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.

1,738 stories · page 33 of 58

News · AK

Alaska courts expand text reminders for hearings

Elections and voting

Alaska courts are expanding text-message reminders intended to alert people about upcoming court hearings.

The Ballot Alaska DeskSep 19, 2026

News · MO

Missouri AG orders halt to unlicensed sports wagering

Elections and voting

The Missouri attorney general directed prediction markets to stop offering sports wagering without state authorization.

The Ballot Missouri News DeskSep 19, 2026

News · WV

Democrats question need for West Virginia Amendment 1

Elections and voting

The November measure would place a U.S. citizenship requirement for voting in the West Virginia Constitution.

The Ballot West Virginia News DeskSep 19, 2026

News · VA

Virginia early voting begins Friday

Health care

Virginians can begin voting early Friday in general and special elections involving three proposed constitutional amendments.

The Ballot Virginia DeskSep 19, 2026

News · IA

Iowa income tax amendment draws competing advocacy

Economy and jobs

Advocates on both sides held events Thursday seeking more voter attention for a proposed income tax constitutional amendment.

The Ballot Iowa DeskSep 19, 2026

News · VT

Federal judge blocks demand for Vermont voter list

Elections and voting

A federal judge ruled Thursday that the federal government has no right to demand Vermont’s statewide voter registration list.

The Ballot Vermont DeskSep 19, 2026

News · IL

Illinois offers support to seek operator for Joslin plant

Economy and jobs

The state plans to offer Invest in Illinois funding to qualified proposals aimed at acquiring and reusing the former Tyson Foods beef facility.

The Ballot Illinois Policy DeskSep 19, 2026

News · ND

North Dakota voter guide released for November 3

Elections and voting

The League of Women Voters of North Dakota has released a free, nonpartisan guide ahead of the November 3 general election.

The Ballot North Dakota News DeskSep 19, 2026

News · ME

Maine unveils new printing of original constitution

Elections and voting

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows presented the first formal printing of Maine’s original Constitution since 1876.

The Ballot Maine Policy DeskSep 19, 2026

News · MT

Federal judge blocks Montana deepfake law for PAC

Elections and voting

The ruling stops Montana from applying its new election deepfake law to a conservative PAC that mailed AI-generated candidate images.

The Ballot Montana Policy DeskSep 19, 2026

News · CA

Prop. 5’s recall-election changes are not specified

Elections and voting

Prop. 5 is described as changing California recall elections, but its exact rules and election date are not identified.

The Ballot California Policy DeskSep 19, 2026

News · VA

Virginia’s 2026 Midterm Voter Guide: What to Know

Elections and voting

The Virginia Mercury guide concerns the 2026 midterm election but is not directly connected to a specific race, office or candidate.

The Ballot Virginia Policy DeskSep 19, 2026

News · KS

Kansas election office declined gender-marker enforcement

Elections and voting

State officials concluded a new law reaches voter forms but does not make election officers responsible for enforcing its gender-marker rules.

The Ballot Kansas News DeskSep 19, 2026

News · ME

Jeffries declines to address punishment for defectors

Elections and voting

The House Democratic leader did not say whether two members, including Maine Rep. Jared Golden, should face repercussions.

The Ballot Maine News DeskSep 18, 2026

News · AZ

Former Arizona lawmaker Jon Kyl dies at 84

Elections and voting

Kyl served in both chambers of Congress during a career that stretched from the Reagan presidency to Trump’s first term.

The Ballot Arizona Policy DeskSep 18, 2026

News · WI

Wisconsin midterms could reset path for election laws

Elections and voting

Unified control of state government could break years of stalemate, but constitutional limits would restrict some election-policy changes.

The Ballot Wisconsin News DeskSep 18, 2026

News · NY

US clears Iranian delegation for UN session in New York

Immigration

The State Department will grant visas for a core Iranian delegation to attend next week’s UN General Assembly session in New York City.

The Ballot New York Policy DeskSep 18, 2026

Candidate profile · RI

Candidate profile: David Bennett in House District 20

Elections and voting

Democratic incumbent David Bennett is the only candidate in Rhode Island’s uncontested 2026 State House District 20 race.

The Ballot Rhode Island Policy DeskSep 18, 2026

Candidate profile · WY

Candidate profile: Darin McCann in Wyoming House District 48

Elections and voting

Republican incumbent Darin McCann is running unopposed in Wyoming House District 48 in the 2026 general election.

The Ballot Wyoming News DeskSep 18, 2026

Race preview · VT

Washington Senate district has three Democratic incumbents

Elections and voting

Andrew Perchlik, Ann Cummings and Anne Watson are running in the contested Washington district election on Nov. 3, 2026.

The Ballot Vermont Policy DeskSep 18, 2026

Race preview · SD

Two incumbents run in South Dakota House District 34

Elections and voting

Republican incumbents Mike Derby and Heather Baxter are running in the contested District 34 race in South Dakota’s 2026 general election.

The Ballot South Dakota Policy DeskSep 18, 2026

Candidate profile · HI

Candidate profile: Tyson Miyake

Elections and voting

Democratic incumbent Tyson Miyake is running in Hawaii State House District 10 in the uncontested 2026 general election.

The Ballot Hawaii DeskSep 18, 2026

Candidate profile · PR

Candidate profile: Lourdes Ramos

Elections and voting

Lourdes Ramos is a Partido Nuevo Progresista incumbent running in Puerto Rico’s contested 2026 State House at-large election.

The Ballot Puerto Rico Policy DeskSep 18, 2026

Race preview · ND

Fisher and Louser run in North Dakota House District 5

Elections and voting

Republican incumbents Jay Fisher and Scott Louser are running in the contested District 5 race in North Dakota’s 2026 general election.

The Ballot North Dakota DeskSep 18, 2026

Candidate profile · NM

Candidate profile: Andi Reeb in New Mexico House District 64

Elections and voting

Republican incumbent Andi Reeb is running in the uncontested 2026 general election for New Mexico House District 64.

The Ballot New Mexico DeskSep 18, 2026

Candidate profile · NH

Candidate profile: John E Sununu in New Hampshire

Elections and voting

Republican John E Sununu is among 14 candidates listed in New Hampshire’s contested 2026 U.S. Senate race.

The Ballot New Hampshire Policy DeskSep 18, 2026

Candidate profile · MT

Candidate profile: Mike Fox in Montana House District 32

Elections and voting

Democratic incumbent Mike Fox is running in the currently uncontested 2026 general election for Montana House District 32.

The Ballot Montana News DeskSep 18, 2026

Candidate profile · KS

Kenneth Colin Mcroberts runs for Kansas’ 1st District

Elections and voting

Democrat Kenneth Colin Mcroberts is one of five candidates in the 2026 general election for Kansas’ 1st Congressional District.

The Ballot Kansas DeskSep 18, 2026

News · DE

Delaware high court to hear absentee voting challenge

Elections and voting

The Delaware Supreme Court will consider a Republican challenge involving the state’s absentee voting rules.

The Ballot Delaware News DeskSep 18, 2026

News · NM

New Mexico lawmakers discuss possible gas tax increase

Economy and jobs

New Mexico lawmakers are considering whether to increase the state tax applied to gasoline purchases.

The Ballot New Mexico News DeskSep 18, 2026