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Ballotpedia's top Daily Brew stories, 2025
This page contains overviews of the most-read Ballotpedia's Daily Brew stories from each month in 2025. From major elections to consequential policy developments, these monthly highlights capture some of the defining moments in U.S. politics and elections in 2025. This page also includes links to the other stories included in each edition that the stories were featured.
Click on the links below to view an overview the most-read stories:
January
58 minor party candidates received more votes than the margin of victory in the 2024 federal, state, and local elections
On Jan. 29, we shared an analysis that found at least 58 minor party or independent candidates in 2024 received more votes than the margin of victory (MOV) between the winning and losing candidates in their elections, potentially altering the outcome. There were 56 such candidates in 2022 and 77 in 2020.
Twelve of those 58 candidates ran in congressional elections. Seventeen candidates ran in elections for statewide offices. Twenty-eight candidates ran in state-level district elections. One candidate ran in a local election within our coverage scope.
Click here to read the entire story and the other two stories that we covered in that day’s edition.
February
St. Louis will pick its next mayor with approval voting
On Feb. 25, we previewed the mayoral primary in St. Louis, Missouri. Incumbent Mayor Tishaura Jones, Michael Butler, Andrew Jones Jr., and Cara Spencer ran in the March 4 nonpartisan primary. It was the second St. Louis mayoral primary to use approval voting, which allows voters to vote for any number of candidates. The two with the most votes advanced to a runoff.
Ultimately, Spencer and Tishaura Jones advanced to the runoff election after receiving 68% and 33% of the vote, respectively. In the runoff, Spencer defeated Jones 64% to 36%. Mayoral elections happened in 27 of the 100 most populous cities in 2025. Seven of those elections, including the one in St. Louis, included an incumbent who lost re-election.
Click here to read the entire story and the other two stories that we covered in that day’s edition.
March
13 states have now banned ranked-choice voting as municipalities decide on whether to adopt it
On March 25, we told you about how the governors of Wyoming and West Virginia had signed legislation banning ranked-choice voting (RCV). Those states joined 11 others that had banned RCV statewide.
Since we published that story, four other states — Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, and North Dakota — have joined the list of states that have banned RCV, bringing the total to 17.
All but two of the 17 states with bans adopted them when a Republican trifecta controlled the state government. Kansas and Kentucky adopted their bans with Republican-controlled legislatures and Democratic governors. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) signed the bill banning RCV in the state. The Kentucky General Assembly overrode Gov. Andy Beshear's (D) veto of the ban.
Click here to read the entire story and the other two stories that we covered in that day's edition.
April
As voters decide on trifecta status in New Jersey and Virginia this year, we're looking at the history of trifectas
On April 8, we released our annual report on state government trifecta vulnerability based on the states holding gubernatorial or legislative elections this year: New Jersey and Virginia. Heading into the 2025 general elections:
- Fifteen states, including New Jersey, had a Democratic trifecta.
- Twenty-three states had a Republican trifecta.
- Twelve states, including Virginia, had a divided government.
Based on the proportion of legislative seats that would have needed to change party control to change chamber majorities, and gubernatorial race ratings, New Jersey's Democratic trifecta was somewhat vulnerable and Virginia’s divided government had a moderate possibility of becoming a Democratic trifecta.
Ultimately, New Jersey retained its Democratic trifecta and Virginia gained a Democratic trifecta. As a result, there will be 16 states with a Democratic trifecta, 23 states with a Republican trifecta, and 11 states with a divided government once officeholders elected in 2025 are sworn in.
Click here to read the entire story and the other two stories that we covered in that day's edition.
May
The last uncalled race of the 2024 election cycle has ended
On May 12, we reviewed the 2024 North Carolina Supreme Court election — the last uncalled race of the 2024 election cycle. Although the election took place on Nov. 5, the results remained up in the air due to numerous legal challenges. On May 7, Jefferson Griffin (R) conceded to incumbent Justice Allison Riggs (D).[1]
The partisan election resulted in Democrats maintaining two seats on the court to Republicans' five. Riggs and Justice Anita Earls (D) — who is up for re-election in 2026 — are the only Democrats on the Court. According to the Associated Press, now that Riggs has won an eight-year term on the court, Democrats have "improved [their] efforts to retake a court majority later in the decade."[1]
Click here to read the entire story and the other two stories that we covered in that day's edition.
