October 1, 2016
The Political Blood Feud in the Bluegrass
Rarely do politicians quarrel as openly as Kentucky’s governor and attorney general. Family ties may have something to do with it.
October 1, 2016
How Old Is Too Old to Be a Judge? Voters Get to Decide.
That question -- and others regarding judicial careers -- appears on several states' ballots this year.
October 1, 2016
Phoenix’s Ambitious Plan to Beat the Desert Heat
In just over a decade, officials want to cover a quarter of the city in shade.
October 1, 2016
From Hundreds to Thousands of Inspections: How Pittsburgh Is Winning the Permit Game
It was once practically impossible to get a building inspected in the city. Now it’s easier than ever.
September 29, 2016
How Unregulated Dark Money Is Reshaping State Politics
Several governors are using nonprofits to get themselves elected and promote their agendas once in office -- without ever having to disclose where the money came from.
September 26, 2016
Amid Governor's Scandal, Alabama Voters Will Have Say on Impeachment Rules
A constitutional tweak has now become embroiled in talk of impeachment, misuse of funds and an alleged affair by Gov. Robert Bentley.
September 26, 2016
D.C. Devises a Scheme to Achieve Statehood
To convince Congress it’s ready to be 51, the city wants to create a state constitution. It's a tactic taken by one U.S. state before.
September 23, 2016
Will the Least Popular Governors Hurt Their Parties in November?
Many lawmakers up for re-election are distancing themselves from their unpopular executive leader. But that may not be enough to win.
September 21, 2016
Governors Refuse to Stay on Sidelines for Legislative Races
Several Republican governors have actively campaigned against lawmakers in their own party this year -- in most cases, only to see their efforts backfire.
September 20, 2016
Overworked and Underfunded, Public Defenders See Some Light
Poor criminal defendants rarely get an attorney who has time to adequately defend them. Some states, spurred by lawsuits, are starting to address the issue.
September 16, 2016
Unhappy With Results, Maine May Be First State to Adopt Ranked-Choice Voting
Most of the state's governors over the past 40 years weren't elected by a majority. Now voters have the option to switch to a new method of electing their leaders.
September 16, 2016
The Week in Politics: Highlights From the Last 4 State Primaries of 2016
The most important election news and political dynamics at the state and local levels.
September 9, 2016
The Week in Politics: New Hampshire's Unpredictable Governor's Race, a Mayor in Trouble and More
The most important election news and political dynamics at the state and local levels.
September 7, 2016
State AGs Are Increasingly Powerful -- and Partisan
The controversy surrounding Trump University showcases some of the sticky political situations that many attorneys general have been getting themselves in.
September 2, 2016
The Week in Politics: Cranky Governors' Voicemails and Surprisingly Close Primary Races
The most important election news and political dynamics at the state and local levels.
September 1, 2016
Texas Governor Leads Push to Rewrite the U.S. Constitution
Even if Greg Abbott spurs a national constitutional convention, there are many unanswered questions surrounding such an event.
September 1, 2016
New Minimum-Wage Laws Apply to More Industries
Exempting certain types of workers from raises is becoming a thing of the past.
August 26, 2016
The Week in Politics: Indiana's Tight Governor's Race, Election Law Rulings and More
The most important election news and political dynamics at the state and local levels.
August 24, 2016
1 Day, 2 Firings, No Explanations
The Atlanta mayor’s recent and abrupt termination of two agency leaders left many shocked.
August 19, 2016
The Week in Politics: The Upside of Low Voter Turnout, Incumbent Lawmaker Losses and More
The most important election news and political dynamics at the state and local levels.
August 12, 2016
The Week in Politics: Longtime Legislators Lose, Politicians Run Into Legal Problems and More
The most important election news and political dynamics at the state and local levels.
August 12, 2016
Even the Giants Are Complaining About San Francisco Real Estate
The Major League Baseball team wants a big break on property taxes. Will they win?
August 8, 2016
Can Democrats Be Too Liberal, Even for Vermont?
In one of the country's bluest states, a Republican may be the next governor.
August 5, 2016
The Week in Politics: Missouri's Record-Breaking Primary, Democrats Lose a Long-Held Office in Washington and More
The most important election news and political dynamics at the state and local levels.
August 4, 2016
Civil Forfeiture Laws Pit Police Versus Everybody Else
Conservatives and liberals are teaming up to restrict or ban the laws that let officers seize billions of dollars a year from people who haven’t been convicted or, sometimes, even charged with a crime.
August 3, 2016
Why Voter ID Laws Are Losing Judges' Support
In one week, federal courts struck down such laws in four states, marking a significant shift in the legal battle over voting rules.
August 2, 2016
Can Counties Fix Rural America's Endless Recession?
