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.

2,375 stories · page 20 of 80

News · IL

Illinois climate migration effort stalls after first law

Energy and environment

Illinois enacted the nation’s first climate migration law, but the state’s follow-through has stalled.

The Ballot Illinois DeskSep 28, 2026

News · MS

What to know about Mississippi’s 2026 elections

Elections and voting

Mississippi voters will decide a U.S. Senate race and contests in all four congressional districts on Nov. 3.

The Ballot Mississippi DeskSep 28, 2026

News · AK

‘Lower 48’ becomes a fault line in Alaska Senate contest

Elections and voting

The phrase is being used to question whether political figures answer to Alaskans or powerful interests outside the state.

The Ballot Alaska News DeskSep 28, 2026

Candidate profile · ME

Candidate profile: Chellie M Pingree in Maine’s 1st District

Elections and voting

Democratic incumbent Chellie M Pingree is one of seven candidates in Maine’s contested 1st District race.

The Ballot Maine DeskSep 28, 2026

Candidate profile · LA

Julie Cathryn Emerson enters Louisiana’s 2026 Senate race

Elections and voting

Republican Julie Cathryn Emerson is among 21 candidates listed for Louisiana’s Nov. 3, 2026, U.S. Senate election.

The Ballot Louisiana News DeskSep 28, 2026

Candidate profile · KY

Candidate profile: Bowman J Jay in Kentucky’s 6th District

Elections and voting

Bowman J Jay, listed with the designation NNE, is running in Kentucky’s contested 6th District U.S. House election.

The Ballot Kentucky DeskSep 28, 2026

Candidate profile · ID

Candidate profile: Ben Toews for Idaho Senate District 4

Elections and voting

Republican incumbent Ben Toews is running in Idaho Senate District 4 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

The Ballot Idaho Policy DeskSep 28, 2026

Candidate profile · DE

Candidate profile: Kam Smith in Delaware House District 15

Elections and voting

Democratic incumbent Kam Smith is running in Delaware House District 15 in the Nov. 3, 2026 general election.

The Ballot Delaware Policy DeskSep 28, 2026

Explainer · DC

Voter guide: District of Columbia 2026 general election

Elections and voting

District voters should confirm registration, ballot and voting details before participating in the 2026 general election.

The Ballot District of Columbia News DeskSep 28, 2026

Explainer · AR

Voter guide: Arkansas 2026 general election

Elections and voting

Arkansas voters can prepare by checking registration, election dates, ballot contents and voting instructions before casting a ballot.

The Ballot Arkansas News DeskSep 28, 2026

Candidate profile · AK

Candidate profile: Kevin McCabe

Elections and voting

Republican incumbent Kevin McCabe is running for Alaska House District 30 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

The Ballot Alaska DeskSep 28, 2026

Candidate profile · WV

Candidate profile: Bryan Ward in West Virginia House District 86

Elections and voting

Republican incumbent Bryan Ward is running in the uncontested 2026 general election for West Virginia House District 86.

The Ballot West Virginia News DeskSep 28, 2026

Race preview · WA

Five candidates enter Washington’s 8th District race

Elections and voting

Democratic incumbent Kim Schrier and four Republican candidates are listed in the contested 2026 race for Washington’s 8th District.

The Ballot Washington Policy DeskSep 28, 2026

Candidate profile · UT

Candidate profile: Tyler Scott Farnsworth

Elections and voting

Democrat Tyler Scott Farnsworth is running for Utah’s 2nd Congressional District in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

The Ballot Utah Policy DeskSep 28, 2026

Candidate profile · VA

Candidate profile: Jacob Roginsky in Virginia’s 7th District

Elections and voting

Republican Jacob Roginsky is among 18 candidates listed in Virginia’s 2026 race for the 7th Congressional District.

The Ballot Virginia News DeskSep 28, 2026

Candidate profile · TN

William Davis Wicker candidate profile for Tennessee's 8th

Elections and voting

William Davis Wicker is a Democrat running in Tennessee’s contested 8th Congressional District election on Nov. 3, 2026.

The Ballot Tennessee DeskSep 28, 2026

Candidate profile · RI

Candidate profile: Ryan Pearson in Rhode Island Senate District 19

Elections and voting

Democratic incumbent Ryan Pearson is running in Rhode Island Senate District 19 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

The Ballot Rhode Island DeskSep 28, 2026

Candidate profile · OH

Candidate profile: Josh Williams in Ohio’s 9th District

Elections and voting

Republican Josh Williams is among 10 candidates listed for Ohio’s 9th Congressional District general election in 2026.

The Ballot Ohio News DeskSep 28, 2026

News · US

Axios says GOP election outlook has worsened

Elections and voting

The assessment is a broad description of Republican electoral conditions, not a finding tied to a named candidate, race or vote count.

The Ballot National DeskSep 28, 2026

News · US

Tax and pop culture mark National and Labour launches

Economy and jobs

National and Labour opened their campaigns with contrasting references to tax, anime and blunt political language.

The Ballot National (US) Policy DeskSep 28, 2026

News · FL

Florida Democrats’ November chances depend on each race

Elections and voting

Republican dominance shapes Florida’s political landscape, but it does not decide November contests before voters cast ballots.

The Ballot Florida DeskSep 28, 2026

News · US

Some Democrats center Christianity in midterm campaigns

Elections and voting

Some Democratic candidates are making Christian faith a central part of their midterm campaign messages.

The Ballot National (US) News DeskSep 28, 2026

News · TX

Fetterman misspeaks about party at Texas Tribune Festival

Elections and voting

The Pennsylvania senator drew laughter after calling himself a Republican, then reaffirmed that he remains a Democrat.

The Ballot Texas Policy DeskSep 28, 2026

News · US

Trump administration airs 2024 campaign ad as public message

Economy and jobs

A Trump campaign ad from 2024 is now airing through taxpayer-funded administration messaging focused on the economy and jobs.

The Ballot National DeskSep 28, 2026

Candidate profile · WY

J.R. Riggins: Wyoming House District 59 candidate

Elections and voting

Republican incumbent J.R. Riggins is the only listed candidate in Wyoming House District 59 for the 2026 general election.

The Ballot Wyoming Policy DeskSep 28, 2026

Race preview · SD

Two incumbents run in South Dakota House District 25

Elections and voting

Republican incumbents Jon Hansen and Les Heinemann are running in the contested District 25 general election on Nov. 3, 2026.

The Ballot South Dakota Policy DeskSep 28, 2026

Candidate profile · HI

Candidate profile: Amy Perruso

Elections and voting

Democratic incumbent Amy Perruso is running for Hawaii House District 46 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

The Ballot Hawaii DeskSep 28, 2026

Candidate profile · PR

Candidate profile: Lisie Burgos

Elections and voting

Lisie Burgos, a Proyecto Dignidad incumbent, is running for an at-large seat in the Puerto Rico House in the 2026 general election.

The Ballot Puerto Rico Policy DeskSep 28, 2026

Race preview · ND

Two Republican incumbents run in House District 6

Elections and voting

Dan Vollmer and Dick Anderson, both Republican incumbents, are running in North Dakota’s District 6 general election.

The Ballot North Dakota Policy DeskSep 28, 2026

News · FL

DeSantis announces 20 arrests over alleged illegal voting

Elections and voting

Florida officials say 16 noncitizens and four felons on parole voted despite being ineligible.

The Ballot Florida Policy DeskSep 28, 2026