State Politics & News
Coverage of state politics, elections, and conservative policy battles across all 50 states shaping America’s future.
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opinion
SNAP’s Updated Work Requirements: A Needed Makeover for Upward Mobility
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’s new work requirements are now on display across all states as of June 1. California, the country’s last holdout, began implementing the updated work requirements set forth in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed last July. The work requirements were rolled out in waves across the country. Some politicians on the left and several media outlets claim the work requirements are harmful. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is among those sounding the alarm, with a recent X post stating: “Food stamp work requirements don’t create jobs, they create… -
news
Richmond Hosts the National Speech and Debate Tournament
Over the course of this week, Richmond will ring with stirring oratory, as it has many times before. But this time it isn’t politicians or patriots who will be offering their opinions. The state capital is hosting the National Speech & Debate Tournament for the first time. The competition brings some 7,000 students from 1,500… -
news
Karen Bass’ Brother Joins Spencer Pratt in Lawsuit Against Los Angeles
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is facing legal action from an unlikely source: her own brother, who has joined Spencer Pratt and thousands of other fire victims in a sweeping lawsuit against the city over its handling of the Palisades Fire. Kenneth Bass, 78, and his wife, who lost their Malibu home in January 2025, are… -
news
Judge Denies Motion to Compel Abigail Spanberger to Testify in Defamation Case
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA—A Richmond judge denied two motions against the Democrat Party of Virginia and Gov. Abigail Spanberger Monday in a defamation case, and the plaintiff told the Daily Signal that he plans to appeal the decisions. “I will be appealing these decisions,” Thomas Speciale, a retired Army intelligence officer and a former Republican U.S. Senate… -
analysis
Deal With the Cleveland Clinic Better Protects Minors
Ohio continues to protect children from transgender procedures. Recently, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation reached a settlement with the Department of Justice and the Ohio attorney general involving detransition care and billing practices. A press release from the DOJ references agreements that include “a decades-long commitment to not perform or offer sex-rejecting procedures—which includes the administration… -
news
Tuesday’s Georgia Runoff Features Important Federal, Statewide Races
Georgia voters head to the polls on Tuesday to cast their ballots for critical federal, state, and legislative offices prior to the general election on Nov. 3. A runoff follows a primary election when no candidate successfully secures the 50% threshold required to win. This year is unique because top officeholders across the state are either term-limited or pursuing other offices. Gov. Brian Kemp’s term is expiring shortly, while Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones are seeking other offices. While all the races are… -
opinion
Newsom Calls Trump ‘Biggest Loser’ on 80th Birthday as President Negotiates Iran Deal
In ancient Athens at the height of the Peloponnesian War, the politician Cleon rose as the archetype of the demagogue. Thucydides, the great historian and fellow general, described him as a crude orator who first introduced shouting, vulgar abuse, thigh-slapping, and theatrical strutting into the Assembly—habits that lowered the tone of Athenian politics and encouraged… -
opinion
Tall Ships Bring the Spirit of ‘76 to Virginia
Richmond SailFest kicked off last weekend as three sailing ships—Oosterschelde, Pride of Baltimore II, and Virginia—docked in the state capital. Richmond’s portion of the event was co-hosted by the Virginia Museum of History & Culture and featured reenactors, history and art exhibits, cultural performances, and live music, plus a fireworks and drone show. “This summer… -
news
Daily Signal Adds Rich Tucker to Bolster Virginia Coverage
The Daily Signal is strengthening its Virginia coverage with the addition of Rich Tucker as a second Virginia correspondent, joining Joe Thomas to form a dedicated reporting team covering the commonwealth. Tucker brings deep roots in Virginia journalism to the role. He was the founding editor of The Virginia Flyover, a publication he launched in… -
opinion
‘Affordability’? Virginia Drives Gun Manufacturer to Cheaper Georgia
