Weekly Political Recap: Week Ending April 24, 2026
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- 4 days ago
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Ohio News
Republican Ohio Supreme Court makes Ohio first in nation to allow political endorsements from judges
In a 5-1 ruling, the Republican-majority Ohio Supreme Court ended a decades-old ban on state judges and judicial candidates publicly endorsing political candidates — making Ohio the first state in the nation to allow it. The ruling drew sharp criticism even from within the court: Republican Justice Pat Fischer called it judicial activism and warned it "could have an immobilizing effect on the judicial system," as it was issued without either party in the case even asking for the change.
New poll shows Ohio governor and Senate races in dead heat, Trump support slipping
A new BGSU poll of 1,000 registered Ohio voters (conducted April 7–14) shows both marquee 2026 races within the margin of error: Vivek Ramaswamy leads Amy Acton 48%–47% in the governor's race, while Jon Husted leads Sherrod Brown 50%–47% in the Senate race. Voters cited the economy, the war in Iran, and the state of democracy as top concerns, and support for President Trump continues to slide. (Follow-up to last week's story on Sherrod Brown's fundraising advantage.)
National News
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigns amid misconduct probe
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned on April 20, becoming the third Cabinet member to depart Trump's second term. She had been under investigation by the Labor Department's inspector general over allegations including a relationship with a member of her security detail and other workplace misconduct. Keith Sonderling was named acting secretary.
Virginia voters approve redistricting plan, giving Democrats a shot at four more House seats
Virginia voters approved a Democratic-backed constitutional amendment on April 21 that replaces the state's bipartisan redistricting commission with a new congressional map drawn by the Democratic-led legislature. The map could give Democrats up to four additional U.S. House seats in the 2026 midterms. The measure was backed by former President Obama and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries; a Virginia judge has issued a temporary injunction pending appeal.
FBI Director Kash Patel sues The Atlantic for $250 million over report on drinking and absences
FBI Director Kash Patel filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic on April 20 after the magazine published a report alleging he engaged in excessive drinking at work and had unexplained absences, with agents reportedly unable to wake him on multiple occasions. The Atlantic stands by its reporting and calls the lawsuit meritless.