オレゴン州の小学4年生の読解力が全米最下位であることに注目を集めるため、身長1.8メートルの鉛筆の着ぐるみがポートランド市内を回っている。この着ぐるみの中に入っているJ・シューバース氏は、州の苦境にある学校教育への関心を高めるため、知事選に書き込み式投票（ライトイン）の候補として立候補している。
元大学教授で識字教育の支援者でもあるシューバース氏は、鉛筆の衣装を自作した後、今年初めから選挙運動を開始した。4月23日、候補者はポートランド市内のファーマーズマーケットで有権者らに挨拶し、「オレゴン州の教育システムは子供たちを見捨てているが、力を合わせれば修正できる！」と書かれたチラシを配布した。シューバース氏は、この活動を通じて変化の必要性を指導者たちに訴えたいと述べている。
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Iowa state auditor Rob Sand, the Democratic candidate for governor, received strong support from Republican hunters at the Iowa Deer Classic expo in Des Moines. Despite his party affiliation, attendees praised his big buck and local authenticity. Sand is leveraging his hunting background to appeal in the red state ahead of the June primary.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox took a break from the legislative session to promote reading at a book drop event in Salt Lake City. Joined by bestselling author John Schu, the initiative aimed to boost youth literacy amid declining national reading scores. Students received copies of Schu's novel and heard messages on the transformative power of books.
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Several librarians across the United States are running for state legislative seats in 2026 elections. Motivated by anti-library legislation and book bans, they aim to advocate for public institutions from within government. Their campaigns highlight libraries' role in fostering education and community access.
Maine Governor Janet Mills withdrew from the Democratic U.S. Senate primary on Thursday, leaving oyster farmer Graham Platner as the unopposed nominee against Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Mills cited insufficient fundraising after trailing Platner badly in polls ahead of the June 9 primary.
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Maine Governor Janet Mills has launched an attack ad against her Democratic primary rival for US Senate, Graham Platner, spotlighting his 2013 Reddit posts about women and sexual assault. The ad features Maine women reacting negatively to the comments. Platner's campaign dismissed the ad as desperate.