Welcome to the Thursday, July 9, 2026, Brew.
By: Lara Bonatesta
Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:
- Voters to decide at least three ballot measures on abortion this year, following record number in 2024
- New Jersey becomes the 11th state to enact a state-level voting rights act
- Two new justices sworn into Utah Supreme Court in June, the first expansion to a state supreme court since 2016
Voters to decide at least three ballot measures on abortion this year, following record number in 2024
This year, voters will decide three ballot measures on abortion policy, following a record 11 such measures in 2024 — the most in a single year since 1970.
Nevada and Virginia voters will decide measures that have the support of groups that describe themselves as pro-choice or pro-reproductive rights. Missouri voters will decide on a measure that has the support of groups that describe themselves as pro-life. One group that describes itself as pro-life and groups that describe themselves as pro-choice are opposing the measure in Missouri.
Additional measures with the support of groups that describe themselves as pro-choice could qualify for the ballot in Colorado and Idaho.
From 1970 through 2025, voters decided 65 abortion-related measures. Forty-four measures had the support of organizations that described themselves as pro-life. Of those, voters approved 12 (27%) and rejected 32 (73%). Twenty-one measures had the support of organizations that described themselves as pro-choice or pro-reproductive rights. Of those, voters approved 15 (71%) and rejected six (29%).
The measures in Nevada and Virginia would each establish a state constitutional right to an abortion. Nevada Question 6 would allow the state to regulate abortion after fetal viability, except where medically indicated to "protect the life or health of the pregnant patient." The Virginia Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment would amend the state Constitution to establish the right to reproductive freedom defined as "the right to make and effectuate one's own decisions about all matters related to one's pregnancy."
Missouri voters will decide Amendment 3, which would repeal the constitutional right to reproductive freedom that voters approved 52.6% to 48.4% in 2024. Amendment 3 would prohibit abortion except in cases of "medical emergency, fetal anomaly, rape, or incest," and permit abortions in cases of rape or incest only through 12 weeks of gestation. The amendment would also ban certain medical procedures for transgender minors.
State legislators put the measures on the ballot in Missouri and Virginia. The Nevada measure was placed on the ballot through a successful citizen initiative. For Nevada voters, this will be the second time they have decided on this amendment. In Nevada, citizen-initiated constitutional amendments must be approved in two even-numbered election years. In 2024, Nevada voters approved the amendment 64.4% to 35.6%.
The measure with the most contributions is Missouri’s Amendment 3. The campaign supporting the measure reported raising $321,745.30 through March 31, while the campaigns opposing the measure reported raising $1.85 million. For more information on campaign finance, endorsements, and polling for these measures, click here.
Click here to read more about the abortion measures on the ballot this year, and here to read more about the history of abortion ballot measures.
New Jersey becomes the 11th state to enact a state-level voting rights act
On July 2, Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) signed legislation making New Jersey the 11th state to enact a state-level voting rights act, and the fourth this year to enact or expand a state-level voting rights act. Virginia and Washington both expanded existing state-level voting rights acts, while Maryland enacted a new law.
California was the first state to enact a state-level voting rights act in 2002, followed by Illinois in 2011. Every other state enacted its law between 2018 and 2026. All 11 states had Democratic trifectas when they enacted their laws.
While the provisions of these laws vary across states, they generally include policies that mirror or expand on the federal Voting Rights Act and apply to local governments.
Common provisions include requirements that some local governments obtain state approval for changes to voting rules, guidelines for making voting materials available in languages other than English, and prohibitions on adopting electoral systems or district maps that dilute the votes of certain groups.
New Jersey Assembly Bill 1715 prohibits the use of voting policies that result "in a denial or abridgement of the right of members of a protected class to vote."
The bill also prohibits political subdivisions from taking actions that result in vote dilution, that create a material disparity in access to voting opportunities, or impair the "opportunity or ability of a protected class member to participate in the political process."
Individuals or groups may file a court action against a local government alleging a violation of the law. A plaintiff must first give the local government a chance to remedy the issue before filing a lawsuit.
The law also requires political subdivisions that meet certain demographic criteria to provide assistance in languages other than English. Local governments of a certain size or that were deemed to have violated state or federal law in a voting case must submit changes to voting policies to the state attorney general’s office for pre-clearance before they can take effect.
Both chambers of the New Jersey Legislature passed the bill along party lines. The New Jersey Senate passed the final version of the bill 25-14 on June 30, with 25 Democrats voting in favor and 14 Republicans voting against. The New Jersey General Assembly then passed the amended bill 57-21 later that day, with 57 Democrats voting in favor and 21 Republicans voting against.
