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.

2,414 stories · page 29 of 81

Candidate profile · AK

Candidate profile: Ted Eischeid

Elections and voting

Democratic incumbent Ted Eischeid is running in Alaska State House District 22 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

The Ballot Alaska News DeskSep 26, 2026

Candidate profile · WV

Candidate profile: Bill Flanigan in House District 4

Elections and voting

Republican incumbent Bill Flanigan is running in West Virginia House District 4 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

The Ballot West Virginia Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

Candidate profile · WI

Candidate profile: Jonathan Philip Peetz in Wisconsin’s 6th

Elections and voting

Peetz is a Republican in the contested 2026 race for Wisconsin’s 6th Congressional District.

The Ballot Wisconsin News DeskSep 26, 2026

Candidate profile · VA

Candidate profile: Joshua Ertle in Virginia’s 7th District

Elections and voting

Joshua Ertle is running without a party affiliation in Virginia’s contested 7th District U.S. House race.

The Ballot Virginia DeskSep 26, 2026

Candidate profile · TN

Johnny Garrett profile: Tennessee’s 6th District race

Elections and voting

Republican Johnny Garrett is among 15 candidates listed in the contested 2026 race for Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District.

The Ballot Tennessee News DeskSep 26, 2026

Candidate profile · RI

Candidate profile: Lori Urso for Rhode Island Senate

Elections and voting

Democratic incumbent Lori Urso is running in Rhode Island Senate District 8 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

The Ballot Rhode Island Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

Candidate profile · PA

Candidate profile: Sharif Street in Pennsylvania’s 3rd

Elections and voting

Democrat Sharif Street is among 19 candidates in the PA-3 contest scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026.

The Ballot Pennsylvania DeskSep 26, 2026

Candidate profile · NV

Candidate profile: Gabriel Cornejo in Nevada’s 1st District

Elections and voting

Democrat Gabriel Cornejo is one of 16 candidates listed in Nevada’s contested 1st Congressional District race.

The Ballot Nevada DeskSep 26, 2026

News · VT

Vermont amendments raise question of existing rights

Elections and voting

Voters will consider constitutional proposals on collective bargaining and equal protection in November 2026.

The Ballot Vermont News DeskSep 26, 2026

News · OK

Question 845 targets party limits on judicial commission

Elections and voting

Oklahoma voters will decide in November whether to end party-based membership limits for the state’s judicial nominating commission.

The Ballot Oklahoma Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

News · MA

Brensley launches Portuguese ballot initiative in Fall River

Elections and voting

Anne Brensley, joined by Carlos Cesar and Pastor Manny Silva, announced an initiative seeking Portuguese-language ballots across Massachusetts.

The Ballot Massachusetts News DeskSep 26, 2026

News · MD

Maryland AG declines to reopen Tawon Boyd death investigation

Elections and voting

Maryland’s attorney general will leave closed the investigation into Tawon Boyd’s 2016 death.

The Ballot Maryland Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

News · IN

Indiana AG sues over race quota on sports group's board

Education

Indiana’s attorney general is challenging a race-based board quota used by a high school sports association.

The Ballot Indiana Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

News · MO

Missouri attorney general announces trafficking council

Elections and voting

A new council will focus on human trafficking, with its structure and work now the main issues to watch.

The Ballot Missouri Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

News · NJ

Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell resigns after investigation

Elections and voting

Investigators found credible evidence of sexual harassment and other wrongdoing by New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell.

The Ballot New Jersey DeskSep 26, 2026

News · OR

Federal voter database ruling will not affect Oregon

Elections and voting

The U.S. Supreme Court sided with the Trump administration in a federal voter database matter that does not affect Oregon elections.

The Ballot Oregon News DeskSep 26, 2026

News · US

GOP senators object to Trump’s welcome for Xi

Foreign policy

Republican senators are criticizing President Trump’s welcome for Xi Jinping after China helped Iran.

The Ballot National (US) Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

News · US

2026 midterm page offers no race-level polling details

Elections and voting

The NBC News midterm election heading references congressional and state contests but identifies no specific race, candidate or poll.

The Ballot National DeskSep 26, 2026

News · US

Brooks, Capehart discuss Trump’s warm welcome for Xi

Foreign policy

The commentators joined Amna Nawaz to discuss Xi Jinping’s state visit and Trump’s ban on some journalists entering the White House.

The Ballot National (US) Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

News · US

Lawmakers call Trump’s $810 million funding plan unlawful

Immigration

The White House plans to withhold congressionally approved money for research, education and programs serving immigrants and minority groups.

The Ballot National DeskSep 26, 2026

News · MN

Justice Department sues Minnesota over gun waiting periods

Public safety

The lawsuit challenges gun-purchase waiting periods involving Minnesota and its two largest cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul.

The Ballot Minnesota News DeskSep 26, 2026

News · ID

Idaho officials raise concerns over mail ballot proposal

Elections and voting

Idaho election officials are raising concerns about proposed changes involving mail-in ballots.

The Ballot Idaho Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

News · AR

Federal grant to support Port of Little Rock road work

Economy and jobs

The federally supported road construction will take place near a proposed Google data center at the Port of Little Rock.

The Ballot Arkansas Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

News · MO

Supreme Court rejects Trump-backed Missouri map again

Elections and voting

The Supreme Court has rejected a Missouri congressional map backed by Donald Trump for the third time.

The Ballot Missouri News DeskSep 26, 2026

News · UT

What to know about Utah’s 2026 elections

Elections and voting

Utah voters will decide four U.S. House contests on Nov. 3 against a backdrop of Republican presidential wins in 2016, 2020 and 2024.

The Ballot Utah Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

Candidate profile · WY

Mike Schmid: 2026 candidate for Wyoming House District 20

Elections and voting

Republican incumbent Mike Schmid is running in an uncontested 2026 general election for Wyoming House District 20.

The Ballot Wyoming Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

Race preview · VT

Washington-4 State House race features two incumbents

Elections and voting

Democratic incumbents Conor Casey and Kate McCann are running in the contested Washington-4 general election on Nov. 3, 2026.

The Ballot Vermont DeskSep 26, 2026

Race preview · SD

Two Republican incumbents run in State House District 1

Elections and voting

Logan Manhart and Nick Fosness, both Republican incumbents, are running in South Dakota House District 1 in the 2026 general election.

The Ballot South Dakota DeskSep 26, 2026

News · MN

Justice Department sues Minnesota and Twin Cities

Public safety

The legal challenge targets Minnesota, Minneapolis and St. Paul over a waiting period for firearm purchases.

The Ballot Minnesota DeskSep 26, 2026

News · WI

Enbridge puts Line 5 leak cost at least $15.1 million

Energy and environment

Emergency response and property damage account for most of Enbridge’s estimated costs from the August leak in Iron County.

The Ballot Wisconsin DeskSep 26, 2026