Good morning, it’s Wednesday, October 22, 2025. In today’s edition, Ohio, North Carolina take redistricting steps; Spanberger, Miyares lead in Virginia polls; Florida test scores improved after cell phone ban:
Top Stories
REDISTRICTING: The Ohio Redistricting Commission met for the first time Tuesday with no proposed Republican map. Panel co-chair state Rep. Brian Stewart (R) said Republicans are unlikely to unveil a map during the commission process without reaching a deal with Democrats, which would allow Republicans to introduce a partisan map on their own. (State Affairs)
Democrats are exploring a statewide ballot measure to force a more favorable congressional district plan. Supporters would have to collect at least 248,092 valid signatures in just 90 days. (Columbus Dispatch)
MORE: The North Carolina House is expected to take up legislation redrawing the state’s congressional district lines on Wednesday. The measure, which targets U.S. Rep. Don Davis (D), won approval in the state Senate earlier this week. (State Affairs)
MARIJUANA: The Ohio House Judiciary Committee has approved a bill to create a licensure process for dispensaries to sell cannabis-derived products. The bill would subject those products to the same testing, packaging and labeling standards as adult-use marijuana products. A floor vote is expected today. (State Affairs)
BUDGETS: The Pennsylvania Senate has adopted a $47.9 billion general fund budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 along party lines, ensuring a four-month budget impasse will continue. The state House approved a $50.2 billion budget several weeks ago. (State Affairs)
PUBLIC HEALTH: Kentucky Rep. Mark Hart (R) will reintroduce legislation to allow local water systems to decide whether to fluoridate their water. The bill, nearly identical to legislation he filed last year, includes a new provision to bar lawsuits against local water districts for their decisions. (Kentucky Lantern)
IMMIGRATION: Wyoming lawmakers have advanced legislation to enforce English-language proficiency requirements for commercial motor vehicle drivers in the state. The bill is modeled on an Oklahoma statute that requires drivers to have the ability to converse with the public, understand road signs and respond to official inquiries. (Casper Star-Tribune)
EDUCATION: Student test scores rose and attendance improved in the two years after Florida approved a first-in-the-nation ban on cell phones in schools, according to a new RAND Corporation study. Test scores rose slightly in the first year, but dramatically in the second year of the ban. The study found student suspensions rose dramatically, as well. (Florida Politics)
In Politics & Business
VIRGINIA: Two new polls show former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D) leading Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R) in the race for governor. A Quantus Insights poll has Spanberger up 51%-46%, while a Virginia Commonwealth University poll has Spanberger ahead 49%-42%. The same two polls show Attorney General Jason Miyares (R) leading former Del. Jay Jones, 49%-42% in the Quantus poll and 45%-42% in the VCU survey. (Quantus, VCU)
NEW JERSEY: The Democratic National Committee will make an additional six-figure contribution to U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s (D) campaign for governor to fund get-out-the-vote programs. The DNC has already spent $3 million on Sherrill’s campaign, the most the party has ever invested in a New Jersey off-year election. (New Jersey Globe)
Former President Barack Obama will campaign with Spanberger and Sherrill (D) on Nov. 1. (Associated Press)
NEVADA: A Noble Predictive Insights survey shows Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) leading Attorney General Aaron Ford (D) by a 40%-37% margin, with 23% of voters undecided. The poll didn’t test Ford in the Democratic primary, where he faces Washoe County Commission chair Alexis Hill (D). (KTNV)
Interesting nugget in that story: The average margin of victory in a statewide contest in Nevada in the last four election cycles is just 2.9 percentage points.
WISCONSIN: Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney (R) will challenge Attorney General Josh Kaul (D) once again in 2026. Toney, 41, lost a challenge to Kaul by just 35,000 votes in 2022. (State Affairs)
ARIZONA: Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) has filed suit against U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R) seeking to force him to swear in Rep.-elect Adelina Grijalva (D), weeks after Grijalva won a special election to replace her late father Rep. Raul Grijalva (D). Johnson has refused to swear in the newest member of Congress, ostensibly because of the government shutdown. (Associated Press)
By The Numbers
$50: The average surcharge California homeowners will face to help insurers recoup costs from January’s wildfires in Los Angeles County. A consumer watchdog group has sued Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara (D), calling the surcharges an illegal bailout for the industry. (Los Angeles Times)
117: The number of public pre-K classrooms Hawaii has opened. The number of public pre-K classrooms has tripled since the launch of a Ready Keiki program in January 2023, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke (D) said. (Hawaii News Now)
40,000 lbs.: The amount of macaroni and cheese Land O’Lakes will donate to the Maryland Food Bank to help fight hunger during the holiday season. The company’s donation will reach 800 community partners. (Baltimore Sun)
Off The Wall
The Wyoming Capitol was evacuated Tuesday after a person found a suspected explosive device and brought it inside. State police did not provide details about the device, except to say it was not produced in a factory. No one was injured. (Associated Press)
When Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a new training facility for the Qatari Air Force in Idaho, he forgot to inform state leaders. Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R) and members of the state’s congressional delegation have requested a Pentagon briefing about the base. (Idaho Capital Sun)
Thousands of sea cucumbers have washed ashore in Seaside, Ore., after heavy surf and low tide. Officials at the Seaside Aquarium said they hadn’t seen so many sea cucumbers on the beach in years. (Associated Press)
Quote of the Day
“It’s an ironic thing to run a bill to limit bills, but we just have too many bills.”
— Utah Rep. Clint Okerlund (R), who plans to introduce legislation next year to cap the number of bills lawmakers can introduce. (Fox 13)