Email from Vote Smart Your Weekly Briefing is Here! Dive into the Latest Updates Now.   Words This Friday (WTF) with Dr. Kyle Dell Executive Director Dr. Kyle Dell breaks down the words making headlines this week in “Words This Friday” (WTF) — a quick, insightful look at the language shaping our news and civic conversations. Vote Smart is grassroots: no ads, no agendas, just facts. Your support helps keep it that way. Senate Fails to Advance Competing Health Care Proposals Ahead of ACA Subsidy Expiration Source 1: NPR, Source 2: New York Post U.S. House Passes Record-Level Defense Policy Bill for FY 2026 Source 1: Newsmax, Source 2: Reuters Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett Announces U.S. Senate Campaign in Texas Source 1: CNN, Source 2: Fox News Key Votes Viz by Region: West, South, Midwest, Northeast Congress For full details on each bill, visit our Vote Smart Issue Summary page. State New York (NY) – Senate Passed A 136 - Authorizes Medical Aid in Dying Texas (TX) – Governor Greg Abbot Signed HB 7 - Increases Restrictions on Abortion Pills Missouri (MO) - Governor Mike Kehoe Signed HB 737 - Amends State Foster Care System Democrat Eric Gisler won a special election Tuesday night to represent Georgia’s 121st state house district. This district, which represents Watkinsville (just outside of Athens) in the legislature, was vacated when former Republican Representative Marcus Wiedower resigned in October. Gisler, who ran for this district in 2024, narrowly flipped the seat and will increase the Democrats minority in the chamber to a total of 81 seats to the GOP’s 98. Republican Wendy Larson won a special election Tuesday night to represent Iowa’s 7th state house district. This district, which represents an area west of Fort Dodge and includes Sac City and Pocahontas, was formerly represented by Mike Sexton, who resigned to take a job with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. When Larson, a stay-at-home mother who ran for this seat in 2024, takes office the GOP in the chamber will retain their supermajority of 67 seats to the Democrat’s 33. 2025 Ballot Measures: California, Colorado, Maine, New York, Texas, and Washington This week, there were regular and special elections across the country. Click on the links below to view the results: Georgia Special General Run-off, State Senate District 35 Kentucky Special General Election, State Senate District 37 Minnesota Special Primary Elections, State House Districts 47A and 64A Acts of Courage  "My experience has been that most people will hold the door for one another and many will say thank you. Common courtesy. I shop bi-weekly so have a full cart when I go. If the person behind me in line only has a few items, I generally offer to let them go ahead of me. I try not to spread negativity in social media; there’s way too much of that going on." Anonymous Share your Act of Courage to be highlighted in next week’s Digest! Vote Smart | 1153 24TH ST | DES MOINES, IA 50311-4308 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice