North Carolina voters will decide on two constitutional amendments limiting property and income taxes in November, after the legislature approved both measures with the required 60% supermajority on May 20. The amendments represent a significant shift in tax policy that will require voter ratification before implementation.

North Carolina Tax Limitation Amendments

The North Carolina General Assembly approved two constitutional amendments focused on property and income tax restrictions, clearing the 60% legislative threshold needed for ballot placement. Both measures will appear on the November 2026 ballot, requiring voter approval for enactment. The specific provisions and revenue impacts of the amendments have not been detailed in available reporting.

South Carolina Attorney General Primary: Trump Targets Pascoe

President Trump called on South Carolina Republican primary voters to reject David Pascoe (R SC-SEN), the GOP attorney general candidate, characterizing him as a "total fraud" and "RINO" over his recent party switch from Democrat. Trump cited Pascoe's previous endorsement of President Joe Biden as disqualifying for the state's top law enforcement position. The intervention reflects Trump's continued influence in Republican primary contests.

House Energy Committee Advances Permanent Daylight Saving Time Bill

The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted 48–1 to advance the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent nationwide. The bill, introduced by Senator Rick Scott (R FL-SEN) and Representative Vern Buchanan (R FL-05), was included in a larger transportation funding package. President Trump praised the committee's action on the measure.

Watch tomorrow: Developments in Pennsylvania's special elections and additional state ballot measure approvals ahead of the November 2026 general election.

This Week in Review

```html

Georgia Primary Results: Trump Alignment Reshapes State GOP

Georgia's primary elections revealed sharp factional divisions within the Republican Party, with candidates aligned to former President Trump advancing while Trump critics faced elimination. Brad Raffensperger (R GA-GOV), the Republican Secretary of State who resisted Trump's 2020 election reversal efforts, finished last in the gubernatorial primary—marking another defeat for a prominent Trump skeptic. Meanwhile, Mike Collins (R GA-SEN), a Trump-aligned candidate, advanced to a runoff against Derek Dooley (R GA-SEN), who is aligned with Governor Brian Kemp. The extended Senate primary will delay unified Republican messaging against incumbent Jon Ossoff (D GA-SEN) heading into the general election phase.

On the Democratic side, Keisha Lance Bottoms (D GA-GOV), the former Atlanta mayor, clinched the gubernatorial nomination outright without a runoff, positioning her against whoever emerges from the Republican primary. The Georgia results underscore how primary competitions continue to sort candidates by their positioning within party factions rather than resolving competitive races cleanly.

Judicial Control and State-Level Governance

Charlie Bethel (R GA) and Sarah Warren (R GA) won reelection to Georgia's Supreme Court, defeating Democratic-backed challengers Miracle Rankin and Jen Jordan respectively. The results preserve Republican control of the state's highest court, offsetting Democratic gains on the Public Service Commission in 2025. These outcomes demonstrate that judicial elections remain competitive in swing states despite broader partisan alignments.

Education Policy Shifts in Three States

The week featured three separate state-level decisions affecting education funding structures. North Dakota voters will decide a constitutional amendment requiring all public schools to provide free breakfast and lunch daily, attempting to enshrine meal assistance directly in the state constitution. Minnesota voters will separately decide whether to increase annual distribution from the state's Permanent School Fund to school districts, representing a shift in investment and distribution policies. These measures indicate growing state-level focus on using constitutional amendments to lock in education spending commitments rather than relying on legislative appropriations.

Governor Kathy Hochul (D NY-GOV) announced New York will participate in the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit scholarship program, becoming the third Democratic-controlled state to join after Virginia and Colorado. The program allows federal tax credits for donations to education scholarship accounts. Hochul's decision marks a notable endorsement of an education funding mechanism traditionally associated with Republican policy preferences, though her action represents a policy choice rather than legislative action requiring votes.

Senate Primary Reversal in Kentucky

Charles Booker (D KY-SEN) defeated Amy McGrath (D KY-SEN) in the Democratic Senate primary to succeed retiring Mitch McConnell (R KY-SEN). This result represents a reversal of their 2020 primary matchup, when McGrath narrowly prevailed for the same seat. The shift suggests changing dynamics in Kentucky's Democratic primary electorate across a single cycle.

House Retirements and Congressional Realignment

Rep. Steve Cohen (D TN-09) announced he will not seek re-election, becoming the 57th House member to announce retirement this cycle. His departure follows Tennessee's new congressional map. The ongoing wave of House retirements continues to reshape available seats and dynamics heading into the general election phase.

Fundraising Disparities in Competitive California District

Rohit Khanna (D CA-22) holds a substantial financial advantage in California's 22nd District, with 11.4 million in total receipts and 16.1 million in cash on hand compared to Young Kim (R CA-22) at 7.6 million in receipts and 5.8 million on hand. Cook Political Report rates this race a tossup despite Khanna's fundraising edge, indicating the seat's partisan composition and electoral history outweigh his cash advantage. Saikat Chakrabarti (D CA-22) has nearly exhausted his resources after spending 4.9 million of 5.2 million raised, leaving him minimal reserves for final campaign spending. The disparity in remaining cash reserves suggests Khanna and Kim will dominate paid media spending in the final campaign period, while Chakrabarti faces structural disadvantages in closing messaging.

```