50 ballots returned

Elections and voting

The California Supreme Court ruled that the Riverside sheriff unlawfully seized the ballots and ordered their return.

The Ballot California Policy DeskSep 25, 2026