The inability of most rural places to recover from the economic downturn is fueling political and social problems around the nation.
August 1, 2016
The GOP’s Hispanic Problem
Republicans have been losing the key demographics’ support since 2000. Democrats hope Donald Trump will keep that trend going.
August 1, 2016
State Budgets’ Forecast: Cloudy With a Chance of Transparency
In an era of tight budgets and slow revenue growth, there’s pressure on legislators to be open and honest about what states can and can’t afford.
July 29, 2016
The Week in Politics: Governors' Campaign Finance Problems, Oldest Legislator Ousted and More
The most important election news and political dynamics at the state and local levels.
July 29, 2016
Politicians Focus Business Incentives on Catching the Big Fish
Most states are low on cash, but they’re still willing to spend to attract top-shelf companies like Tesla.
July 25, 2016
Do Governors Make Better Vice Presidents?
Governors are rarely VP picks, yet Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump both selected one for the increasingly powerful office.
July 22, 2016
The Week in Politics: Picking Pence's Successor and a Blow to Voting Restrictions
The most important election news and political dynamics at the state and local levels.
July 21, 2016
Why Rural America Is Increasingly Red
In recent years, more rural voters have flocked to the GOP -- a trend that will likely impact this year's governors races.
July 19, 2016
Wisconsin’s Abolition of Civil Service: Reform or Cronyism?
Whether Wisconsin's approach makes hiring for government jobs more efficient -- or simply politicizes it -- will influence if and how other states revisit their civil service systems.
July 14, 2016
What a Pence-Trump Ticket Means
There are implications not only for the presidential race but the Indiana governor's election as well.
July 8, 2016
The Week in Politics: What a Pence-Trump Ticket Would Mean and a Rare Example of Moderates
The most important election news and political dynamics at the state and local levels.
July 5, 2016
What Trump Means for State and Local Races
Donald Trump and this year’s bizarre presidential race will affect elections all over the country. What’s not clear is how.
July 1, 2016
The Week in Politics: Utah Governor's Big Win, Teachers' Legislative Takeover Attempt and More
The most important election news and political dynamics at the state and local levels.
July 1, 2016
Baltimore: The City Where Mayors Still Run the Show
Of all American towns, Baltimore gives its mayors some of the most control. Some hate that, yet attempts to change it have failed.
June 30, 2016
A School Construction Mess Proves Money Doesn’t Solve Everything
Despite $1 billion worth of investment, San Diego’s school buildings are still in disrepair.
June 29, 2016
In Wake of McDonnell Ruling, What Counts as Corruption?
Politicians can do a lot of favors for people, so long as they don't cross over the legal line. The U.S. Supreme Court's decision means that line has to be drawn quite clearly.
June 27, 2016
Bob McDonnell and the Illusion of Ethics Reform
The U.S. Supreme Court overturned former Gov. Bob McDonnell's corruption conviction on Monday. Before that, the case led Virginia lawmakers to set stricter ethics rules -- or so it seemed.
June 27, 2016
Why States’ Tax-Cut Fever Has Subsided
After watching tax-slashing states struggle financially, some governors and legislators have stopped calling for cuts. But that doesn’t mean they won’t start again.
June 17, 2016
The Week in Politics: GOP Governors Lose Allies, Novice Pulls Off Stunning Upset and More
The most important election news and political dynamics at the state and local levels.
June 16, 2016
Uncontested Legislative Races Are Becoming More Common
Some say political parties are missing opportunities to boost their numbers. But others argue quality is more important than quantity.
June 13, 2016
North Dakota Governor's Race: A Midwest Test of Voters' Tolerance for the Establishment
In the GOP primary on Tuesday, a Donald Trump-supporting businessman has a chance of beating a career politician in the North Dakota governor's race.
June 10, 2016
The Week in Politics: Where Conservatives Lost (and Gained) Ground and More
The most important election news and political dynamics at the state and local levels.
June 7, 2016
Why Mixing Business With Politics Is Becoming More Popular
Taking a stance can not only benefit a cause but also a company.
June 6, 2016
Why Montana's Well-Liked Governor Faces a Tough Election
Even with high approval ratings and a strong state economy, Montana Gov. Steve Bullock has to fight hard to keep his job this year.
June 3, 2016
The Week in Politics: Dems' Fightin' Words, Plus How Term Limits May Actually Help Incumbents
The most important election news and political dynamics at the state and local levels.
June 1, 2016
The Death Penalty’s New Skeptics
In states across the country, conservatives are starting to question the cost and legality of capital punishment.
May 27, 2016
The Week in Politics: Dems' Voting Guy Gets Busy, Mayors Ousted and More
The most important election news and political dynamics at the state and local levels.