June
Chevron deference overturned one year ago
On June 30, we marked one year since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, overruling its 1984 decision in Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. and in the process overturning the Chevron deference doctrine.
The Chevron doctrine of judicial deference refers to the administrative law principle that requires federal courts to defer to a federal agency’s interpretation of an ambiguous or unclear statute.
In a 6–3 ruling issued on June 28, 2024, the court held that judges must independently interpret ambiguous federal statutes rather than defer to agency interpretations. The majority wrote that such deference violated the judiciary’s constitutional and legal responsibility to determine the meaning of laws.
Click here to read the entire story and the other two stories that we covered in that day’s edition.
July
U.S. Supreme Court grants the Trump administration's 16th emergency order
On July 17, we told you about the U.S. Supreme Court's July 15 decision in Linda McMahon, Secretary of Education, et al., Applicants v. New York, et al. The 6-3 decision allowed the Trump administration to proceed with large-scale layoffs in the U.S. Department of Education.
The question came to the court via a June 6 emergency application from the Trump administration, asking the court to undo an injunction from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit that had blocked the implementation of a March 2025 executive order.
At the time, this was one of 20 emergency applications to the U.S. Supreme Court from the Trump administration, and the 16th that the court granted.
Click here to read the entire story and the other two stories that we covered in that day’s edition.
August
Almost 200 candidates have filed to run in the 2028 presidential election
On Aug. 28, we updated you on the number of candidates who have filed to run in the 2028 presidential election. At the time, 175 candidates had filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to run for president.
Since then, 41 new candidates have filed to run for president, bringing the total number of candidates to 216. Forty-six of the candidates are Democrats, 55 are Republicans, and 115 are independent or minor party candidates.
Click here to read the entire story and the other two stories that we covered in that day’s edition.
September
A look at the candidates, issues, and endorsements in Seattle’s Nov. 4 mayoral election
On Sept. 24, we previewed the Nov. 4 mayoral election in Seattle, Washington, between incumbent Mayor Bruce Harrell and Katie Wilson. Wilson and Harrell defeated six other candidates in the Aug. 5 primary. Wilson won 51% of the vote, and Harrell won 41%.
Ultimately, Wilson defeated Harrell in the general election 50.4% to 49.6%.
Click here to read the entire story and the other two stories that we covered in that day’s edition.
October
California Proposition 50 becomes the 10th most expensive ballot measure in the state's history
On Oct. 1, we broke down the finances behind California Proposition 50, a constitutional amendment that voters approved 64% to 36% on Nov. 4. It allows the state to use a new, legislature-drawn congressional district map for 2026 through 2030.
At the time, the measure was the 10th most expensive on record in California, with campaigns for and against the measure having raised a combined $122.3 million. The measure ultimately moved up to fourth place, with campaigns for and against the measure raising a combined $167 million.
Click here to read the entire story and the other two stories that we covered in that day’s edition.
November
Virginia General Assembly approves proposed mid-decade redistricting amendment
On Nov. 3, we took a closer look at how the Virginia General Assembly was considering a constitutional amendment that would allow it to conduct mid-decade congressional redistricting through 2030. A special election would be required for voters to weigh in on the amendment before the next U.S. House primary elections. The last time Virginia held a special election for a state ballot measure was in 1956.
In Virginia, the General Assembly must approve a constitutional amendment during two consecutive legislative sessions, with a legislative election taking place between those sessions. Both legislative chambers approved the amendment ahead of the Nov. 4 legislative elections.
The General Assembly would need to approve the amendment again in 2026 in order for it to go before voters. Given that Democrats retained and expanded control of the legislature, a second approval is considered likely. However, if lawmakers want voters to consider the amendment before November 2026, which would be necessary in order to implement a new congressional map before the 2026 midterms, they would likely need to approve the amendment in January and schedule a special election in the spring.
Click here to read the entire story and the other two stories that we covered in that day’s edition.
December
Michigan voters could decide on four citizen initiatives on elections, voting, and taxes in 2026
On Dec. 9, we reported that proponents of four citizen initiatives, including three constitutional amendments and one state statute, had filed with the Michigan Board of State Canvassers to collect signatures to qualify for the 2026 ballot. Three initiatives address elections or voting, while one addresses tax policy.
Click here to read the entire story and the other two stories that we covered in that day’s edition.
See also
Ballotpedia's 2025 election coverage:
