It’s Thursday, April 2, 2026, and time for your Democracy in the States: Weekly Roundup. This week started with encouraging coverage of the No Kings rallies, a “red flare” for a presidency facing historic pushback as millions of Americans took to the streets to protest President Trump’s executive power, mass immigration raids, and the ongoing war in Iran.
I happened to be in Europe this week, so I joined a coalition of French and American citizens for a No Kings rally at Paris’ Place de la Bastille.
Of course, navigating the European time zone meant I had to go to bed before the President’s Wednesday night address — not knowing whether I would wake up to a U.S. withdrawal from NATO or a ground invasion. Since neither was announced, I could enjoy the day abroad enthusiastically chatting about the successful Artemis II launch and the rare moment of unity it created.
Domestically, Trump also made history this week as the first sitting president to attend Supreme Court oral arguments for the birthright citizenship case alongside his Attorney General Pam Bondi, whom he’s since fired. All of this unfolds as the DHS shutdown becomes the longest partial government closure in U.S. history, with Congress yet to pass a deal, at least as of this writing.
All that to say — It was a week of high highs and low lows, and impacts were felt across every statehouse.
The “No Kings” Movement
From deep-red counties in Florida to the steps of the Iowa Capitol, the third “No Kings” demonstration saw millions of Americans rallying against the administration’s disregard for coequal branches of government.
IOWA: Thousands rally at Iowa Capitol for third No Kings protest.
PENNSYLVANIA: No Kings protest in Reading, Pennsylvania brings out opposition to ICE detention facility.
MAINE: ‘No ICE! No kings! No war!’: Thousands protest Trump across Maine.
GEORGIA: Macon No Kings event ends abruptly when sheriff tries to address concerns about cooperation with ICE.
MARYLAND: Thousands turn out — again — as third ‘No Kings’ rallies take over Maryland streets.
FLORIDA: No Kings marches attract crowds even in conservative areas of Florida.
NORTH DAKOTA: Protecting voter rights, democracy a theme of Fargo No Kings.
Another Federal Intervention in Elections
A sweeping executive order targeting mail-in ballots and creating a national eligible voter list has drawn swift condemnation from state officials and a flurry of lawsuits.
NATIONAL: Democrats sue to block Trump’s ‘unlawful’ order targeting mail-in voting.
MICHIGAN: Michigan elected officials vow to fight Trump’s executive order targeting mail-in ballots.
NEBRASKA: Trump’s mail voting order won’t affect Nebraska primary election, Evnen says.
COLORADO: Colorado Democratic leaders push back on Trump executive order on mail-in ballots.
UTAH: Utah election officials eye Trump vote-by-mail order with uncertainty, concern.
NEW JERSEY: Civil rights groups, NJ Democrats condemn Trump mail ballot order as ‘power grab’.
Election Administration and Rule Changes
States are navigating a complex landscape of primary reforms and judicial scrutiny. While some are looking to make voting more accessible, others are focused on doing the opposite.
NORTH DAKOTA: Republican delegates support push to abolish partisan primaries in North Dakota.
MAINE: Law Court weighs what constitutes a ‘vote,’ other key questions in ranked choice voting hearing.
ARKANSAS: Federal appeals court upholds injunction of ‘wet signature’ rule for Arkansas voter registration.
OKLAHOMA: Lawmakers aim to circumvent Oklahoma voters by putting state questions on low turnout election.
OHIO: Backers urge Ohio lawmakers to require absentee voters mail in a copy of their ID.
NATIONAL: Pro-voting groups sue to block Florida’s ‘SAVE Act’.
Voter Lists, Privacy and Maintenance
Conflict between the federal government and states over sensitive voter data is intensifying. The Justice Department is suing officials who refuse to provide unredacted voter rolls, while state attorneys general argue that such demands represent a significant expansion of federal power into state domains.
CALIFORNIA: California sues DOJ over federal overreach in voter list maintenance.
