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 Blocks War Powers Resolution on Venezuela Source 1: Fox News, Source 2: Reuters Ongoing Federal Investigation Into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell Source 1: Breitbart, Source 2: PBS News Greenland Becomes a Focus of U.S.–NATO Diplomatic Engagement Source 1: NBC News, Source 2: CNBC News Key Votes Viz by Region: West, South, Midwest, Northeast For full details on legislation, visit our Vote Smart Issue Summary page. Democrat Gretchen Bulova, of Virginia, beat her Republican opponent Adam Wise 69.1% to 30.9% in the special election for State House District 11 and will succeed her husband, David Bulova, in the Virginia House of Delegates. He had resigned after being appointed Virginia’s Secretary of Natural Resources by Gov. Abigail Spanberger. Rep. Elect Bulova is the director of the Office of Historic Alexandria, a member of the VA250 Commission, which oversees the state’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, and chairs the Fairfax250 Commission. The 11th District comprises the City of Fairfax and parts of Fairfax County, including Fair Oaks and Oakton. Republican Representative Doug LaMalfa, of California, died unexpectedly during emergency surgery on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at the age of 65. Rep. LaMalfa represented California’s 1st Congressional District and chaired the Congressional Western Caucus. A rice farmer by trade, Rep. LaMalfa was a key player on California water issues and served on the House Natural Resources and Agriculture Committees. He also served on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. California Gov. Gavin Newsom must call a special election to replace Rep. LaMalfa within 14 days. Rep. LaMalfa’s death tightens the razor-thin House majority. The House stood at 219 Republicans and 213 Democrats after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., resigned on Monday, January 5, 2026. Rep. LaMalfa’s death brings the House majority to 218 Republicans. 2025 Ballot Measures: California, Colorado, Maine, New York, Texas, and Washington This week, several special elections took place across the country. Click on the link below to view the results: Alabama Special General Election, State House Districts 13 and 63 Connecticut Special General Election, State House District 139 Florida Special Primary Election, State House Districts 51, 52, 87, and State Senate District 14 Oklahoma Special Run-Off Election, State House District 35 Virginia Special General Election, State House Districts 11 and 23 Vote Smart | 1153 24TH ST | DES MOINES, IA 50311-4308 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice