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RandySF's JournalAlaska Supreme Court upholds constitutionality of campaign ad disclosure statements
Alaska’s legally required campaign ad disclaimers do not violate the First Amendment, the state supreme court ruled Friday, deciding a six-year-old dispute between the Alaska Policy Forum and state campaign regulators.
Justice Dario Borghesan wrote the 61-page decision on behalf of the court, which ruled unanimously and upheld minor fines against APF that were issued by the Alaska Public Offices Commission five years ago.
At issue were a series of news releases, opinion pieces and a video embedded in the group’s website, all opposing ranked-choice voting.
“We uphold the agency’s decision, concluding that the cited publications had to be reported and required a ‘paid for by’ disclosure,” Borghesan wrote. “We also hold that the statutory standards are not unconstitutionally vague because they give fair notice of what kind of speech must be reported and must contain a disclosure. And we conclude that the First Amendment challenges to these laws are unavailing.”
https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/02/18/alaska-supreme-court-upholds-constitutionality-of-campaign-ad-disclosure-statements/
Alabama Senate passes bill easing voting rights restoration for those convicted of felonies
The Alabama Senate on Thursday passed a bill that would streamline the process for formerly incarcerated Alabamians to get their voting rights restored.
SB 24, sponsored by Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison, D-Birmingham, requires the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles and the Secretary of State to develop a website with instructions on how a formerly incarcerated person “may have their right to vote restored” in an easily accessible manner.
“They just put on a web page, more of a notification deal, that they will be able to go to find out if they have completed everything,” Coleman-Madison said.
The bill would require the Board of Pardons and Paroles, starting in March 2027, to publish a list of names that have qualified to have their voting rights restored and the county in which they reside. The board must also submit the list to the Secretary of State, who must then publish the list on its website.
https://alabamareflector.com/2026/02/19/alabama-senate-passes-bill-easing-voting-rights-restoration-for-those-convicted-of-felonies/
CA-GOV: Why Swalwell and Steyer are surging in California governor's race
SAN FRANCISCO — When Eric Swalwell and Tom Steyer jumped into the California governor’s race, much of the political class rolled its eyes — two failed presidential hopefuls with seemingly thin bases and no track record statewide.
Three months later they’re surging, with poll after poll placing them among the top three Democrats in the race. Without better-known and better-connected candidates running, Swalwell and Steyer have capitalized on their passing familiarity and, in Steyer’s case, bottomless wealth, to create surprisingly durable campaigns with a real shot at winning.
Swalwell and Steyer’s campaigns got legs because there still hasn’t been a breakout candidate,” said veteran California political consultant Elizabeth Ashford, who was a senior adviser to two former governors and chief of staff to Kamala Harris when she was state attorney general. “It’s still on the table.”
In a state that has produced a run of high-profile governors with national clout — from Arnold Schwarzenegger to Jerry Brown and now, Gavin Newsom — the rise of Swalwell and Steyer reflects a low-wattage and deeply unsettled contest. First Harris and Sen. Alex Padilla passed on running. Then state Attorney General Rob Bonta and billionaire mall magnate Rick Caruso declined. Former Rep. Katie Porter, an early frontrunner stung by viral videos of contentious interactions with a journalist and a staffer, failed to pull away from the field.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/21/swalwell-and-steyer-surge-in-wide-open-california-governors-race-00792365
DC police searched Labor Secretary's office in sexual assault investigation
District of Columbia police searched Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s offices at the agency’s headquarters this month as part of its investigation of sexual assault allegations against her husband, Dr. Shawn DeRemer, according to three DOL officials.
Employees who work in the secretary’s suite were ushered out of their offices temporarily Feb. 5, and Metropolitan Police Department personnel entered and looked around, according to the DOL officials, who were granted anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation.
It is unclear what the police were searching for or how long they stayed, but it is unusual for a local police force to seek access to federal property, and especially rare for them search the office of a Cabinet official. In addition to the secretary’s own office, the suite also includes the work stations of a number of aides and advisers who report to her.
“LCD knew MPD was here but not why,” said one of the officials, referring to Chavez-DeRemer by her initials.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/20/dc-police-searched-chavez-deremer-office-00791631
Ballotpedia publishes analysis of 2025 school board elections
Ballotpedia’s 2025 School Board Election Data Analysis examines candidate participation, election methods, and incumbency outcomes in school board elections across the United States. The report analyzes elections held in 187 school districts across 29 states, representing a total of 4,877,739 students.
Ballotpedia tracked 546 school board seats up for election in 2025 and 990 candidates who ran for those positions. Of those candidates, 375 were incumbents and 615 were non-incumbents. Races averaged 1.8 candidates per seat, and 36% of seats were uncontested. Incumbents seeking another term won re-election in 84% of races.
The report compares 2025 results with school board election data from 2022 through 2024 and includes state-level breakdowns and analysis by election method.
https://news.ballotpedia.org/2026/02/02/ballotpedia-publishes-analysis-of-2025-school-board-elections/
Janesville, Wisconsin, voters to decide Nov. 3, 2026, initiative requiring approval for development projects exceeding $
Voters in Janesville, Wisconsin, will decide on a ballot initiative on Nov. 3, 2026, that would require voter approval before a proposed $8 billion data center can be developed.