Representative Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D) said that by “strengthening safeguards against discrimination, improving language access, increasing transparency, and creating stronger protections for voters, New Jersey is reaffirming that our democracy works best when every eligible voice has an equal opportunity to be heard.”
During a hearing on the bill in May, Sen. Kristin Corrado (R) said, “I think it’s important to note, the incidents that you’re highlighting — we have addressed them in this state already. We do take the right to vote extremely seriously, and we’ve taken steps to proactively address that.”
The provisions of the bill take effect on Aug. 15, 2026, with the exception of the language accessibility requirement, the preclearance requirement, and a requirement that the Division of Elections maintain a database with election statistics. Those three requirements take effect on Oct. 1, 2027.
Of the 11 states with a state-level voting rights act, four have a provision that requires some local governments to obtain state approval for changes to voting policies, 10 have a prohibition on vote dilution, 10 allow private individuals or groups to sue over local or state policies they believe to be discriminatory, and four include requirements that voting materials be available in languages other than English.
One additional state voting rights act could be signed into law this year. Both chambers of the Delaware General Assembly have passed HB 444, which would enact a state-level voting rights act. Once the bill is formally sent to Gov. Matt Meyer (D), he will have 10 days, excluding Sundays, to sign or veto it.
Click here to learn more about the New Jersey Voting Rights Act.
Two new justices sworn into Utah Supreme Court in June, the first expansion to a state supreme court since 2016
On June 22, two new justices were sworn into the Utah Supreme Court, expanding the Court from five to seven members. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) made the appointments after lawmakers passed SB 134, which added two more seats to the Court. This was the first time that a state has increased the number of justices on its supreme court since Arizona and Georgia in 2016.
Cox appointed assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Dent and senior counsel to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Jay Jorgensen on June 2, and the Utah Senate confirmed them on June 17. Jorgensen and Dent will serve for at least three years and will be up for retention in 2030.
Dent and Jorgensen join two other justices that Cox appointed to the bench, as well as one justice that former Gov. Gary Herbert (R) appointed and one that former Gov. Michael Leavitt (D) appointed. There is currently one vacancy. In addition to that vacancy, Chief Justice Matthew Durrant, whom Leavitt appointed, has also announced he will step down later this year. After making these two appointments, Cox will have appointed six of the seven justices on the Court.
Here’s a look at other state supreme court news from June 1 to July 1.
Two other justices sworn in and one resigned
- On June 17, district court judge William H. Burris (R) was sworn into the Louisiana Supreme Court . Burris was elected outright in the May 16 Republican primary . No Democrats ran, and the Nov. 3 election was canceled. Burris succeeds William J. Crain (R), who took office in 2019. Crain retired on Dec. 19, 2025, after President Donald Trump (R) appointed him as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Crain and Burris are both registered Republicans, meaning the partisan balance of the court did not change. Burris will serve the remainder of Crain's term and be eligible to run in a partisan election in 2028.
- On July 1, appellate judge Kyle Hixson was sworn into the Tennessee Supreme Court . Hixson succeeds Justice Holly Kirby , who retired on June 30, ending a judicial career spanning more than three decades. Former Gov. Bill Haslam (R) nominated Kirby to the Court in 2013, and she took office in 2014. In August 2023, justices of the Court elected Kirby to serve as the chief justice for a two-year term. Both chambers of the Tennessee General Assembly confirmed Hixson’s nomination in March. Hixson must appear on the ballot in August 2026. If retained, he would serve a full eight-year term.
One justice was nominated
- On June 15, Governor Ned Lamont (D) nominated appellate judge Melanie Cradle to the Connecticut Supreme Court . Cradle's nomination is subject to confirmation from both chambers of the Connecticut General Assembly . As of July 8, neither chamber had confirmed Cradle's nomination. Upon Cradle's nomination, Justice Joan K. Alexander announced her official retirement date of Aug. 1. Alexander announced her retirement in October 2025, but did not announce an official retirement date. Cradle has served on the Connecticut Appellate Court since 2020 and is the first Black woman to be nominated to the state's highest court.
One justice was appointed
- Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer (D) appointed Morgan Zurn to the Delaware Supreme Court on June 5. Zurn has served as one of six vice chancellors on the Delaware Court of Chancery since 2018. She succeeds Justice Karen L. Valihura , who is retiring at the end of her current term on July 25. As of July 8, Zurn had not yet been sworn into office. Once Zurn takes office, she will serve for a full 12-year term.
Click here to see our full coverage of state supreme court vacancies in 2026.
