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A chart showing that half of traffic stops in Chicago in the last year were never reported.
The number of people in ICE detention for more than a year grew five-fold from March 2024 to March 2026. The proportion of people who've been detained over a year has also grown, from 1% to over 3% of detainees.
A chart showing upcoming elections in Louisiana on June 27 and in Colorado on June 30.
The 2026 Bolts reader survey. Click the link to share your thoughts!
All in all, 32 states are holding supreme court elections in 2026. These races will decide over 60 seats. Two states already resolved their contests—conservatives won in Arkansas, and liberals in Wisconsin. Nineteen states are holding regular elections for their supreme courts this year, meaning races where candidates can challenge incumbent judges or run for an open seat. How those work is straightforward; think of what you’re used to seeing for Congress or governor. But 13 states are holding retention elections, which are simple up-or-down votes, with no challengers, where voters decide if a judge who is already on the court should stay in office.
The number of people in ICE detention for more than a year grew five-fold from March 2024 to March 2026. The proportion of people who've been detained over a year has also grown, from 1% to over 3% of detainees.
The 2026 Bolts reader survey. Click the link to share your thoughts!
All in all, 32 states are holding supreme court elections in 2026. These races will decide over 60 seats. Two states already resolved their contests—conservatives won in Arkansas, and liberals in Wisconsin. Nineteen states are holding regular elections for their supreme courts this year, meaning races where candidates can challenge incumbent judges or run for an open seat. How those work is straightforward; think of what you’re used to seeing for Congress or governor. But 13 states are holding retention elections, which are simple up-or-down votes, with no challengers, where voters decide if a judge who is already on the court should stay in office.
The 2026 Bolts reader survey. Click the link to share your thoughts!
The 2026 Bolts reader survey. Click the link to share your thoughts!
In Whittier, California, voter turnout is always higher in the fall. This graphic shows the number of ballots cast in springtime mayoral elections in Whittier compared to the ballots cast in November general elections.
In Whittier, California, voter turnout is always higher in the fall. This graphic shows the number of ballots cast in springtime mayoral elections in Whittier compared to the ballots cast in November general elections.
All in all, 32 states are holding supreme court elections in 2026. These races will decide over 60 seats. Two states already resolved their contests—conservatives won in Arkansas, and liberals in Wisconsin. Nineteen states are holding regular elections for their supreme courts this year, meaning races where candidates can challenge incumbent judges or run for an open seat. How those work is straightforward; think of what you’re used to seeing for Congress or governor. But 13 states are holding retention elections, which are simple up-or-down votes, with no challengers, where voters decide if a judge who is already on the court should stay in office.
All in all, 32 states are holding supreme court elections in 2026. These races will decide over 60 seats. Two states already resolved their contests—conservatives won in Arkansas, and liberals in Wisconsin. Nineteen states are holding regular elections for their supreme courts this year, meaning races where candidates can challenge incumbent judges or run for an open seat. How those work is straightforward; think of what you’re used to seeing for Congress or governor. But 13 states are holding retention elections, which are simple up-or-down votes, with no challengers, where voters decide if a judge who is already on the court should stay in office.
All in all, 32 states are holding supreme court elections in 2026. These races will decide over 60 seats. Two states already resolved their contests—conservatives won in Arkansas, and liberals in Wisconsin. Nineteen states are holding regular elections for their supreme courts this year, meaning races where candidates can challenge incumbent judges or run for an open seat. How those work is straightforward; think of what you’re used to seeing for Congress or governor. But 13 states are holding retention elections, which are simple up-or-down votes, with no challengers, where voters decide if a judge who is already on the court should stay in office.
California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington all have bans on participation in ICE's 287(g) program. Colorado, New York, Massachusetts, and Virginia all have Democratic trifectas, and at least one state or local agency that is enrolled in the 287(g) program.
California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington all have bans on participation in ICE's 287(g) program. Colorado, New York, Massachusetts, and Virginia all have Democratic trifectas, and at least one state or local agency that is enrolled in the 287(g) program.
This map shows which states with full Democratic control in the state government have bans on 287(g) agreements. Maryland, Maine, and New Mexico join six other blue states—California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Oregon, and Washington—in adopting laws to ban local and state agencies from partnering with ICE’s 287(g) program. New Jersey has a ban in place through an executive directive, though the state’s outgoing governor vetoed a bill that would have codified it into law in January. Four states under full Democratic control—Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia—still have local or state agencies that have joined the 287(g) program, though there is currently active legislation in at least three of those states to limit or end these contracts.
This map shows which states with full Democratic control in the state government have bans on 287(g) agreements. Maryland, Maine, and New Mexico join six other blue states—California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Oregon, and Washington—in adopting laws to ban local and state agencies from partnering with ICE’s 287(g) program. New Jersey has a ban in place through an executive directive, though the state’s outgoing governor vetoed a bill that would have codified it into law in January. Four states under full Democratic control—Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia—still have local or state agencies that have joined the 287(g) program, though there is currently active legislation in at least three of those states to limit or end these contracts.
In a small Alaska town, American Samoans face prosecution for voting in the only country they’ve ever known. They live in a limbo, created by colonial expansion, that now confuses even public officials—and has made them a new target for policing voter fraud. Bolts staff writer Alex Burness discusses his reporting for a story that was produced in partnership between Bolts and High Country News.
This map displays the sheriff elections this year in jurisdictions with 500,000 or more residents and the states where at least 95 percent of counties are voting for sheriff.
This map highlights nine counties that voted for Kamala Harris and are in the 287(g) program that are electing their sheriff in 2026. Those counties are: Gallatin County, Montana; Clark County, Nevada; Pulaski County, Arkansas; Shelby County, Tennessee; Haywood County, Tennessee; Frederick County, Maryland; Broome County, New York; Grafton County, New Hampshire; and Hillsborough County, New Hampshire.
A table showing how many targeted seats got bluer (as measured based on the 2024 presidential race) versus redder since states have adopted new maps this year. Across the six states that have adopted new maps, 7 seats have gotten bluer and 8-9 (depending on Missouri) have gotten redder. Across the eight states that have begun or completed the redistricting process this year, 7-11 have gotten bluer (depending on Virginia) and 8-14 have gotten redder (depending on Florida and Missouri).
A graphic showing each party's control of state governments. Democrats hold a trifecta—one-party control of both legislative chambers and the governorship—in 16 states. The GOP still holds a trifecta in 23 states, and 11 states now have divided governments (down one from last year).
A chart outlining the results of state legislative elections in 2025. This year, Democrats in Virginia, New Jersey, Iowa, and Mississippi flipped multiple seats that were previously held by the GOP.
A screenshot of a segment from The Beat with Ari Melber on December 11, 2025. The text in this image reads: NEW: 2025 STATE-LEVEL ELECTION BREAKDOWN DEMS FLIPPED 25 GOP SEATS GOP FLIPPED 0 DEM SEATS Source: Bolts
The introduction of the Tuesday, November 11 edition of the Bolts newsletter. The first paragraph reads: Up and down the ballot, Nov. 4 was a historic night for Democrats. One year nearly to the day after Donald Trump’s presidential win, Democrats scored wins from coast to coast last week.
A map showing cities or counties that are hosting a contested prosecutor race with multiple candidates in November, including Nassau County, New York; Bucks County, Pennsylvania; and Chesapeake, Virginia.
Seattle officials have observed a significant drop in the number of tent and RV encampments since the start of mayor Bruce Harrell’s aggressive removal policy.