On issue after issue, Americans say things are going better locally than nationally
On issues as varied as education and crime, Americans often have a rosier view of how things are going in their communities than in the nation as a whole.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
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17 states haven’t had a female U.S. senator, and 18 haven’t had a woman governor
Five races for U.S. Senate and two for governor feature a major-party nominee who, if elected, would be the first woman in their state to hold the office.
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How do states fill vacancies in the U.S. Senate? It depends on the state
In the event that a Senate seat becomes vacant, governors in 45 states have the power to appoint a temporary replacement.
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How Americans Get Local Political News
Most U.S. adults follow news about local government and politics, yet only a quarter are highly satisfied with the quality of coverage.
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More than 80% of Americans believe elected officials don’t care what people like them think
More than 80% of Americans believe elected officials don’t care what people like them think.
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Americans rate their federal, state and local governments less positively than a few years ago
Americans view their state and local governments far more positively than the federal government in Washington.
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Working on Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples’ Day? It depends on where your job is
16 states and the territory of American Samoa still observe the second Monday in October as an official public holiday exclusively called Columbus Day.
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Americans’ Dismal Views of the Nation’s Politics
Americans’ views of politics and elected officials are unrelentingly negative, with little hope of improvement on the horizon. 65% of Americans say they always or often feel exhausted when thinking about politics. By contrast, just 10% say they always or often feel hopeful about politics.
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More than half of states will recognize Juneteenth as an official public holiday in 2023
This year, at least 28 states and the District of Columbia will legally recognize Juneteenth as a public holiday.
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Around one-in-five candidates for Congress or governor this year are veterans
21% of the roughly 1,000 candidates for U.S. Senate, House or state governor on the fall ballot claim some degree of military experience.
