America Has an Uncontested Election Problem. Here’s What Can Be Done

• Vice President JD Vance warned that a U.S. exit from the Middle East could trigger a worldwide energy crisis as Iran targets commercial shipping. • Vance referenced the "Straits Taylor Rule," drawing a parallel to the Federal Reserve's systematic monetary policy rules for adjusting interest rates.

• Opinion writers are calling for institutional reforms to reduce the number of uncontested elections in the United States. • Multi-member districts, currently used for state house elections in Arizona, South Dakota, and Washington, saw relatively few silent elections in 2024.

• The U.S. House of Representatives voted for a third time to pass a war powers resolution to end the war in Iran. • The approved resolution aims to stop President Donald Trump from continuing military actions without the explicit approval of Congress.

• Iowa Republicans in battleground House races voted to halt the war with Iran to address political pressure before the midterm elections. • The decision follows a period of soaring fuel prices and widespread public unpopularity regarding the conflict.

• Amazon secured the right to purchase up to $340 million in Generac stock as part of a new data center supply agreement. • The deal includes the delivery of generators valued at $2.4 billion to support Amazon's infrastructure.

• The hydrolysis stabilizers market is projected to grow at an annual rate of 5% to 7% through 2035. • Growth is driven by rising demand from electronics and semiconductor manufacturing, particularly in Asia-Pacific markets like China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan.

• The global impact drop test rig market is projected to grow through 2035 due to stricter product safety rules and higher quality demands in electronics supply chains. • Growth is driven by the adoption of board-level drop test standards, such as JEDEC JESD22-B111, and the need to test miniaturized semiconductor components.

• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar arrived in Thimphu on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, for a two-day visit to discuss India’s development assistance. • Nepal Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle is scheduled to arrive in Delhi on Thursday, September 17, 2026, to discuss Indian support for reconstruction following floods.

• The global part clamping fixture systems market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5% to 7% through 2035. • High-utilization environments are expected to drive stable revenue through replacement cycles occurring every 3 to 5 years.

• The global main cylinder valves market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.5% to 6.5% through 2035. • Growth is primarily driven by semiconductor fabrication plant construction and healthcare infrastructure upgrades in Asia-Pacific, specifically in China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia.

• The inorganic filler dispersants market is projected to grow through 2035, fueled by increasing demand for electric vehicle thermal management and electronics. • Demand for these materials is rising at an annual pace of 5% to 7%.