ElectionCalendar - Ballotpedia

Texas Democrats flee the state: Over 50 state lawmakers left Texas to block a Republican-backed redistricting plan, a tactic dubbed the “Texodus.” Governor Greg Abbott ordered civil arrests and threatened expulsion of fleeing Democrats. Blue states including Illinois and New York affirmed protections for the absent legislators.  

• The U.S. added just 73,000 jobs in July, with 285,000 jobs revised downward from prior months. In response, President Trump fired the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner and continued to denounce revisions as a “scam.” Critics warned such actions could erode trust in government data.  

• Hatch Act probe opened: The U.S. Office of Special Counsel launched an investigation into former Special Counsel Jack Smith over allegations that his legal actions against Trump were politically motivated and timed to affect the 2024 campaign.  

• Energy policy backlash: Editorials criticized the Trump administration’s cancellation of a key $4.9 billion loan for the Grain Belt Express transmission line and added barriers to solar and wind development—raising concerns about the long-term reliability of the U.S. energy grid amid rising demand.  

• Progressive surge in local politics: Zohran Mamdani’s upset win in a Democratic mayoral primary energized progressive activists, driving over 10,000 people to sign up for local runs for office via Run for Something. The campaign is seen as a model for grassroots engagement.  

• Mass deportation protests and immigration strategy: Protests intensified in cities including New York and Boston over Trump’s mass deportation agenda. Meanwhile, Hispanic GOP lawmakers raised concerns about potential backlash among Latino voters.  

• Tariffs and federal reforms: Trump imposed new tariffs on Canada, India, and Thailand as leverage on issues including Palestinian state recognition. Michigan’s Governor Whitmer responded by launching a study on tariff impacts, and the state advanced a campaign finance ballot proposal banning contributions from utility contractors.  

• Foreign policy friction and recognition push: Trump’s relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu appears strained as global outrage grows over humanitarian conditions in Gaza. At the same time, some Democratic lawmakers demanded U.S. recognition of Palestinian statehood.  

• Celebrity controversy hits politics: An American Eagle ad featuring Sydney Sweeney sparked debate over “jeans/genes” wordplay. Critics charged it carried undertones of eugenics or supremacist messaging. Trump publicly praised the ad after hearing she’s reportedly a registered Republican.  

• Federal downsizing and lawsuits: More than 154,000 federal workers are reportedly on leave under buyout programs. Labor unions filed lawsuits claiming the mass layoffs violate separation‑of‑powers rules.