Daily Brew: September 16, 2025

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Welcome to the Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, Brew. 

By: Lara Bonatesta

Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:

1. Citizen initiatives have different signature deadlines in each state. Here’s what they are for 2026 
2. Incumbent Dave Rosado and Wallace Chadwick III are running for Chesapeake, Virginia sheriff
3. This week On The Ballot – Will the federal government shut down?

Citizen initiatives have different signature deadlines in each state. Here’s what they are for 2026 

Twenty-six states permit citizen initiatives, with each state setting its own rules for signature collection and filing deadlines. These initiatives come in two forms: direct and indirect. Twenty-five states have some kind of direct initiatives, which go straight to the ballot if enough signatures are verified. Nine states have indirect initiatives. This means that the legislature considers initiatives first, and if legislators reject or do not act on them, the measures appear before voters. 

States also tie their filing deadlines to different benchmarks such as the start of a legislative session, a set date, or a certain number of days before the general election. The deadlines in Ohio, Washington, Alaska, Maine, Wyoming, and Mississippi are tied to the start of each state’s next legislative session. The deadlines in 20 other states are on specific dates or a certain number of days before the general election.

Here’s an overview of the filing deadlines for 2026, beginning with one that has already passed. 

In Nevada, the signature deadline for indirect initiated state statutes was Nov. 20, 2024. One indirect initiative met that deadline in Nevada. It would exempt teachers and certain other school employees from state laws that prohibit public employees from striking. 

Three states – Utah, Massachusetts, and Ohio – have deadlines in 2025.

The signature deadline for indirect initiated state statutes in Utah is Nov. 15. There are currently no indirect initiatives circulating in Utah.

Massachusetts and Ohio have deadlines for indirect initiatives on Nov. 19 and Dec. 26, respectively. Both states also require a second round of signatures if the state legislatures do not take action on initiatives. Those deadlines are June 17 in Massachusetts and July 1 in Ohio.

Florida, Maine, and Wyoming have deadlines in the first week of February.

Most of the deadlines occur during the summer.

Five states have deadlines in May:

1. Idaho: May 1 
2. Illinois: May 3 (At least six months before the general election)
3. Missouri: May 3 (At least six months before the general election)
4. South Dakota: May 5 (First Tuesday in May of a general election year)
5. Michigan for indirect initiated state statutes: May 27 (At least 160 days before the general election)

Three states have deadlines in June:

1. Montana: June 21 (On or before the third Friday of June)
2. Nevada for initiated constitutional amendments: June 24 (15 days after the primary election)
3. California: June 25 (At least 131 days before general election)

Eight states have deadlines in July:

1. Ohio for initiated constitutional amendments: July 1 (At least 125 days before the general election)
2. Arizona: July 2 (At least four months before the general election)
3. Nebraska: July 2 (At least four months before the general election)
4. Oregon: July 2 (At least four months before the general election)
5. Washington: July 2 (At least four months before the general election)
6. Arkansas: July 3 (At least four months before the general election)
7. Michigan for initiated constitutional amendments: July 3 (At least 120 days before the general election)
8. North Dakota: July 6 (At least 120 days before the general election)

Two states have deadlines in August:

1. Colorado: Aug. 3 (At least three months before the general election)
2. Oklahoma: Aug. 25 (At least 70 days before the general election)

As of Sept. 10, 55 statewide ballot measures were certified in 28 states for 2026, including eight citizen initiatives. An average of 108 initiatives were on the ballot in even-numbered years between 2010 and 2024.

The following map shows the length of signature-gathering periods in each state. Click here to learn more about lengths of signature-gathering periods.

To view the complete list of ballot measure deadlines and signature requirements, click here.

Incumbent Dave Rosado and Wallace Chadwick III are running for Chesapeake, Virginia sheriff

Incumbent Dave Rosado (Independent) and Wallace Chadwick III (R) are running in the Nov. 4 general election for sheriff of Chesapeake, Virginia. The race is a rematch of the Republican primary, where Chadwick defeated Rosado. Rosado is now running as a write-in and has received the endorsement of the local Democratic Party.

Chadwick defeated Rosado 58.3%-41.7% in the Republican primary on June 17. Following the primary, Rosado announced that he was running as a write-in in the general election. According to WTKR News 3's Maddie Miller, a write-in campaign is the only way Rosado can participate in the general election since Virginia law states that "if a candidate loses a primary race, their name cannot be printed on the general election ballot for that office."

Rosado is running on his record. He started working at the Chesapeake Sheriff's Office in 2001. During his tenure, he held multiple positions, including director of training, chief of administration, and director of corrections. In 2022, then-Sheriff Jim O'Sullivan (R) selected Rosado as undersheriff. After O'Sullivan left the office in 2024, Rosado became sheriff. On July 10, the Chesapeake Democratic Party's leadership committee voted to endorse Rosado.

Rosado said, "I am running for the office of Sheriff because I have dedicated my career to serving and protecting the people of Chesapeake, and I am committed to continuing the steady, proven leadership our community deserves." Rosado said his priorities include "strengthening public safety, expanding programs that help reduce recidivism, protecting our seniors and youth, and making sure our staff have the resources and leadership they deserve.

Chadwick has served in the Chesapeake Police Department since 2000. He is also the founder and CEO of Law Enforcement United, a nonprofit organization “founded upon and committed to honoring officers who have died in the line of duty, and ensuring that their surviving family is supported and not forgotten.” Chadwick also served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1995 to 1999.

Chadwick said, "For too long, the Chesapeake Sheriff's Office has operated under a system of nepotism and succession, leaving voters without a true choice in leadership. But this year is different. I am stepping forward to give Chesapeake voters a real option—one that puts integrity, accountability, and experience first." Chadwick said his priorities would include "end[ing] catch-and-release permanently," "bring[ing] full transparency to the Sheriff's Office," and "keep[ing] our neighborhoods safe."

The Virginian Pilot's Natalie Anderson wrote, "At the heart of the division in the race is the city's immigration enforcement and cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. [...] Rosado said the city is following all ICE best practices and has even expanded its partnership. [...] But his opponent, Chesapeake police officer Wallace Chadwick III, argues Rosado only began to hold inmates in custody on ICE detainers after Chadwick criticized the sheriff's office for not doing so."

Chesapeake is also holding elections for commissioner of revenue, commonwealth's attorney, and treasurer. Click here for more on those elections.

This week On The Ballot – The upcoming federal funding deadline

In this week's new episode of On the Ballot, host Norm Leahy and Semafor’s Congressional Bureau Chief Burgess Everett discuss whether Congress will pass a government funding bill before Sept. 30, at which point there might be a shutdown.

Everett lays out the politics facing leaders of each party, their ultimate budget goals, as well as the president’s role in reaching a possible agreement.

The last federal government shutdown occurred during President Donald Trump’s (R) first term in 2018. Click here to read about it.

Check out our episode from earlier this year to learn more about what happens when there is a federal government shutdown.
Subscribe to On The Ballot on YouTube or your preferred podcast app, or click here to listen.