State Politics & News
Coverage of state politics, elections, and conservative policy battles across all 50 states shaping America’s future.
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news
Hilton Appears Set for Showdown With Becerra, Giving Republicans Hope in California
Trump-endorsed Fox News host Steve Hilton will likely face off against Xavier Becerra this November, leaving California conservatives hopeful that they have a shot at the first Republican governor in over a decade. California’s top-two primary system advances the two highest vote-getters to the November general election regardless of party affiliation. After months of waiting… -
analysis
Is Project 2029 Democrats’ Revenge Tour 2.0?
Nationwide, Americans are struggling with affordability, public safety, and government waste—and Democrats’ big, bold solution is a revenge tour against President Donald Trump. During a Thursday on NewsNation’s “Katie Pavlich Tonight,” Daily Signal Senior Political and Legal Analyst Mehek Cooke argued that the Democratic Party’s new agenda, “Project 2029,” focuses more on opposing Trump than… -
news
Ohio Officials Testify Before Fraud Task Force
The House Oversight Committee task force, led by Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, met on Wednesday to study Medicaid fraud in Ohio. Lawmakers heard from The Daily Wire’s Luke Rosiak, as well as Ohio Auditor Keith Faber and state Rep. Mike Dovilla. The hearing also saw a simple question from Gill nearly bring a Ohio lawmaker… -
news
‘NATIONAL EMBARRASSMENT’: Mehek Cooke Says Ohio Lacked the Political Will to Confront Medicaid Fraud
On Tuesday, Mehek Cooke, Daily Signal’s senior national security & legal analyst, testified at a hearing examining fraud within Ohio’s Medicaid system. This transcript of Cooke’s testimony has been slightly edited for clarity. Opening Statement Thank you very much for the opportunity to testify to strengthen Ohio’s Medicaid funding system so that we could prevent fraud. I… -
exclusive
EXCLUSIVE: Poll Shows Ohio Voters Support Voter ID Amendment
FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—With this week’s passage of Senate Joint Resolution 10 in the state Senate, Ohioans are that much closer to voting on a ballot initiative this November that will enshrine photo voter ID into the state constitution. The passage of SJR 10, with the state House also set to vote on such… -
news
‘I Couldn’t Stay Silent’: NYT Reports Explosive Allegations Against Maine Senate Candidate Graham Platner
The hits keep coming against embattled Democrat candidate Graham Platner in the U.S. Senate race for Maine. The New York Times released a report Thursday in which former girlfriends of Platner described a disdain for women, with one alleging physical intimidation and mistreatment. Platner also allegedly made bizarre comments about how he would rape someone… -
news
Will California’s Climate Goals Make Gas More Expensive?
The war between affordability and climate activism continues to rage on in California after a recent decision by the California Air Resources Board to update its cap-and-invest program left both environmental activists and the oil industry upset. The program was first authorized in 2006 as a way to limit greenhouse gas emissions and incentivize “major… -
exclusive
DOJ FRAUD CHIEF: Fraudsters Should Fear a 6 A.M. Knock on the Door
In an exclusive interview, Daily Signal legal analyst Mehek Cooke discussed with Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald why the Justice Department launched its inaugural state partnership roundtable in Ohio, how data sharing could help investigators identify fraudsters who target multiple government programs, and why other states should join the effort. This transcript has been slightly… -
opinion
California’s Slow Roll Vote-Counting Is an Outrage
Americans should expect, at a minimum, to have elections that are free and fair, and results that are delivered promptly. But California is taking its laid-back reputation too far, failing to deliver its election results in a timely manner and creating the perception that they are neither free nor fair. Slothful election results have plagued California for… -
analysis
Panic Meeting Over Platner Reveals Dems’ Need to Change the Narrative
As the news cycle heats up with the U.S. Senate race in Maine and Democrat candidate Graham Platner, the party is searching for the right narrative. Over the weekend, The New York Times published an article detailing sexually explicit messages the candidate reportedly sent to women other than his wife while he was married. Also,… -
news
Florida Lawmakers Move to Block State Use of Media Rating Firms
Florida lawmakers once again approved a provision in their budget to prohibit state agencies from contracting with advertising and marketing firms that track media outlets using rating systems. Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to sign the budget into law this month. For the second year in a row, the Legislature opted to include the language in the state budget to combat the use of media blacklists, which often target conservative news outlets. Critics… -
opinion
Louisiana Schools Wave Goodbye to Bureaucratic Red Tape
Who would have thought education dollars were best used when actually directed toward the education of students? Attempting to follow every letter of federal regulation in education is a monumental task. School personnel spend tens of millions of hours (and dollars) each year on federal compliance. What they get in return for this investment is… -
news
Ohio Auditor Praised for Anti-Fraud Efforts
As Ohio officials crack down on fraud, their hard work has not gone unnoticed. The State Financial Officers Foundation, in a recent update celebrating highlights from the month of May, touted the success of its spring meeting and praised state officials who are making government more efficient and less vulnerable to fraud. Among the officials… -
analysis
What Are ‘California Values’?
What are California values? Are they sprawling homeless encampments, public intoxication and drug use, and naked people walking through the streets? Are they rising crime rates, small businesses closing, families being driven out of their communities, and parents who cannot safely take their children to a park? Those were the questions the Daily Signal’s senior… -
news
Meet the ‘Wicked Witch of Woke’ and the ‘Queen of DEI’ Looking to Take Key GOP Seats
Two progressive Midwest candidates are moving forward as the Democratic Party picks for the U.S. House of Representatives in Iowa. The women’s pasts are proof that the party is sticking with woke ideology that may not align with nearly 80% of Iowa. Sarah Trone Garriott, seeking to unseat Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, and Christina Bohannan,… -
news
Georgians Will Pay More at the Pumps Beginning Wednesday
THE CENTER SQUARE—Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp will not extend the motor fuel tax suspension that expires at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, the governor’s office said late Monday afternoon. The General Assembly passed a 60-day temporary moratorium on motor fuel taxes, which Gov. Brian Kemp signed. It was effective from March 20 through May 19. The… -
news
Collins, Dooley Spar During Debate
THE CENTER SQUARE—Georgia Republican U.S. Senate candidate Derek Dooley took a jab from U.S. Rep. Mike Collins on immigration, while Dooley took a swipe of his own, bringing up a House ethics inquiry into his competitor. The two fielded questions from each other and a panel of journalists in an Atlanta Press Club debate Sunday…. -
news
Pratt on Track for LA Mayor Showdown With Bass
Spencer Pratt, the reality television villain turned Los Angeles mayoral candidate, is on track for a showdown with incumbent Democrat Mayor Karen Bass. While Pratt has not yet officially locked in a top-two finish, returns coming in from the Golden State on Wednesday morning show him in second place and maintaining a comfortable lead over… -
analysis
Democrats’ New Golden Boy Is Already Imploding
Democrats thought they found their next political golden boy in Maine U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner, but they realized his campaign follows the same pattern as disgraced former Rep. Eric Swalwell—with an even worse résumé. Mehek Cooke, a national security and political analyst with the Daily Signal, joined Harris Faulkner on Fox News’ “The Faulkner… -
opinion
California Was a Paradise, Then Newsom Happened
Editor’s note: This is a lightly edited transcript of today’s video from Daily Signal Senior Contributor Victor Davis Hanson. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see more of his videos. Hello, this is Victor Davis Hanson for the Daily Signal. People talk about the California disaster, but I don’t think we fully appreciate the severity and the manifestations of…