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 37 of 58

News · KY

Former Gov. Matt Bevin ordered released from Louisville jail

Elections and voting

The order directs that former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin be released from a Louisville jail.

The Ballot Kentucky DeskSep 17, 2026

News · KY

Six indicted in Kentucky Medicaid fraud case

Health care

Six people face criminal allegations involving Medicaid fraud, with the case now moving through the court process.

The Ballot Kentucky Policy DeskSep 17, 2026

Candidate profile · WY

Candidate profile: Chris Knapp in Wyoming House District 53

Elections and voting

Republican incumbent Chris Knapp is running in Wyoming House District 53, an uncontested race in the 2026 general election.

The Ballot Wyoming News DeskSep 17, 2026

Race preview · VT

Three incumbents enter Chittenden Central Senate race

Elections and voting

Democratic incumbents Phil Baruth, Martine Gulick and Tanya Vyhovsky are listed in the contested Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

The Ballot Vermont DeskSep 17, 2026

Race preview · SD

South Dakota House District 19 race preview

Elections and voting

Republican incumbents Drew Peterson and Jessica Bahmuller are running in the contested District 19 general election on Nov. 3, 2026.

The Ballot South Dakota DeskSep 17, 2026

Candidate profile · HI

Candidate profile: Terez Amato

Elections and voting

Democratic incumbent Terez Amato is the sole listed candidate for Hawaii State House District 11 in the 2026 general election.

The Ballot Hawaii News DeskSep 17, 2026

Race preview · ND

2026 North Dakota State House District 30 race preview

Elections and voting

Republican incumbents Glenn Bosch and Mike Nathe are running in the contested District 30 State House race on Nov. 3, 2026.

The Ballot North Dakota News DeskSep 17, 2026

Candidate profile · NM

Candidate profile: Michelle Lujan Grisham

Elections and voting

Democratic incumbent Michelle Lujan Grisham is listed in the uncontested 2026 race for governor of New Mexico.

The Ballot New Mexico DeskSep 17, 2026

Candidate profile · NH

Candidate profile: Dennis Lamare in the 2026 Senate race

Elections and voting

Republican Dennis Lamare is among 14 candidates listed in New Hampshire’s contested 2026 U.S. Senate race.

The Ballot New Hampshire News DeskSep 17, 2026

Explainer · MT

Voter guide to Montana’s 2026 general election

Elections and voting

Montana voters should verify election dates, registration rules, voting options and their ballot before casting a vote in 2026.

The Ballot Montana DeskSep 17, 2026

News · MS

Mississippi rural health providers awarded $3.75 million

Foreign policy

Twenty Mississippi hospitals and health providers will share federal funding through a rural hospital assistance program.

The Ballot Mississippi DeskSep 17, 2026

News · OH

Ohio expands school access to allergy emergency treatments

Education

House Bill 462 lets Ohio students, schools and camps use FDA-approved epinephrine devices beyond auto-injectors.

The Ballot Ohio DeskSep 17, 2026

News · IA

Turek, Hinson outline different responses to fuel costs

Energy and environment

With Iowa diesel above a gallon, Josh Turek is proposing federal tax and reserve steps while Ashley Hinson emphasizes biofuels and U.S. production.

The Ballot Iowa News DeskSep 17, 2026

News · CA

Newsom signs phased smog exemption for collector cars

Elections and voting

Senate Bill 1392 will gradually exempt qualifying collector vehicles from California smog certification requirements beginning in 2028.

The Ballot California DeskSep 17, 2026

News · CA

Newsom signs AI ad disclosure and performer protection law

Economy and jobs

SB 1050 requires video and audio ads to identify AI-generated performers and bars continued use of ads found to violate the law.

The Ballot California Policy DeskSep 17, 2026

News · MD

Andy Harris proposes temporary pause in federal fuel taxes

Economy and jobs

The Maryland congressman’s proposal would suspend federal gasoline and diesel taxes through the end of the year.

The Ballot Maryland Policy DeskSep 17, 2026

News · KS

Kansas judge lets Edgerton data center petition proceed

Elections and voting

A Johnson County judge struck the city’s claims against two petition organizers and classified the proposed ordinance as legislative.

The Ballot Kansas News DeskSep 17, 2026

News · WA

House to leave early, delaying Hegseth vote past midterms

Elections and voting

Republican leaders canceled the House’s final scheduled voting session before November, postponing a possible impeachment vote on Pete Hegseth.

The Ballot Washington Policy DeskSep 17, 2026

Race preview · MI

Six candidates line up for Michigan’s 9th District seat

Elections and voting

Incumbent Lisa Mcclain faces five candidates in Michigan’s contested 9th Congressional District race on Nov. 3, 2026.

The Ballot Michigan News DeskSep 17, 2026

Candidate profile · LA

Candidate profile: Eric Skrmetta

Elections and voting

Republican Eric Skrmetta is one of 21 candidates listed for Louisiana’s 2026 U.S. Senate general election.

The Ballot Louisiana Policy DeskSep 17, 2026

News · NH

N.H. Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald resigns

Elections and voting

MacDonald stepped down after a judicial conduct panel found he favored a longtime ally in hiring and violated the state ethics code.

The Ballot New Hampshire DeskSep 17, 2026

News · UT

Rubicon sues Utah AG’s office over allegedly lost evidence

Immigration

The complaint concerns records Rubicon says may matter to its pending billion civil-rights case against former state officials.

The Ballot Utah DeskSep 17, 2026

News · MI

Court keeps block on USPS mail-ballot plan

Elections and voting

A federal court has left an injunction against proposed USPS mail-ballot lists and related rules in place.

The Ballot Michigan DeskSep 17, 2026

News · IA

Iowa City council narrowly approves downtown police unit

Public safety

A closely divided Iowa City council approved a new police unit focused on downtown public safety.

The Ballot Iowa DeskSep 17, 2026

News · WI

Crowley calls for repeal of Wisconsin fuel markup law

Energy and environment

David Crowley says repealing the state’s minimum markup law would lower fuel prices and blames federal policies backed by Tom Tiffany for rising costs.

The Ballot Wisconsin DeskSep 16, 2026

News · PA

Pennsylvania sues TikTok and Snapchat over child safety

Elections and voting

Attorney General Dave Sunday says the platforms mislead users about addictive features, disappearing content and children's exposure to adult material.

The Ballot Pennsylvania Policy DeskSep 16, 2026

News · OK

Judge sets deadline for Illinois River settlement arguments

Energy and environment

Parties in the 21-year-old pollution lawsuit have until Sept. 30 to explain why the judge should consider their proposed settlement.

The Ballot Oklahoma News DeskSep 16, 2026

Candidate profile · KS

Candidate profile: Tracey Robert Mann in Kansas’ 1st

Elections and voting

Republican incumbent Tracey Robert Mann is one of five candidates in the 2026 general election for Kansas’ 1st Congressional District.

The Ballot Kansas DeskSep 16, 2026

Candidate profile · ID

Candidate profile: Ali Rabe for Idaho Senate District 16

Elections and voting

Democratic incumbent Ali Rabe is running in Idaho Senate District 16 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

The Ballot Idaho Policy DeskSep 16, 2026

Candidate profile · IA

Candidate profile: Ashley Hinson Arenholz in Iowa's 2nd

Elections and voting

Republican incumbent Ashley Hinson Arenholz is one of 12 candidates listed in Iowa's contested 2026 race for the 2nd Congressional District.

The Ballot Iowa Policy DeskSep 16, 2026