BallotWire Briefs — Weekly Election Update (Mar. 30 – April 3)

BallotWire delivers data-driven coverage of U.S. elections at every level—federal, state, and local. We track results, trends, and shifts beyond the headlines.

Top Election Developments

A summary of the most significant election news from the week, including major race developments, candidate activity, and changes that may determine upcoming contests.

Trump Signs Executive Order Targeting Mail-In Voting Ahead of Midterms

President Trump signed an executive order on March 31 targeting mail-in voting ahead of November's midterms. The order directs the Department of Homeland Security, working with the Social Security Administration, to compile a list of verified U.S. citizens eligible to vote in each state and send it to state election officials. It also instructs the U.S. Postal Service to deliver mail ballots only to individuals on an approved state-provided list and requires that all ballots be placed in envelopes with unique tracking barcodes.

In response to the executive order, Democrats filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging it. The Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Governors Association, Democratic congressional campaign committees, and Democratic leaders seek to block the order, arguing that the Constitution gives states and Congress, rather than the president, authority over election rules.

The legal battle over mail-in voting is also moving through the courts. The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on March 23 in Watson v. Republican National Committee, a closely watched case that could determine federal standards for counting mail ballots, particularly whether ballots mailed by Election Day but received afterward must be counted.

In addition to the legal challenges, the executive order comes as Trump continues to pressure Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, which would require photo identification and proof of citizenship to register to vote and to vote in federal elections. The U.S. House passed the bill in February, but it has stalled in the U.S. Senate due to the filibuster and Democratic opposition.

Sanford Makes Last-Minute Bid for Third Stint in Congress

Former South Carolina Governor and U.S. Representative Mark Sanford filed paperwork hours before the March 30 deadline to join the crowded Republican primary for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District, a seat he has held twice.

Sanford, 65, represented the 1st District from 1995 to 2001 before being elected governor, then won the seat back in a 2013 special election and served until 2019. He lost the 2018 Republican primary to a Trump-backed challenger, Katie Arrington, and Democrats captured the seat that fall when Joe Cunningham won the general election. Republican U.S. Representative Nancy Mace flipped it back in 2020, and because she is now running for governor in 2026, the seat is open again.

The June 9 Republican primary already features more than 10 candidates. Sanford also briefly challenged Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2020 before dropping out ahead of the New Hampshire primary.

Early Voting Underway in Georgia’s 14th District Runoff to Replace Marjorie Taylor Greene

Early voting began March 30 in the special election runoff for Georgia's 14th Congressional District. Election Day is April 7. The runoff pits Republican Clay Fuller against Democrat Shawn Harris for the seat vacated by former U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who resigned in January.

In the March 10 special election, Harris, a retired Army brigadier general and farmer, led the field with 37.3% of the vote, while Fuller, a former district attorney, finished second with 34.8%. However, no candidate cleared the 50% threshold in the crowded 17-candidate field to avoid a runoff. Republican votes were split among multiple candidates in the first round, and Fuller is now working to consolidate that support.

Fuller, backed by Trump, is a heavy favorite in the solidly Republican district. Early voting continues through April 2. Voters may also request absentee ballots before April 7.

Campaign Cash Tracker

A snapshot of the latest campaign finance activity, from standout fundraising hauls and war chest totals to financial trends forming the competitive landscape in critical contests.

Donalds Raises $22 Million in First Quarter, Bringing Total to $67 Million in Florida Governor's Race

Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate U.S. Representative Byron Donalds reported a $22.2 million fundraising total in the first quarter of 2026, the highest single-quarter amount so far for his campaign. Including his Friends of Byron Donalds PAC, the combined fundraising brings his total to over $67 million for the race. More than 10,000 donors contributed during the quarter.

Vindman Raises $8.2M in First Quarter for Florida U.S. Senate Race

Florida U.S. Senate candidate Alex Vindman reported raising $8.2 million in the first quarter of this year. The campaign said the fundraising total was driven largely by small-dollar donors, with most contributions coming from grassroots supporters across the state. The fundraising haul positions Vindman as a competitive Democratic contender in the 2026 Florida U.S. Senate race, though he still faces a challenging primary and general election in a Republican-leaning state.

Luria Raises Over $1.75M in First Quarter for Virginia Congressional Race

Former U.S. Representative Elaine Luria raised more than $1.75 million in the first quarter of 2026 in her campaign to unseat Republican U.S. Representative Jen Kiggans in Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District. Luria ended the quarter with over $2 million in cash on hand and has raised nearly $3 million since launching her campaign in November. The district is expected to be one of the most competitive U.S. House races this year.

