from States Newsroom
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By Kathie Obradovich |
With just 64 days until the Nov. 3 midterm elections, the Trump administration’s ongoing court battle over voting by mail continues to raise concerns about the impact on voters.
The Trump administration on Friday headed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit to try to halt a federal judge’s temporary restraining order issued late Thursday that froze for two weeks an administration plan to carry out parts of an earlier executive order to limit vote-by-mail.
States including Colorado, Utah, Massachusetts and New Hampshire were reassuring voters there would be no impact to voting by mail in the 2026 election. Meanwhile, California, North Carolina, Illinois and Washington were among states filing lawsuits to block the Trump administration’s new rules.
TOP IMPACT
U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks at the Detroit NAACP Fight For Freedom Fund Dinner on April 26, 2026. Jeffries is in line to become House speaker if Democrats win control of the chamber in November. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
By Shauneen Miranda | News from the States
With less than 70 days until midterm elections, Democrats remain favored to regain the majority in the U.S. House.
President Donald Trump’s anemic approval ratings amid the war in Iran, concerns over the economy and a coalitional shift within the party mark some of the largest headwinds facing Republicans heading into November, according to election analysts and political scientists interviewed by States Newsroom.
Shipping containers sit at Malcolm Transfer Station in Minneapolis on March 21, 2026. A developing trade war with Canada poses economic danger, especially for states on the northern border. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)
By Ashley Murray | News from the States
A developing trade war with Canada could bite Republicans ahead of the upcoming midterm elections as voters worry about rising prices and industries in states with competitive races could suffer.
Maine’s lobster industry dodged what officials had warned could be economic havoc Thursday morning when Canada reversed its decision to tax lobster imports at 25%. But states including Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Michigan and Wisconsin could see effects if Canada follows through on retaliatory tariffs on alcohol, automobiles, dairy, home appliances, steel and other goods.
BIG PICTURE
Demonstrators gathered at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, marking the 63rd anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom where the late civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. (Photo by Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, CONGRESS AND COURTS
USA: A summer of recalls exposes holes in the nation’s food safety net | Stateline
USA: Trump administration appeals latest order freezing rule on mail-in voting | News from the States
USA: US Justice Department challenges 4 more states over in-state tuition for immigrants | News from the States
OH: ‘Springfield is under siege right now.’ ICE agents in Ohio have detained 2 Haitian pastors. | Ohio Capital Journal
FL: In Tampa, RFK Jr. questions accuracy of report of measles deaths in Pennsylvania | Florida Phoenix
GA: Trump stronghold feels healthcare cuts, but political shift remains unlikely | Georgia Recorder
USA: Trump has widened scope of anti-immigrant policy in second term | News from the States
OR: Immigration arrests in Oregon under Trump 2.0 by the numbers | Oregon Capital Chronicle
TX: Brother of migrant shot by ICE agent in Houston released from detention | Texas Tribune
NY: Inside the federal program paying NY cops to help Border Patrol arrest immigrants | New York Focus
GA: Georgia cattlemen push back on Trump’s plan to import beef in bid to lower prices | Georgia Recorder
MN: New court filings reveal more details of undercover agents’ surveillance of anti-ICE protesters | Minnesota Reformer
MI: New tariffs on Canada heighten Michigan Democrats’ affordability attacks on Trump, GOP | Michigan Advance
NM: New Mexico immigrant advocates warn of ‘uptick’ in ICE arrests in Albuquerque | Source New Mexico
MN: Judge denies Minnesota’s extradition request for ICE agent Christian Castro | Minnesota Reformer
NJ: Conservationists push to preserve national wildlife refuges, fearing federal changes | New Jersey Monitor
ND: North Dakota postpones ban on using food assistance for soda, candy | North Dakota Monitor
CAMPAIGNS, VOTING AND ELECTION LAW
USA: Voting rights struggle continues, advocates say at March on Washington anniversary | News from the States
AL: Tuberville, AG, GOP ask Alabama Supreme Court to affirm residency challenge dismissal | Alabama Reflector
IA: Iowa Democratic candidates push for term limits at Polk County Steak Fry | Iowa Capital Dispatch
IA: Sen. Ted Cruz criticizes Democrats as ‘Marxists and Islamists’ at Hinson event in Iowa | Iowa Capital Dispatch
CO: Front Range cities will vote on tax measure to fund Colorado Connector rail service | Colorado Newsline
FL: David Jolly: First Lady Casey DeSantis, Hope Florida were ‘used’ in a ‘sinister plan’ | Florida Phoenix
IA: Judge rules Iowa Libertarians did not correctly replace 3rd District, lieutenant governor candidates| Iowa Capital Dispatch
AZ: LGBTQ Arizonans emerge as a voting bloc that could tip close races | Arizona Mirror
MI: Michigan Democrats finalize nominations, continue calls for unity heading into November | Michigan Advance
NM: New Mexico Democrats push to place 2 state House candidates on November ballot after withdrawals | Source New Mexico
LA: Louisiana Democrats make endorsements in congressional races | Louisiana Illuminator
LA: Louisiana GOP makes controversial endorsements for Congress. More could follow. | Louisiana Illuminator
WA: Ethics panel: WA lawmaker broke no rules trying to thwart challenge from fellow Democrat | Washington State Standard
NM: New Mexico Forward Party makes its case for ballot access before a federal judge | Source New Mexico
SD: Ep. 31: How independent US Senate candidate Brian Bengs wants to ‘deny the majority’ to get things done | South Dakota Searchlight
AK: Alaska Supreme Court to rule on question of bias in ballot measure language | Alaska Beacon
OK: Oklahoma sees uptick in voter turnout for 2026 runoff elections | Oklahoma Voice
NM: US House Speaker Johnson stumps for GOP congressional hopeful Cunningham in Albuquerque | Source New Mexico
IA: New poll shows tight races for Iowa governor, U.S. Senate in 2026 | Iowa Capital Dispatch
SD: After primary and runoff, Trump endorses Republican nominee for South Dakota governor | South Dakota Searchlight
KY: McConnell misses annual Kentucky ham breakfast despite frequent attendance in years past | Kentucky Lantern
TN: How Tennessee would replace Marsha Blackburn in the U.S. Senate if she becomes governor | Tennessee Lookout
MI: El-Sayed says Hasan Piker does not speak for his campaign amid comments on Sen. Jeremy Moss | Michigan Advance
ME: With focus on fraud and ‘socialism,’ Vance returns to Maine to rally for Republican candidates | Maine Morning Star
IN: Ballard unveils prototype for state-issued, precinct-level voter guides | Indiana Capital Chronicle
OR: Oregon gubernatorial candidates trade campaign ads, jabs as November election nears | Oregon Capital Chronicle
KY: Two out-of-state donors give very big to Beshear super PAC | Kentucky Lantern
SD: State of South Dakota faces lawsuit over proof-of-citizenship voter registration law | South Dakota Searchlight
MD: Maryland Republicans take round one in redistricting challenge | Maryland Matters
IA: Iowa likely voters closely split on income tax constitutional amendment, poll finds | Iowa Capital Dispatch
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