VIRGINIA: Spanberger order, RNC lawsuit highlight divide over Virginia voter roll maintenance.
NEBRASKA: Nebraska Supreme Court hears oral arguments in voter data case.
LOUISIANA: Proposal would require Louisiana to send every voter’s personal info to Homeland Security.
IDAHO: Trump administration sues Idaho election official to force him to turn over sensitive voter data.
Campaign Finance and Corporate Influence
As billionaire contributions pour into redistricting battles and primary runoffs, some states are pushing for stricter campaign spending laws to limit corporate spending.
MINNESOTA: Minnesota can change corporate law to forbid campaign spending.
ARKANSAS: Arkansas secretary of state’s primary runoff dividing Republicans, drawing outside money.
MONTANA: Montana Supreme Court dismisses constitutionality challenge to ‘The Montana Plan’ initiative, which seeks to limit corporate spending.
KENTUCKY: KY House backs Senate-overhauled elections bill, including bumping up donation limits and allowing federal agencies data access.
NATIONAL: Peter Thiel-backed group contributes $2.5 million to oppose Virginia redistricting.
Social Media, AI and Tech Regulations
Some states are issuing directives to implement guardrails against AI-generated misinformation, while other legislatures are retreating from similar regulations due to federal threats to pull broadband funding.
CALIFORNIA: Newsom orders government to consider AI harm in contract rules.
COLORADO: Social media companies must respond to search warrants within 72 hours under new Colorado law.
HAWAII: Teens Are Addicted To Social Media. Hawaiʻi Is Reluctant To Set Limits.
LOUISIANA: Louisiana scraps some, but not all, AI proposals after Trump threats.
Federal Law Enforcement and Immigration
The Justice Department’s massive shift toward immigration enforcement has led to the dismissal of thousands of criminal investigations, prompting a variety of state responses. While some jurisdictions are launching inquiries into federal conduct, others are engaging in “hostile” legislative takeovers to mandate closer cooperation with ICE.
Push Back & Accountability
NATIONAL: Trump’s Justice Department dropped 23,000 criminal investigations in shift to immigration.
OREGON: Half a dozen reports from Oregonians could spur criminal inquiries into feds by AG Rayfield.
NEW MEXICO: New Mexico Department of Justice urges state Supreme Court to stop Otero County ICE contract.
MONTANA: Department of Justice sued over withholding law enforcement identities.
MINNESOTA: More than 3,700 immigrants arrested during Operation Metro Surge, per new data.
NATIONAL: States say ICE pulled Medicaid data despite court order.
OHIO: ACLU decries expanding ICE partnerships with Ohio law enforcement.
TENNESSEE: Nashville journalist released from ICE detention details retaliation claims.
Federal-State Cooperation
MICHIGAN: Saginaw County village signs cooperation agreement with ICE, the first in Michigan since November.
IDAHO: Idaho House lawmakers do ‘hostile’ takeover of E-Verify bill to mandate 287(g) agreements.
TENNESSEE: Tennessee senate advances bill requiring sheriffs to hold ICE detainees for 48 hours.
IDAHO: Idaho Senate revives effort to mandate 287(g) agreements with federal immigration authorities.
TENNESSEE: Tennessee Senate adopts non-citizen jobs, benefits bills.
Healthcare, education and social program funding
Federal spending laws are creating significant fiscal hurdles for states, and legislators are scrambling to finalize budgets that prioritize local needs, from kinship care funding to teacher pay raises.
OHIO: As many as 356,000 Ohioans will lose health coverage under Trump spending law, new reports says.
KENTUCKY: KY lawmakers increase money for kinship care in final budget.
VIRGINIA: Planned Parenthood presses Virginia to restore state funding for contraception program.
IDAHO: Audits find little fraud in Idaho child care providers. But budget panel rejects child care grants.
ARIZONA: Republicans back plan to force more classroom spending by threatening funding cuts.
OKLAHOMA: Oklahoma officials announce $12B budget deal.