Kevin Hardy

Kevin Hardy

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Kevin Hardy covers business, labor and rural issues for Stateline from the Midwest. Before joining Stateline, he covered business and the economy for The Kansas City Star. At The Star, Hardy was part of an award-winning team that uncovered the biggest land grab on Kansas City’s poor East Side since the creation of the suburbs and part of a team that investigated the safety shortcomings of American freight railroads after a deadly train crash in rural Missouri. Previously, he worked at the Des Moines Register and the Chattanooga (Tennessee) Times Free Press. Hardy has covered everything from snake-handling churches in the South to presidential campaigning ahead of the Iowa caucuses. His work has won numerous local and national journalism awards, including a National Headliner Award for best political coverage and the Gerald A. Renner Award for Excellence in Enterprise Reporting from the Religion News Association.

Fueled by Democratic gains, women will hold a record of state legislative seats
Stateline

Fueled by Democratic gains, women will hold a record of state legislative seats

Nov 13, 2026
Kevin Hardy
The number of women serving in state legislatures will set a new record following strong Democratic performance in last week’s midterm elections. Though many races remain too close to call, an analysis by the Center for American Women and Politics...
Democrats romped in state elections. What will they do with their newfound power?
Stateline

Democrats romped in state elections. What will they do with their newfound power?

Nov 05, 2026
Kevin Hardy Anna Claire Vollers
The blue wave that swept across Tuesday’s midterm election will deliver Democrats new power over state government, giving them the opportunity to advance long-sought policy changes. Democrats flipped hundreds of seats, won control of several GOP-held chambers, broke veto-proof supermajorities...
In blue wave, Democrats flipped legislatures, won trifectas and toppled GOP supermajorities
Stateline

In blue wave, Democrats flipped legislatures, won trifectas and toppled GOP supermajorities

Nov 04, 2026
Kevin Hardy
Democrats seized more power over state governments than the party has had in years after the party swept races up and down the ballot in Tuesday’s midterm elections. Republicans have held a majority of state legislatures and governorships since 2010...
Democrats set to win majority of governorships for the first time in 16 years
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Democrats win majority of governorships for the first time in 16 years

Nov 04, 2026
Kevin Hardy
Democrats have won the majority of governor’s offices for the first time in 16 years after the GOP racked up major losses across the country. Democrats flipped governorships in Georgia, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio and Texas and defended competitive races in...
In historic night, voters elect first Black woman, first Black Republican as governors
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In historic night, voters elect 5 Black governors, including first woman, first Republican

Nov 03, 2026
Kevin Hardy
Georgia voters elected the nation’s first Black woman governor on Tuesday while neighbors to the south in Florida became the first to elect a Black Republican governor. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms will be the first Democrat to occupy...
Party control could flip state leadership across the country
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Party control of state leadership could flip across the country

Nov 03, 2026
Kevin Hardy
While much of the national attention on today’s midterm elections has focused on control of Congress, voters across the country will also choose which party controls the levers of state power. Across the states, more than 6,000 legislative seats are...
Voters make governors, utility regulators answer for high power bills
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Voters make governors, utility regulators answer for high power bills

Nov 02, 2026
Kevin Hardy
As broad affordability concerns define elections across the country, voters in several states on Tuesday will have a say on their future utility bills. State utility regulators, who are facing heightened levels of attention and scrutiny amid high prices, are...
Election officials brace for federal interference but expect to persevere
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Election officials brace for federal interference but expect to persevere

Oct 30, 2026
Kevin Hardy
As concerns rise about the potential for federal influence over the results of next week’s midterm elections, many voting experts and advocates remain confident that the nation’s highly localized systems of administering and counting votes will persevere. Facing sinking approval...
Rising prices squeeze more Americans ahead of pivotal midterm elections
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Rising prices squeeze more Americans ahead of pivotal midterm elections

Oct 26, 2026
Kevin Hardy
Americans’ growing frustration over high prices has defined many political campaigns ahead of November’s midterm elections. Rising costs of healthcare, gas and groceries during President Donald Trump’s second term have put Republicans on defense, not only in Washington, but in...
A record number of women are running for state legislatures this year
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A record number of women are running for state legislatures this year

Oct 22, 2026
Kevin Hardy
A record number of women are running for state legislative seats this November, more than two-thirds of whom are Democrats. Across the 46 states with legislative seats on the ballot, a total of 3,824 women are running — up from...
City, state employees are proud of their work but face burnout, harassment
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City, state employees are proud of their work but face burnout, harassment

Oct 21, 2026
Kevin Hardy
State and local government employees report high levels of job satisfaction across the country, but face significant rates of burnout and on-the-job harassment. That’s according to a new national survey of nearly 5,000 public servants across all 50 states released...
Democrats could flip legislative chambers, break GOP supermajorities, analysis finds
Stateline

Democrats could flip legislative chambers, break GOP supermajorities, analysis finds

Oct 16, 2026
Kevin Hardy
Party control is up for grabs in 15 state legislative chambers across the country as Republicans are increasingly on the defensive this midterm election cycle, a new analysis found. 2026’s most competitive legislative chambers These are the state chambers considered...