from States Newsroom
|
By Robin Opsahl |
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled to keep in place a lower court’s order blocking President Donald Trump’s embattled plan to place new restrictions on mail ballots for this year’s midterm elections. While this resolves some vote-by-mail concerns brought by Democratic state officials and voting rights groups about the upcoming election, other concerns remain.
The unsigned, one-paragraph order upheld a Massachusetts federal court’s injunction on a U.S. Postal Service rule until after Nov. 3 and did not decide whether the rule itself was lawful. But a majority of the court said the Democratic state officials and voting rights groups challenging the rule were likely to succeed.
After winning a major battle over mail ballots, voting rights groups and Democratic officials are looking to defend against what they see as possible election interference from the Trump administration ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. The Democratic Party is upping its voter protection efforts, launching its own initiative this week to deploy 10,000 volunteers to assist voters at polling locations in all 50 states plus seven U.S. territories.
The group Common Cause, a nonpartisan pro-democracy organization, also announced a “voter protection” campaign Thursday that would place thousands of volunteers at polling sites in 25 states. The initiative is designed to counter potential administration moves to intimidate voters, such as ordering troops or law enforcement officers to polling places.
The Trump administration is facing another election-related lawsuit brought by a coalition of civil rights groups and union organizations, who sued the administration Friday to prevent the deployment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to polling locations during November’s midterm elections.
TOP IMPACT
Alabamans hold up signs that read “No Data Center” at a County Commission meeting on Aug. 24, 2026, in Hayneville, Alabama, in the Lowndes County Courthouse. (Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector)
By David Lightman | News from the States
The rare 2026 issue that draws huge support from Republicans and Democrats in Congress is the same one that’s mobilized many Americans: restrictions on giant data centers.
The House has overwhelmingly passed legislation forcing state regulators to consider requirements that data centers absorb the cost of the electricity they use. But the vote was only a prologue for action. There’s no clear next chapter, as skepticism is coming from critics at the White House and among progressives. The biggest obstacle appears to be President Donald Trump.
U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posed for photos at a Nunn campaign event held at JR’s Southpork Ranch at the Iowa State Fair Aug. 17, 2026. Nunn was one of three House Republicans who broke with the Trump administration's in a Sept. 15 vote to rein in the Iran war. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
By Ashley Murray | News from the States
As the November midterms approach, vulnerable U.S. House Republicans voted late Tuesday to require congressional approval for President Donald Trump to continue his war in Iran.
Seven Republicans broke ranks and joined all Democrats to pass a War Powers Resolution sponsored by Rep. Seth Moulton, a Massachusetts Democrat. Tuesday’s vote marked the third time since June that the House passed a measure to curb Trump’s military powers in Iran. The war has dragged on for over half a year.
BIG PICTURE
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks at a campaign event for U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans in Virginia Beach, Virginia, on Aug. 17, 2026. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury)
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, CONGRESS AND COURTS
USA: US House leaves for campaign break without action on AI, affordability | News from the States
IA: Vance rallies Iowa Republicans, says Trump’s trade policies benefit farmers | Iowa Capital Dispatch
USA: Fed raises interest rates for first time in 3 years, battling persistent inflation | News from the States
IN: Indiana approved for mass SNAP replacement | Indiana Capital Chronicle
LA: Some 58,000 Medicaid recipients in Louisiana might fall short of work requirements | Louisiana Illuminator
SC: SC rural hospitals, doctors’ offices receive share of $200M in federal funding amid Medicaid cuts | South Carolina Daily Gazette
NE: Drop in Nebraskans receiving public food assistance hastens, drawing concern at hearing | Nebraska Examiner
AR: Arkansas finance secretary urges lawmakers to keep Medicaid fully funded after $400M spending hike | Arkansas Advocate
IA: US Sen. John Kennedy, in Iowa, predicts end of Iran war in 6 months | Iowa Capital Dispatch
USA: Trump administration says developers, loggers can kill endangered species | Stateline
USA: States fight to inspect federal immigrant detention facilities | Stateline
TX: What to know about Austin ICE shooting and migrant deaths in Texas | Texas Tribune
PA: What happened at Geisinger? Arrests near Danville hospital show difficulty tracking ICE activity. | Pennsylvania Capital-Star
TN: Residents push back against planned Nashville ICE coordination center | Tennessee Lookout
USA: White House yanks nominee to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement | News from the States
OH: As Ohio Haitians worry, violence in their home country spreads | Ohio Capital Journal
NJ: Federal change threatens Medicaid coverage for 25K legal immigrants in NJ | New Jersey Monitor
USA: Trump rapid third-country removal policy blocked at appeals court | News from the States
USA: Judge says case challenging Trump’s anti-weaponization fund ‘still alive and kicking’ | News from the States
IA: Ethics complaint filed over Defense Secretary Hegseth’s Iowa State Fair fundraiser with Rep. Nunn | Iowa Capital Dispatch
CAMPAIGNS, VOTING AND ELECTION LAW
MO: Missouri election officials begin mailing ballots as they await ruling on congressional map | Missouri Independent
GA: Three Georgia counties flagged by Trump administration for using non-English election materials | Georgia Recorder
ID: Ahead of 2026 midterm elections, Idaho officials begin mailing ballots to overseas, absentee voters | Idaho Capital Sun
SD: Lawsuit causes South Dakota secretary of state to issue new guidance on federal-only voter notices | South Dakota Searchlight
FL: Advocate emphasizes there are no major changes to state election laws this year | Florida Phoenix
MI: No Kings to host voter mobilization effort ahead of Election Day | Michigan Advance
USA: FBI’s Patel dodges questions on election interference at rambunctious US Senate hearing | News from the States
NC: NC elections director disputes judge’s claim that GOP-led agency is politically biased | NC Newsline
AK: Alaskans just voted to limit campaign cash. A second vote could change that. | Alaska Beacon
TX: Federal judge pauses Texas Republicans’ bid to close primaries | Texas Tribune
SD: South Dakota’s top election official, a Republican, endorses a Democrat to succeed her | South Dakota Searchlight
AK: Pitched battle for Alaska’s Senate seat is enveloped in a fight over fish | Alaska Beacon
TN: Democrats face uphill battle in winning any Tennessee US House race | Tennessee Lookout
AL: Alabama Republicans fear GOP apathy could give Democrats boost | Alabama Reflector
KY: Dems think ‘affordability’ gives them a shot in 6th District, but GOP touts historical patterns | Kentucky Lantern
IA: Hinson, Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming highlight GOP tips, overtime tax cuts | Iowa Capital Dispatch
LA: Democratic Senate hopeful Jamie Davis avoids GOP talk at LSU voter event | Louisiana Illuminator
WI: Another gubernatorial debate canceled due to GOP candidate Tom Tiffany declining to participate | Wisconsin Examiner
WV: WV voters will decide on proposed citizen-only voting constitutional amendment in November | West Virginia Watch
MI: ‘Facts first, conclusions second’: House committee begins review of ballot measure procedures | Michigan Advance
Thanks so much for reading The Rundown. Tips? Feedback?
✉️ [email protected], or X @robinlopsahl
And if you enjoyed today's edition, forward this email to a friend.