State and local government news covering governors, state legislatures, mayors, city councils, and regional political developments across America.
Multiple candidates backed by Big Tech executives lost in Tuesday's primary elections, defying expectations of a tech wave in state politics. Rep. Ro Khanna, an ally to Big Tech, supported a one-time 5% wealth tax on billionaires, prompting some tech executives to back Ethan Agarwal.
Mayor Michelle Wu endorsed a compromise rent control plan that would allow cities to set annual rent caps up to 10%. The deal, brokered by tenant advocates and developers, aims to avoid a November ballot initiative by passing a bill before July 1. The compromise also bans no-fault evictions and requires local adoption.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has adopted a tax-the-rich stance regarding property taxes, according to the Tampa Bay Times. This marks a shift from his previous positions and comes amid ongoing debate over property tax reform in Florida.
Jadon E. MacCormack, 23, is refusing to withdraw from the race for Connecticut's 50th House District after top state Republican leaders condemned his anti-LGBTQ+ Facebook comments. He posted 'Happy Straight Month!' mocking Pride Month and previously shared a noose image after the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage. MacCormack was a sessional employee of the Connecticut legislature in 2026.
This commentary explains why Maine's primary election results may take days to finalize due to ranked-choice voting. It argues that the process, while potentially lengthy, is a standard procedure for ensuring majority winners in crowded races, and provides a detailed walkthrough of the tabulation timeline.
Democratic nominee Gina Hinojosa released her first digital ad of the Texas governor's race, airing during the NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks. The ad accuses Republican incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott of being controlled by donors and imposing an 'Abbott corruption tax' on Texans. Hinojosa's initial ad buy is in the five-figure range, with plans to max out ad time on ESPN+ NBA Finals streaming content.
New York state lawmakers plan to pass a one-year moratorium on new data center projects before the session ends this week. The bill requires an environmental impact study, mandates eventual reliance on renewable energy, and funds community benefits. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie called it a compromise after advocates sought a three-year ban.
New York state Democrats passed a bill replacing 'mother' with 'gestating parent' and 'father' with 'non-gestating parent' in Family Court Law. The bill also changes 'paternity' to 'parentage' and redefines 'putative father' as 'an alleged parent'. It now goes to Gov. Kathy Hochul for approval.
Fulton County DA Fani Willis gave a combative performance before Georgia Republican senators, accusing them of racism and political motives. She defended her prosecution of Donald Trump in the 2020 election interference case and criticized GOP efforts to change election laws.
Georgia political leaders from both parties used a questionable state law to raise $6.7 million this year for leadership committees, accepting donations exceeding normal contribution limits. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones's committee raised $4.7 million, with 65% from donors who already maxed out direct contributions.