Shared Values, Sharp Lines - Democracy in the States Roundup

Democracy in the States' weekly round-up of news, campaigns, policy changes, obstacles and successes for democracy renovation at the state level.

Nov 21, 2025

Americans may feel divided politically, but new research from the Kettering Foundation and Gallup shows we still agree on some basic rules for living in a democracy. Big majorities — about eight in 10 adults — say political violence is never acceptable, want elected leaders to compromise, and believe the country is stronger with a mix of races, religions, and cultures. Most people also support free, peaceful expression for everyone and want to limit how much wealthy people and businesses influence politics. The main divide is over the pace of cultural change: about half think it’s too fast, while the other half think it’s about right, with Republicans and Democrats split on this issue. Still, beneath the surface, most Americans share a broad pro-democracy foundation.

That’s the backdrop for this week’s Democracy in the States Round-Up, where debates over elections, rights, schools, and safety nets are playing out state by state.

Election Rules in the Courts

Federal courts played a big role this week, with Texas in the spotlight. A court ruling that referenced comments by Gov. Abbott and Republican lawmakers struck down the state’s congressional map, leading to new redistricting battles and appeals. These effects spread nationwide, as other states faced their own legal battles over who draws the lines, who gets on the ballot, and who gets the final say.

TEXAS: Abbott, GOP lawmakers’ comments cited in court order overturning Texas’ congressional gerrymander.
MONTANA: Supreme Court says AG can’t rewrite ballot initiative on nonpartisan judges.
FLORIDA: Election supervisors once again ask lawmakers to make it easier to vote by mail.
ARKANSAS: Judge blocks enforcement of direct-democracy laws targeting ballot-measure signature gathering.
NORTH CAROLINA: Federal judges uphold 2024 congressional and legislative districts.
NORTH CAROLINA: Voting-rights groups ask federal judges to block 2025 mid-decade congressional map, arguing it retaliates against voters.

Ballot Initiatives, Elections, and Lawmakers

States are making changes to how elections work, from absentee ballot deadlines to access to voter files. In some cases, they are even replacing old rules completely.

OHIO: Lawmakers send bill shortening the absentee-ballot deadline to the governor.
UTAH: Forward Party outlines an unprecedented plan to replace its lone state legislator through a district-wide midterm vote.
KANSAS / MISSOURI: GOP officials agree to share voter registration data on 6 million people.
SOUTH DAKOTA: Secretary of State floats idea letting candidates pay their way onto the ballot.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: After 123 voters were turned away, advocates criticize proof-of-citizenship law.
NEBRASKA: Voting-rights advocates file a ballot measure to prevent lawmakers from overturning voter-passed laws.

Gerrymandering Fights Escalate

Redistricting issues are no longer just about maps. In Indiana, the situation has led to real threats. As political pressure increases, Republican lawmakers who have not supported Trump’s mid-decade push report being swatted, targeted, and threatened.

INDIANA: Trump threatens to recruit, endorse, and finance primary challengers against GOP senators who refuse to redraw maps his way.
INDIANA: At least three more GOP senators report swatting attempts amid redistricting pressure.
INDIANA: After a week of swatting attempts on colleagues, Sen. Andy Zay reports a bomb threat at his vehicle rental business.

And in other redistricting news …

MARYLAND: State redistricting expert warns governor’s fast-tracked commission is likely headed for a lawsuit.
ALABAMA: An 18-year-old University of Alabama student drew the map a federal judge ordered the state to use in 2026 and 2030.

Broader Political Violence Concerns

This week also brought a troubling rise in violent threats and rhetoric. Trump accused six Democratic lawmakers, all military veterans, of “seditious behavior, punishable by death” after they urged U.S. service members to refuse illegal orders. He also shared a post suggesting they should be hanged.

State-level reactions followed:

PENNSYLVANIA: Trump targets Reps. Deluzio and Houlihan as “seditious.”
MICHIGAN: Trump threatens Rep. Slotkin, calling her remarks “seditious.”
COLORADO: Trump threatens Rep. Crow with “death” for urging troops to reject illegal orders.

Culture Wars, Civil Rights, and School Policy

As schools remain a central arena for fights over identity, discrimination, curriculum, and student rights, the gap between federal policy and state-level priorities is becoming more noticeable.

CALIFORNIA: A new K–12 Office of Civil Rights, including an antisemitism coordinator, aims to expand protections as federal civil-rights enforcement erodes.
MISSOURI: Trial set to begin in a lawsuit challenging the legality of the state’s publicly funded private-school voucher program.
IOWA: The Board of Education is taking public comment on new rules for accreditation and fetal-development instruction.
TEXAS: Some teachers are being forced to deadname trans students under a new state law.
MISSOURI: A court strikes down a 2022 law criminalizing school staff for providing “sexually explicit material” to students, calling it vague and overbroad.
MAINE: The Human Rights Commission takes the rare step of suing five districts over anti-trans policies in athletics and facilities access.
WEST VIRGINIA: More than 13,000 homeless students are identified statewide, even as legislative efforts to help them stall.
OHIO: House passes a bill allowing schools to teach the “positive impacts” of religion on American history.
OHIO: Another bill requires public schools to show the “Baby Olivia” fetal-development video to students in grades 5–12.
OHIO: Senate committee advances a bill listing the Ten Commandments as a “historical document.”
ALABAMA: State library board bans “gender ideology,” keeping pressure on local libraries and school collections.

SNAP and Food Security

After weeks of shutdown-related problems, the Trump administration is now considering a new plan: requiring every SNAP recipient to reapply for benefits. This would be a major administrative challenge and could cause confusion and gaps as states are still struggling to deliver aid.

RHODE ISLAND: Refugees, asylum seekers, and other vulnerable immigrants could lose SNAP and Medicaid, with about 2,300 people expected to lose food assistance by February.
ARKANSAS: Lawmakers approve emergency rules imposing new SNAP work requirements starting Friday.
MISSISSIPPI: A software glitch delays distribution of full SNAP benefits.

More State-Level Moves

MISSOURI: State officials move to seize Chinese assets to recover a $24 billion COVID-era judgment.
IDAHO: The DOGE Task Force advances proposals to merge or eliminate six state entities in the name of “efficiency.”
FLORIDA: Democrats join Gov. DeSantis in opposing House Republicans’ slate of property-tax proposals.

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