Bennett Raises Over $700K in First Quarter for NJ-7 Congressional Race

Democratic congressional candidate Rebecca Bennett, a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, raised more than $700,000 in the first quarter of 2026, her largest fundraising quarter yet in the race for New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District. Bennett has now raised nearly $2.7 million for the campaign and ended the quarter with about $1.4 million in cash on hand. The district, currently held by Republican U.S. Representative Tom Kean Jr., is expected to be one of the most competitive U.S. House races this cycle.

State & Local Spotlight

Coverage of notable state and local election events that may indicate broader political trends or influence higher-profile races.

DeSantis Signs Florida SAVE Act, Changing Voting Rules

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 991, known as the Florida SAVE Act, into law on April 1. The law mirrors the federal SAVE America Act supported by Donald Trump and includes several changes to how Florida will administer elections, though the law does not go into effect until 2027. Among the highlights, the law requires verification of U.S. citizenship using REAL ID data for new and updated voter registrations, requires proof of citizenship to register to vote, mandates paper ballots for all voting statewide, prohibits student IDs as a valid form of voter identification in favor of government-issued Florida IDs, and requires congressional candidates to disclose stock trading activity while in office. Voting rights groups have filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block the law, arguing it could disenfranchise eligible voters who cannot easily produce citizenship documentation.

Hammer Narrowly Wins Arkansas Secretary of State Republican Primary Runoff

Arkansas State Senator Kim Hammer narrowly won the Republican primary runoff for Arkansas Secretary of State on March 31, defeating Bryan Norris, 50.6% to 49.4% out of nearly 81,000 ballots cast. The runoff was triggered after neither Hammer nor Norris cleared the 50% threshold in the March 3 primary, where both candidates received about 34% of the vote in a three-way race that eliminated Cathy Hardin Harrison.

Data & Polling Roundup

An overview of newly released polling and data understandings that help contextualize the current electoral landscape and emerging trends.

Donalds Leads Florida Governor Race as Republicans Hold Statewide Edge

A new Emerson College Polling survey of Florida likely voters, based on an overall sample of 1,125 likely voters (±2.8% margin of error), finds U.S. Representative Byron Donalds leading the Republican primary for governor with 46% support, far ahead of other candidates while 39% of voters remain undecided. On the Democratic side, former U.S.

Representative David Jolly leads the primary field with 21%, followed by Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings at 10%, with 53% of Democratic voters still undecided. In a hypothetical general election matchup, Donalds leads Jolly 44% to 39%, while Republicans also hold advantages in U.S. Senate matchups, suggesting the GOP currently maintains an edge in Florida’s 2026 statewide elections.

Barr Leads Kentucky Senate GOP Primary as Booker Gains Ground with Democrats

A new Emerson College Polling/FOX56 survey of Kentucky likely voters, based on an overall sample of 1,050 likely voters (±2.9% margin of error), finds U.S. Representative Andy Barr leading the Republican primary for U.S. Senate with 28% support, followed by former Attorney General Daniel Cameron at 21% and businessman Nate Morris at 15%, while 29% remain undecided. On the Democratic side, 2022 nominee Charles Booker leads with 36%, ahead of 2020 nominee Amy McGrath at 18% and Pamela Stevenson at 3%, with 38% undecided. The poll suggests both primaries remain fluid, though Barr holds an early edge in the Republican contest and Booker has emerged as the leading Democrat as Kentucky begins to take shape for its 2026 U.S. Senate race.

Hochul Leads Blakeman in New York Governor Race as Her Advantage Narrows

A new Siena Poll of New York registered voters, based on an overall sample of 804 registered voters (±4.2% margin of error), finds Governor Kathy Hochul leading Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman 47% to 34% in a hypothetical 2026 general election matchup. The poll shows Hochul’s lead narrowing from 51% to 31% in February, even as her favorability and job approval ratings remain largely unchanged, while Blakeman is still unfamiliar to many voters statewide. The survey suggests Hochul remains the favorite at this stage, but the race has tightened as Republicans look for a stronger foothold in this year’s New York gubernatorial contest.

Alabama Senate GOP Primary Remains Tied Despite Endorsements and Spending

A new Alabama Poll survey of likely Republican primary voters, based on a sample of 600 likely May 2026 Republican primary voters (±4.0% margin of error), finds the Republican primary for U.S. Senate essentially tied, with U.S. Representative Barry Moore at 22.8%, Attorney General Steve Marshall at 20.7%, and businessman Jared Hudson at 19.0%, while 34.5% of voters remain undecided. The poll also finds that endorsements and millions in outside spending have not yet decided the race, with all three candidates remaining within the margin of error and the contest still wide-open.