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.

923 stories · page 21 of 31

News · MT

Daines rural water bill heads to president

Elections and voting

The Senate passed Daines’ measure to preserve a rural water system in Montana, moving it to the president for action.

The Ballot Montana News DeskSep 20, 2026

News · OR

Oregon governor blames Trump for Bonneville rate proposal

Elections and voting

Oregon’s governor says Trump is responsible for a proposed Bonneville rate increase totaling.

The Ballot Oregon DeskSep 20, 2026

News · IL

Illinois lawmaker files bill to repeal prediction-market tax

Economy and jobs

Rep. Travis Weaver’s House Bill 5814 would remove Illinois’ per-wager tax on exchange wagers and set legal rules for fantasy contests.

The Ballot Illinois DeskSep 20, 2026

News · MO

Missouri AG tells unlicensed prediction markets to stop

Elections and voting

Missouri’s attorney general has issued cease-and-desist orders targeting prediction markets described as operating without licenses.

The Ballot Missouri Policy DeskSep 20, 2026

News · IL

Doris Turner announces Illinois Grocery Initiative funding

Foreign policy

Sen. Doris Turner announced new funding through the Illinois Grocery Initiative, but the amount, recipients and payment schedule were not identified.

The Ballot Illinois Policy DeskSep 20, 2026

News · VA

Virginia early voting begins with mail rules unchanged

Elections and voting

Virginians can begin voting Friday for the Nov. 3 midterms after the Supreme Court kept proposed Postal Service restrictions on hold.

The Ballot Virginia Policy DeskSep 20, 2026

News · OR

Democrat blocks bill on data centers and energy costs

Energy and environment

The measure was presented as a way to reduce Americans’ energy costs but did not advance after a Democrat blocked it.

The Ballot Oregon News DeskSep 20, 2026

News · OK

What comes next for Trump’s Oklahoma aluminum smelter plan

Elections and voting

The proposed smelter cleared a political hurdle in August, but its next formal step and construction schedule remain unsettled.

The Ballot Oklahoma News DeskSep 20, 2026

News · CA

Newsom signs 13 California election bills

Elections and voting

The governor said the package is intended to protect voting and ballots from interference, citing concerns involving President Trump.

The Ballot California Policy DeskSep 20, 2026

News · SC

Tim Scott’s path from appointment to Senate elections

Foreign policy

The South Carolina Republican entered the Senate by appointment in 2013 and later won elections in 2014, 2016 and 2022.

The Ballot South Carolina DeskSep 20, 2026

News · KY

Former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin ordered released from jail

Elections and voting

A release order directs that Bevin’s custody end, though it does not by itself confirm that he has left the jail.

The Ballot Kentucky News DeskSep 20, 2026

News · NJ

New Jersey’s Trump-Era Court Challenges Reach About 75

Health care

The cases cover immigration, federal funding, elections, health care, environmental rules, tariffs and infrastructure.

The Ballot New Jersey DeskSep 20, 2026

News · TX

Houston-area postpartum center agrees to cease operations

Elections and voting

Ken Paxton said De'Ai Postpartum Care Center agreed to end operations permanently after Texas sued the Houston-area business.

The Ballot Texas DeskSep 20, 2026

News · MO

Sports event contracts ordered to end in Missouri

Elections and voting

Prediction market companies have been directed to stop offering sports-related event contracts in Missouri.

The Ballot Missouri News DeskSep 20, 2026

News · VA

Virginia approves referendum on congressional map

Elections and voting

AP projects Virginia voters approved a referendum to redraw the state’s congressional map with the goal of favoring Democrats.

The Ballot Virginia News DeskSep 20, 2026

News · MO

Missouri orders prediction markets to halt sports wagering

Elections and voting

The state attorney general directed prediction markets to stop offering sports wagering in Missouri.

The Ballot Missouri DeskSep 20, 2026

News · WI

Tiffany, Crowley outline Wisconsin government oversight plans

Economy and jobs

The two Wisconsin governor candidates are emphasizing audits, transparency and accountability in state government.

The Ballot Wisconsin DeskSep 20, 2026

News · WV

Two convicted on election-related charges in Cabell County

Elections and voting

The West Virginia Secretary of State announced convictions involving Jan Hite King and another Cabell County resident.

The Ballot West Virginia DeskSep 20, 2026

News · CA

Newsom signs California election protection laws

Elections and voting

The package creates felony penalties for seizing ballots and interfering with election systems before results are certified.

The Ballot California News DeskSep 20, 2026

News · NM

What New Mexico constitutional amendments 1-3 would change

Education

The Nov. 3, 2026, ballot measures cover veto explanations, the timing of school elections and appointments of university regents.

The Ballot New Mexico Policy DeskSep 20, 2026

News · UT

Utah law could hinder Kirk family wrongful death claim

Education

Legal experts say a Utah law would create a high barrier if Charlie Kirk’s family sues Utah Valley University over alleged security lapses.

The Ballot Utah Policy DeskSep 20, 2026

News · NC

Elon poll finds support for all three N.C. amendments

Education

Likely voters favored each of the three constitutional amendments in an Elon University Poll released Thursday.

The Ballot North Carolina DeskSep 20, 2026

News · SD

Jackley says Medicaid measure would trigger repeal

Health care

Attorney General Marty Jackley’s ballot wording conflicts with lawmakers who say Amendment I would only give the Legislature authority to reconsider expansion.

The Ballot South Dakota DeskSep 20, 2026

News · MA

Massachusetts governor calls for postpartum care changes

Health care

The governor proposed improving postpartum health care following the Lindsay Clancy trial and told affected residents, “I see you.”

The Ballot Massachusetts DeskSep 19, 2026

News · OR

Federal judge upholds Oregon recycling responsibility law

Energy and environment

A federal judge found Oregon’s recycling law does not violate interstate-commerce or due-process protections.

The Ballot Oregon Policy DeskSep 19, 2026

News · OH

Two indicted in Ohio over alleged investor fraud

Elections and voting

Two people face allegations that they defrauded investors through a Ponzi scheme in Ohio.

The Ballot Ohio Policy DeskSep 19, 2026

News · OH

Wilmington data center proposal off November ballot

Elections and voting

Wilmington voters will not decide proposed data center regulations through the November ballot.

The Ballot Ohio News DeskSep 19, 2026

News · VA

Early voting begins for Virginia contests and amendments

Elections and voting

Virginia voters can begin casting ballots in an election featuring a Senate seat, a congressional race and proposed amendments.

The Ballot Virginia Policy DeskSep 19, 2026

News · VA

Finksburg man charged over four horses in West Virginia

Elections and voting

West Virginia court documents accuse Andrew Norris Hauler, 23, of abandoning four wild horses he had recently adopted from the federal government.

The Ballot Virginia News DeskSep 19, 2026

News · OK

Mothers, rights group challenge Oklahoma abortion bans

Health care

The lawsuit asks an Oklahoma court to extend protections for life-saving abortion care to pregnancies with fatal fetal diagnoses.

The Ballot Oklahoma DeskSep 19, 2026