On Feb. 9, 2026, the Janesville City Council voted to include the ballot initiative on the general election ballot. No Janesville Data Center organized the petition drive. Petitioners were required to collect signatures equal to 15% of the 26,082 votes cast in Janesville in the most recent gubernatorial election, resulting in a requirement of 3,915 signatures. On Jan. 21, the clerk's office certified 3,927 signatures.
The ballot initiative would require voter approval before the City of Janesville could approve development on undeveloped portions of the GM/JATCO site if the project’s cost exceeds $450 million. Approval would require a majority vote at a general or special election. If voters reject the proposal, any new development plan or agreement for the site would require a new referendum.
The GM/JATCO site is city-owned property, formerly known as the Janesville Assembly Plant, located at 1000 General Motors Drive and 544 Kellogg Avenue. General Motors operated the Janesville Assembly Plant from 1919 to 2008.
https://news.ballotpedia.org/2026/02/12/janesville-wisconsin-voters-to-decide-nov-3-2026-initiative-requiring-approval-for-development-projects-exceeding-450-million-at-gm-jatco-site-such-as-proposed-data-center/
Voters to decide 12 ballot measures at March 3 Town Meeting Day in Montpelier, Vermont
Voters in Montpelier, Vermont, will decide on 12 measures on the Town Meeting Day ballot on March 3, including a measure that would advise the mayor and city council to adopt a pledge to "join others in working to end all support to Israel's apartheid regime, settler colonialism, and military occupation."
Town Meeting Day is held at Montpelier City Hall on the first Tuesday of March. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Vermont law makes Town Meeting Day a holiday for employees of the state and allows other employees in the state to take unpaid time off to attend.
At the Town Meeting, voters elect local officials and cast votes on ballot measures concerning the city budget and other policy issues.
https://news.ballotpedia.org/2026/02/13/voters-to-decide-12-ballot-measures-at-march-3-town-meeting-day-in-montpelier-vermont/
Twenty-five states weigh legislation on foreign funding in elections
Lawmakers in 25 states are considering new state laws or constitutional amendments so far this year related to foreign funding in elections.
Federal law prohibits federal, state, and local candidates from soliciting, directing, or receiving contributions from individuals who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States. The law also bans contributions from foreign governments, political parties, corporations, organizations, or groups whose principal place of business is in a foreign country.
Federal courts, however, have established that the federal ban does not apply to issue advocacy, such as lobbying or spending in ballot measure campaigns. The Federal Election Commission has affirmed that foreign individuals, corporations, and governments can contribute to ballot measure campaigns.
https://news.ballotpedia.org/2026/02/13/twenty-five-states-weigh-legislation-on-foreign-funding-in-elections-2/
Indiana becomes the third state, after Alabama and Tennessee, to advance a bail-related constitutional amendment to vote
The Indiana General Assembly approved a constitutional amendment related to bail for the Nov. 3, 2026, statewide general election ballot. Lawmakers passed the amendment on Feb. 17, 2026.
Introduced as Senate Joint Resolution 1 (SJR 1), the constitutional amendment would provide that offenses, other than murder or treason, are bailable "unless the accused poses a substantial risk to any other person or the community" if the presumption is strong and the state proves that no condition of release will protect the community.
In the Indiana State Senate, SJR 1 passed 43-2, with four members not voting. In the Indiana House of Representatives, SJR 1 passed by a vote of 75-11, with 14 members not voting. Republicans, along with 23 Assembly Democrats, supported SJR 1, while the remaining 17 Democrats either opposed it or abstained.
State Sen. Erich Koch (R-44), who authored SJR 1, said "this resolution moving forward is a great step forward ensuring our communities are protected from those who pose a threat." State Rep. Chris Jeter (R-88) stated that SJR 1 is "a public safety amendment to the Indiana Constitution" and that, currently, "every criminal defendant is authorized to be released on bail, unless it is determined for treason, even if (they are) a substantial risk to the public. This amendment would change that to allow anyone who's deemed a public safety threat to be held indefinitely."
https://news.ballotpedia.org/2026/02/18/indiana-becomes-the-third-state-after-alabama-and-tennessee-to-advance-a-bail-related-constitutional-amendment-to-voters-in-2026/
New Mexico voters to decide amendment changing appointment process for university boards of regents in Nov. 2026
New Mexico voters will decide on an amendment relating to the appointments to members of the Board of Regents on Nov. 3, 2026. The amendment passed both chambers of the state legislature.
The amendment, House Joint Resolution 1 (HJR 1), was introduced in the New Mexico House of Representatives by Rep. Christine Chandler (D). On Feb. 6, HJR 1 passed the House by 67-0, and on Feb. 17, the Senate approved the amendment by 34-7. Constitutional amendments do not need the governor’s signature to be referred to the ballot.
The amendment would change the way appointments to the Board of Regents, the governing bodies that manage public universities in the state, are made. Seven state universities—Eastern New Mexico University, New Mexico Highlands University, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, New Mexico State University, Northern New Mexico College, University of New Mexico, Western New Mexico University—are governed by a Board of Regents.
The duties of the Board of Regents include providing fiduciary oversight, management, and establishment of policies to state universities. Currently, the members of the Board of Regents are appointed by the governor with approval by the Senate. They serve staggered six-year terms, except for the student regent, who serves a two-year term.
https://news.ballotpedia.org/2026/02/19/new-mexico-voters-to-decide-amendment-changing-appointment-process-for-university-boards-of-regents-in-nov-2026/
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