Daily Brew: January 12, 2026
Welcome to the Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, Brew.
By: Lara Bonatesta
Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:
- How states oversee federal grants
- This week, On the Ballot — previewing the 2026 midterms with Almanac of American Politics writers Louis Jacobson and Richard Cohen
- State supreme court vacancy count for December 2025
How states oversee federal grants
Federal grants to states totaled about $1.12 trillion in 2023, accounting for 36.7% of all state revenue. Federal funds as a portion of total revenue differ widely by state. Louisiana had the highest share of its state budget come from federal sources at 51.6%, while Hawaii had the lowest at 26.6%.
As part of our ongoing coverage on the topic of federalism, Ballotpedia recently published new research on federal grants and how states oversee them. Today, we’re highlighting some key parts of that research, specifically, who approves these funds.
States use a range of statutory frameworks to review, approve, and manage these funds. These frameworks determine who — governors, legislatures, agencies, auditors, or the public — evaluates grant applications, accepts federal dollars, and regulates how entities administer those funds.
Federal grants are reported as part of a state’s intergovernmental revenue, which the U.S. Census Bureau defines as “amounts received from other governments as fiscal aid”. California received the most intergovernmental revenue at $137.7 billion, and South Dakota received the least at $2.6 billion.
The differences in how states oversee these funds reflect broader federalism concerns—such as how states balance fiscal dependence with administrative autonomy, and how they respond to federal mandates that may influence state policy priorities.
Although states can use many forms of oversight, below we'll look at gubernatorial or legislative approval of federal grants.
Thirty-two states involve governors in approving federal grants. A governor's role in approving federal grants can take three forms:
- Explicit approval: Sixteen states require governors to approve federal grants.
- Partial or indirect approval: Sixteen states involve governors through coordination, notification, or budget review.
- No approval role: Eighteen states assign approval authority to agencies, budget offices, or legislatures.
Forty-four states involve legislatures in approving federal grants. This role can take these forms:
- Explicit approval: Seventeen states require legislative approval—either by the full legislature or a designated committee.
- Partial or indirect approval: Twenty-seven states rely on reporting, fiscal review, or notification without formal approval.
- No approval role: Six states assign no statutory approval responsibility to lawmakers.
Click here to read our full report on state oversight of federal grants.
This week, On the Ballot — previewing the 2026 midterms with Almanac of American Politics writers Louis Jacobson and Richard Cohen
In this week’s new episode of On the Ballot, Almanac of American Politics writers Louis Jacobson and Richard Cohen join host Norm Leahy to talk about the upcoming midterm elections.
Jacobson and Cohen break down filing deadlines—some of which have already passed—the primaries to watch over the next few months, and the role that mid-decade redistricting could play in this year’s U.S. House elections.
The 2026 congressional primaries will officially kick off on March 3, when Arkansas, North Carolina, and Texas will hold their statewide primary elections. The primary election season will then continue through the spring and summer, until Sept. 15, when Delaware holds its statewide primary.
As of Jan. 9, Republicans had a 218-213 majority in the U.S. House, with four vacancies, and a 53-45-2 majority in the U.S. Senate.
Click here to see our full list of state and congressional candidate filing deadlines for 2026, and here to see our statewide primary election calendar.
To listen to this episode and more, click here. Also, don't forget to subscribe to On the Ballot on YouTube or your preferred podcast app.
State supreme court vacancy count for December 2025
Every month, Ballotpedia gives you a look at who retired, was appointed, nominated, confirmed, and sworn in on the nation’s 52 courts of last resort. Here’s our latest update from December 2025.
Here’s a quick summary:
- Two justices were sworn in
- Applicants for two state supreme court justices were announced
- Finalists were announced for one vacancy
- Six state supreme court justices were sworn out
- One justice announced her upcoming retirement
Justices sworn into office:
- In Utah, John Nielsen was sworn in on Dec. 1, the same day that his predecessor, John A. Pearce, left office. Previously a state district court judge, Nielsen is Gov. Spencer Cox's (R) third nominee to the five-member court.
- In South Dakota, Robert Gusinsky was sworn in on Dec. 8, the same day that his predecessor, Janine M. Kern, retired. Gusinsky was a circuit court judge from 2013 until his appointment. Gusinsky—Gov. Larry Rhoden's (R) first supreme court appointment—will be able to run for retention in 2028.
Appointees named and nominees confirmed:
- The Hawaii Judicial Selection Commission released a list of five candidates who applied to succeed former Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald. The list includes three attorneys and two associate justices of the Hawaii Supreme Court. Hawaii is one of 22 states with an appointed or popularly elected chief justice. If Gov. Joshua Green (D) appoints either of the current justices as chief, that justice would vacate their current seat, creating a new vacancy.
- The North Dakota Judicial Nominating Committee released a list of 12 candidates who applied to succeed Justice Daniel Crothers, who will retire on Feb. 28. The list included the North Dakota Solicitor General, four state district court judges, a U.S. Attorney, and six attorneys. The Commission will interview candidates and send a list of finalists to Gov. Kelly Armstrong (R), who will make the final appointment.
- On Dec. 18, the Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission released a list of 10 candidates who applied to succeed Justice Charles Canady. The Commission announced six finalists on Dec. 30, including four state appellate court judges, a former interim Attorney General, and a former appellate court judge. Governor Ron DeSantis (R) will make the final appointment.
Justices sworn out and upcoming retirements:
- In Utah, Justice John A. Pearce resigned on Dec. 1. Governor Gary Herbert (R) appointed Pearce in 2015, and he took office in 2016.
- In South Dakota, Justice Janine M. Kern resigned on Dec. 8. Governor Dennis Daugaard (R) appointed her in 2014. She took office in 2015 and voters retained her for a full eight-year term in 2018.
- In Mississippi, Robert Chamberlin resigned on Dec. 16, and Jimmy Maxwell resigned on Dec. 18 after becoming U.S. District Court Judges for the Northern District of Mississippi. President Donald Trump (R) nominated both justices on Sept. 2. Chamberlin was first elected in 2016 and ran unopposed in 2024. Governor Phil Bryant (R) appointed Maxwell in 2015. Maxwell took office in 2016 and was re-elected later that year. As of Dec. 30, Gov. Tate Reeves (R) had not appointed a successor for either justice.
- Louisiana Justice William J. Crain resigned on Dec. 19 after becoming a U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Trump appointed Crain on Oct. 21. Crain, a Republican, was initially elected in a partisan special election in 2019. On Dec. 30, Gov. Jeff Landry (R) set a special election for Nov. 3, 2026, to elect Crain's successor.
- In Colorado, Melissa Hart resigned. Former Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) appointed Hart in 2017. Voters retained her for a full ten-year term in 2020. As of Dec. 30, Gov. Jared Polis (D) had not appointed her successor.
- In Vermont, Justice William Cohen resigned on Dec. 27. Governor Phil Scott (R) appointed him in 2019 and, on March 28, 2023, the Vermont General Assembly retained him for a six-year term. As of Dec. 30, Scott had not appointed Cohen’s successor.
To learn more about state supreme court vacancies or to see our previous updates, click here.
