Politics & Government Good News

Ways that people, organizations, and governments are fighting to strengthen democracy in the United States and around the world

A small American flag and a rainbow Pride flag fly together on one pole, with a blurred crowd and more colorful flags in the background.

These trans and nonbinary candidates just made history

Across six states, these Democratic candidates will be the first transgender and nonbinary people to serve in their state legislatures.

Deb Haaland smiles in a black blazer, turquoise top and silver bead necklace, with long dark hair and green leaves blurred behind her.

In Minnesota and New Mexico, midterms usher in historic representation for Native women

Democrat Deb Haaland will be the country's first Native woman governor, and Democrat Peggy Flanagan is set to become the first Native woman to secure a U.S. Senate seat.

Keisha Lance Bottoms smiles in a navy blazer in front of an American flag and a gray backdrop.

Keisha Lance Bottoms made history as the first Black woman to be elected governor in the US

The race was among the most competitive of the cycle in a state that helped elect President Donald Trump just two years ago.

Gina Hinojosa, in a white suit, stands at a wooden podium on stage facing a cheering crowd holding up phones, cameras and “Gina for Texas” signs.

Gina Hinojosa made history as the first Latina to be elected governor in Texas

Hinojosa, a Democratic state legislator, challenged Republican incumbent Greg Abbott, who was running for a fourth term.

Aerial view of a large data center with rows of cooling equipment, surrounded by roads and bare fields, as the sun sets over a river in the distance.

What a historic 'blue wave'' midterm means for climate action

Democrats swept Congress and won in the states. Here are the races that matter most for decarbonization, disasters, and data centers.

Rainbow Pride flags and an American flag hang from a red brick building with white trim, chimneys and a rooftop railing under a partly cloudy blue sky.

Virginia voters enshrined marriage equality into the state's constitution

Virginia’s ban on gay marriage has not been enforceable since 2015, when the Supreme Court issued its landmark ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges that established a federal right to marry for same-sex couples.

Two white voting booths printed with an American flag and the word “VOTE” stand side by side on a carpeted floor.

Missouri voters reject effort to ban abortion in the state

The ballot measure's failure offers a rebuke to efforts by Missouri’s Republican leaders, who largely oppose abortion.

A photo collage of a man at a voting booth, a pixel-art unicorn with election date text, mountain gorillas in a forest, a package of Lenacapavir injection, and a man speaking in front of an American flag.

Good News This Week: November 7, 2026 - Forests, Sinks, & Elections

Your weekly roundup of the best good news worth celebrating...

Photo collage of a grass-covered wildlife overpass crossing a highway, two men in tuxedos resting their foreheads together, and roller coasters beside a parking lot covered by solar panels.

The 16 good news stories you loved most in October 2026

October 2026’s best good news, ranked by 5 million Instagram views. See the top 16, led by a bill that would ban Flock cameras nationwide.

Four black chimpanzees cling to a branch among dense green foliage in a forest setting.

Netherlands pledges $500 million to help conserve tropical forests

The Netherlands pledged $500 million over 10 years to the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, boosting efforts to conserve tropical forests.

A woman holding a baby in a yellow shirt speaks to journalists holding microphones in a hallway, with other people standing in the background.

Historic win: Nurses fought to secure the nation's first countywide 12-week paid parental leave policy

After watching parents return to work while their babies were still in intensive care, Pittsburgh nurses gained a historic win for paid parental leave.

A photo collage of newly planted tree stems, a vast and foggy field, firefighters lined up in a row, two women walking in front of a house, and a man on his bicycle

Good News This Week: October 17, 2026 - Trees, Diapers, & Prosthetic Paws