Gov. Abigail Spanberger and whatever members of the Virginia Democratic Party that aren’t in a war of words with her still speak of fulfilling their affordability agenda, which we have debunked in earlier columns as nothing more than more taxpayer-funded subsidies or draconian controls on providers like landlords. However, the news that Rideout Arsenal, a… -
news
Ohio Group Gets Visit From FBI Over Voter Fraud Investigation
The Ohio Organizing Collaborative, a group focused on voter registration, criminal, and economic justice was raided by the FBI Thursday in connection with a voter fraud investigation. On Friday morning, Statehouse News Bureau’s Jo Ingles posted on X that she spoke with OCC board member Prentiss Haney, who indicated that FBI agents came to their… -
news
Data Center Civil War Leaves Virginia on the Verge of a Shutdown
Virginia is on the verge of its first shutdown in modern history, and it all comes down to data centers and Democratic Party infighting. Democrats control the governor’s mansion, the state Senate, and the House, yet the party can’t get on the same page. “Virginia has to have a budget by June 30,” Republican Virginia… -
opinion
Honoring the Declaration in Richmond
For the next month, Virginians can see a vital piece of our shared national history. A rare copy of the Declaration of Independence will be on display at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. It should serve as a living reminder of the first 250 years of American history. Virginia has been central to… -
opinion
Lawsuit Exposes Virginia’s Neo-Confederate Approach to Immigration
Democrats of 2026 bear an uncanny resemblance to Democrats of 1861 when it comes to seeking to nullify federal law. In 1861, Democrats led efforts to “secede” from the Union to oppose Abraham Lincoln, a Republican who opposed the expansion of slavery into the Northern Territories, an expansion expressly forbidden by Congress in the Missouri… -
analysis
Federal Judge Warned of ‘Obvious Fraud.’ Karen Bass Still Wants the Status Quo.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is pushing back after the Trump administration suspended federal funding for the city’s Homeless Services Authority and a federal judge stated the agency appeared to have committed “obvious fraud.” Instead of applauding the administration’s audit of the agency, Bass warned that pausing funding could ultimately cost lives. However, allegations of… -
analysis
Fellow Democrats and Ex-Lovers Speak out Against Platner Campaign
Graham Platner’s candidacy as the Democrat nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine continues to draw headlines, including over new criticisms from fellow Maine Democrats. Paige Loud, who ran in the Democrat primary to represent Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, had strong words for Platner’s strategist, especially since she’s no longer a candidate. In addition, a woman… -
news
‘Gross Misuse of Federal Funding’: Trump Admin Blocks Payments to ‘Obviously Fraudulent’ Los Angeles Homeless Agency
The Department of Housing and Urban Development under President Donald Trump announced an “immediate suspension” on all funding to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, citing a “clear pattern of fraud.” “Year after year, hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars were funneled to LAHSA with little accountability,” HUD Secretary Scott Turner said in a statement… -
opinion
‘Shut This White House Down’: Graham Platner’s Maine Win Tests Democrats’ Strategy
Mehek Cooke, the Daily Signal’s senior national security and legal analyst, explains the fallout from Senate candidate Graham Platner’s win in the Maine Democrat primary. This transcript has been slightly edited for clarity. Graham Platner just revealed the Democratic Party’s emerging midterm agenda: permanent resistance. Platner won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in… -
opinion
How Can Anyone Defend Transgender Sports After This?!
Allowing boys to compete in girls sports isn’t just wrong—a new lawsuit reveals that it can make girls vulnerable to sexual assault, even alleged vaginal penetration. Yes, according to a verified complaint filed in a federal court Tuesday, a young man who claimed to identify as female not only competed against a teenage girl in… -
opinion
Fairfax Schools’ Pricey Legal Advice Disguised as ‘Independent Investigation’
Earlier this year, 13 girls attending Fairfax High School told school administrators that Israel Flores Ortiz, a 19-year-old illegal immigrant from El Salvador attending the school as a junior, groped their genitals in the hallway as they were transitioning between classes. In April, Ortiz was sentenced to 360 days in jail for multiple counts of…