The U.S. Supreme Court will consider whether to hear Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians v Howe, 25-253, at its November 21 conference. This is a North Dakota legislative redistricting case. The Eighth Circuit had ruled that private organizations can’t file lawsuits under the federal Voting Rights Act, and that the lawsuit was therefore barred by procedure. This was a decision that contradicted decades of precedent ever since the act was passed in 1965.
Twelve Green Party nominees were elected in partisan races on November 4, 2025. Seven were were in Connecticut, and five in Pennsylvania. However, only one of the races had more candidates than there were seats to be filled. That was the race for Windham Taxing District Board, won by Michael Westerfield.
The others in Connecticut were: Redding Zoning Board of Appeals Alternate Leif Smith; Redding Constable Leif Smith; Windham Board of Education Mia Mitoma; Windham Board of Assessment Appeals Sarah Winter; Windham Zoning Board of Appeals Alternate Jessica Watson; Windham Board of Assessment Appeals Anna Parker.
In Pennsylvania, Michael Bagdes-Canning was re-elected Mayor of Cherry Valley Borough, Butler County. He was unopposed. The party also won four elections for polling place officials. Two were in Pittsburgh and two in Bradford.
Chad Bianco, one of the two leading Republicans running for Governor of California, has been sued because he campaigns in his uniform. The plaintiff is another gubernatorial candidate, Stephen Cloobeck, a Democrat. The case was filed in August but was not served until October. A hearing has been set for January 2026. Cloobeck v Bianco, Riverside County Superior Court, cvri 2505068.
California has a law saying that government employees who are running for public office must not wear their official uniform while campaigning.
On November 4, the Constitution Party won two contested partisan elections in Pennsylvania. Robert E. Smith defeated his major party opponents for School Director, Clarion-Limestone School District, in region 2. Thomas A. Walter defeated his major party opponent in the same district, in region 3.
Thomas Laehn, the Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate in Iowa in 2026, is already campaign heavily. His activity is resulting in more publicity that Libertarian candidates usually get this early in the season. See this story.
