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 25 of 58

News · OR

Oregon lawmaker proposes AI rules for schools

Education

An Oregon member of Congress is proposing federal rules addressing artificial intelligence in schools.

The Ballot Oregon Policy DeskSep 24, 2026

News · MI

Michigan governor orders inquiry into fatal ICE pursuit

Immigration

The governor directed a state inquiry after a pursuit involving federal immigration officers ended in a fatal crash.

The Ballot Michigan Policy DeskSep 24, 2026

News · KS

Kansas voter eligibility amendment heads to November ballot

Elections and voting

The proposal would clarify Kansas constitutional language on voter eligibility, while advocates say it would protect voter integrity.

The Ballot Kansas DeskSep 24, 2026

News · MT

DOJ announces mail-ballot crime amid search for more cases

Elections and voting

The Trump administration is expanding its effort to identify mail-ballot crimes, but the development is not tied to a specific election.

The Ballot Montana DeskSep 24, 2026

News · LA

Kennedy announces $14.2 million for six Louisiana HBCUs

Education

The U.S. Department of Education funding is divided among six historically Black colleges and universities in Louisiana.

The Ballot Louisiana News DeskSep 24, 2026

Explainer · DC

District of Columbia 2026 general election voter guide

Elections and voting

District voters can prepare by confirming election dates, registration rules, voting options and the contests on their ballot.

The Ballot District of Columbia News DeskSep 24, 2026

Candidate profile · CA

Nathan Deer in California’s 11th District House race

Elections and voting

Nathan Deer is listed as an NNE candidate in the contested 2026 general election for California’s 11th Congressional District.

The Ballot California News DeskSep 24, 2026

Candidate profile · AR

Candidate profile: Randy Torres in Arkansas House District 17

Elections and voting

Republican incumbent Randy Torres is running in the uncontested 2026 general election for Arkansas House District 17.

The Ballot Arkansas News DeskSep 24, 2026

Candidate profile · AK

Mike Dunleavy: 2026 Alaska governor candidate profile

Elections and voting

Republican incumbent Mike Dunleavy is the only listed candidate in Alaska’s 2026 general election for governor.

The Ballot Alaska DeskSep 24, 2026

Candidate profile · WV

Candidate profile: Betsy Kelly in West Virginia House District 9

Elections and voting

Republican incumbent Betsy Kelly is running in the uncontested 2026 general election for West Virginia House District 9.

The Ballot West Virginia News DeskSep 23, 2026

Candidate profile · WI

Candidate profile: Laura S Benjamin in Wisconsin’s 3rd

Elections and voting

Laura S Benjamin is a Democrat in the nine-candidate contest for Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District.

The Ballot Wisconsin Policy DeskSep 23, 2026

Candidate profile · WA

Candidate profile: Jerrod Sessler in Washington’s 4th

Elections and voting

Republican Jerrod Sessler is among 11 candidates listed in Washington’s 4th Congressional District for the 2026 general election.

The Ballot Washington News DeskSep 23, 2026

Candidate profile · UT

Candidate profile: Nate Blouin in Utah’s 1st District

Elections and voting

Nate Blouin is a Democrat in the contested 2026 general election for Utah’s 1st Congressional District.

The Ballot Utah Policy DeskSep 23, 2026

Candidate profile · TX

Candidate profile: Andrew Kyle Trakas

Elections and voting

Andrew Kyle Trakas is a Republican candidate in Texas’ contested 2026 U.S. Senate race.

The Ballot Texas DeskSep 23, 2026

Candidate profile · TN

Candidate profile: Bill Hagerty in Tennessee’s Senate race

Elections and voting

Republican incumbent Bill Hagerty is one of 14 candidates in Tennessee’s contested 2026 U.S. Senate race.

The Ballot Tennessee Policy DeskSep 23, 2026

News · MI

Michigan board backs $10 million community lending loan

Economy and jobs

The Michigan Strategic Fund approved up to for a pooled fund serving community lenders across the state.

The Ballot Michigan News DeskSep 23, 2026

News · UT

Utah postal worker indicted over 300 mail-in ballots

Elections and voting

The worker is accused of throwing away about 300 mail-in ballots in Utah County, with no specific race or election directly linked to the case.

The Ballot Utah News DeskSep 23, 2026

News · WY

Wyoming GOP backs property tax cut initiative

Economy and jobs

The state Republican Party is supporting a ballot initiative that would ask Wyoming voters to approve a property tax cut.

The Ballot Wyoming Policy DeskSep 23, 2026

News · OH

Ohio leaders plan return for Ramaswamy gas-tax vote

Economy and jobs

Legislative leaders said lawmakers could return next week to consider a gas-tax plan requested by Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy.

The Ballot Ohio Policy DeskSep 23, 2026

News · KS

Kansas voters to weigh constitutional voting-rights wording

Elections and voting

A proposed amendment would let Kansas voters decide whether to change state constitutional wording concerning voting rights.

The Ballot Kansas Policy DeskSep 23, 2026

Candidate profile · RI

Candidate profile: June Speakman in House District 68

Elections and voting

Democratic incumbent June Speakman is running in Rhode Island House District 68 in an uncontested 2026 general election race.

The Ballot Rhode Island Policy DeskSep 23, 2026

Race preview · OR

Oregon’s 1st District: Three candidates in 2026 race

Elections and voting

Democrats Suzanne Bonamici and Jamil O. Chaudhry-ahmad and Republican Barbara J. Kahl are running in Oregon’s 1st District.

The Ballot Oregon News DeskSep 23, 2026

News · CA

Newsom signs 13 laws, cites election interference by Trump

Elections and voting

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed 13 measures into law and linked the package to concerns about Trump’s involvement in California elections.

The Ballot California Policy DeskSep 23, 2026

News · TX

Abbott orders pause on Texas data center permits

Elections and voting

The governor’s directive temporarily stops covered data center permit decisions while the state determines the next steps.

The Ballot Texas Policy DeskSep 23, 2026

News · TX

Texas orders audit of data center grid requests

Elections and voting

The state will review data center connection requests as ERCOT faces a backlog representing 474 gigawatts of requested demand.

The Ballot Texas News DeskSep 23, 2026

News · MO

Appeals court orders Missouri to use 2025 congressional map

Elections and voting

The 8th Circuit stayed its order through Sept. 28, leaving time for the U.S. Supreme Court to review the dispute.

The Ballot Missouri Policy DeskSep 23, 2026

News · OH

What polls show about Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio

Elections and voting

No named poll or specific election supports the claim that Ramaswamy’s odds of winning in Ohio reached an all-time low.

The Ballot Ohio News DeskSep 23, 2026

Candidate profile · NV

Candidate profile: Rick Sage in Nevada’s 1st District

Elections and voting

Republican Rick Sage is running in the contested 2026 general election for Nevada’s 1st Congressional District.

The Ballot Nevada DeskSep 23, 2026

News · TX

Texas Pauses New Data Center Permits for Audit

Elections and voting

Texas has halted new data center permits while an audit reviews the permitting process.

The Ballot Texas DeskSep 23, 2026

News · VA

Jay Jones joins states opposing federal Medicaid proposal

Health care

Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones has joined other states opposing a proposed federal rule involving Medicaid.

The Ballot Virginia DeskSep 23, 2026