More than half of states will recognize Juneteenth as a legal holiday in 2026
This year, at least 33 states and the District of Columbia will legally recognize Juneteenth as a public holiday.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
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Most new data centers in the U.S. are coming to rural areas
Over 1,500 new data centers are in development nationwide. Most will be built in rural areas, particularly the South and Midwest, marking a shift from urban locations.
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Columbus Day, Indigenous Peoples Day or just a regular Monday? It depends on where you are
30 states and three U.S. territories recognize Columbus Day in some form, but only 20 states and two territories make Columbus Day a paid holiday for state workers.
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On issue after issue, Americans say things are going better locally than nationally
On issues as varied as education and crime, Americans often have a rosier view of how things are going in their communities than in the nation as a whole.
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17 states haven’t had a female U.S. senator, and 18 haven’t had a woman governor
Five races for U.S. Senate and two for governor feature a major-party nominee who, if elected, would be the first woman in their state to hold the office.
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How do states fill vacancies in the U.S. Senate? It depends on the state
In the event that a Senate seat becomes vacant, governors in 45 states have the power to appoint a temporary replacement.
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How Americans Get Local Political News
Most U.S. adults follow news about local government and politics, yet only a quarter are highly satisfied with the quality of coverage.
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More than 80% of Americans believe elected officials don’t care what people like them think
More than 80% of Americans believe elected officials don’t care what people like them think.
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Americans rate their federal, state and local governments less positively than a few years ago
Americans view their state and local governments far more positively than the federal government in Washington.
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Americans’ Dismal Views of the Nation’s Politics
Americans’ views of politics and elected officials are unrelentingly negative, with little hope of improvement on the horizon. 65% of Americans say they always or often feel exhausted when thinking about politics. By contrast, just 10% say they always or often feel hopeful about politics.