May 25, 2016
LGBT Battle Underscores the Powerlessness of Being Governor in North Carolina
The real power lies with the state’s increasingly conservative legislature, which may be hurting Gov. Pat McCrory’s chances of re-election in November.
May 24, 2016
Something Is Rotten in the State of Alabama
Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard is going on trial this week for corruption charges. He's just one of the state's many top government officials facing legal or ethics scandals.
May 20, 2016
The Week in Politics: Passing the Tab for Special Elections, Changing Campaign Finance Laws and More
The most important election news and political dynamics at the state and local levels.
May 16, 2016
Losing Control in Legislatures, Democrats Shift Focus to Ballots
To further their causes, Democrats are bypassing lawmakers and turning to voters.
May 13, 2016
The Week in Politics: A $50 Million High School Stadium, an Assault Victim's Victory and More
The most important election news and political dynamics at the state and local levels.
May 12, 2016
Does Size Matter? The Latest Battle Over State Supreme Courts
Over the past decade, legislators in several states have sought to expand or reduce the number of justices on their highest courts. In some cases, they admit their intent to tilt the ideological balance.
May 6, 2016
The Week in Politics: GOP Governors' Best Chance to Grow, What Rematches Mean for Democrats and More
The most important election news and political dynamics at the state and local levels.
May 6, 2016
Turning Black Lives Matter Protests Into Policy
A bipartisan group of public officials, called the 20/20 Club, is working to translate the energy of the movement into meaningful legislation on law enforcement and criminal justice.
May 5, 2016
Has School Choice Been All It Set Out to Be?
As the movement slows, policymakers have the opportunity to explore whether school choice has improved education overall.
May 2, 2016
Why Is Public Corruption So Common in South Texas?
In Crystal City, nearly every public official is facing criminal charges. But it’s not the region’s only place plagued by corruption.
April 25, 2016
Free Community College Gets Financial Aid From White House
Congress rejected the president's proposal for tuition-free community college, so his administration is instead helping regions launch the program themselves.
April 22, 2016
The Week in Politics: New York Senate in Play, Baltimore Mayor's Race and Political Feuding in Kentucky
The most important election news and political dynamics at the state and local levels.
April 15, 2016
The Week in Politics: The GOP Goes for More Legislative Seats, de Blasio's Bad Week and More
The most important election news and political dynamics at the state and local levels.
April 13, 2016
Bathrooms and the Bible: The Latest Front in States' Culture Wars
Debates over LGBT rights have helped define differences between red and blue states.
April 8, 2016
The Week in Politics: A Bipartisan Approach to Voter Registration and the Latest Election Results
The most important election news and political dynamics at the state and local levels.
April 7, 2016
Window for Criminal Justice Reform Closing in Congress
It’s one of the few issues with bipartisan support in Washington. But for several reasons, the chances for change this year are dwindling.
April 4, 2016
U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Traditional Redistricting Methods
The justices unanimously rejected a challenge to the way Texas -- and every other state -- draws its legislative lines. They did, however, leave one question unsettled.
April 4, 2016
What Well-Liked Governors Have in Common
Many of the governors with the highest approval ratings were elected on the other party’s turf.
April 1, 2016
The Week in Politics: Legislatures Take On Minimum Wage, Legal Scandals in the South and More
The most important election news and political dynamics at the state and local levels.
March 25, 2016
Beyond North Carolina's LGBT Battle: States' War on Cities
North Carolina's fight over LGBT protections is part of a larger recent shift in political dynamics: States are thwarting local laws any chance they get -- while simultaneously complaining about federal intrusion on their own.
March 25, 2016
The Week in Politics: A Governor's Alleged Affair, Trump Troubles and the State of Redistricting
The most important election news and political dynamics at the state and local levels.
March 16, 2016
Lieutenant Governors: On the Rise and Out the Door
With more qualified people in the position, the job is becoming more of a stepping stone to higher office.
March 11, 2016
The Week in Politics: Democrats Preserve Remaining Power in South, While State Parties Keep Losing It
The most important election news and political dynamics at the state and local levels.
March 11, 2016
The Rise of the Rich Governor
More than half a dozen governors are worth more than $100 million, worrying many about the influence of money on state politics.
March 9, 2016
Remembering Rubio's Record as Florida House Speaker
His tenure was marked with disappointment, embarrassment and little to brag about. But his anti-tax stance helped him politically.
March 4, 2016
The Week in Politics: Super Tuesday Results You May Have Missed
The most important election news and political dynamics at the state and local levels.
March 2, 2016
'It Should Be on HBO Boxing': Cuomo vs. de Blasio
New York governors and mayors have often squabbled, but no one can remember a time when relations were worse -- and costing New York City so much.
March 1, 2016
Stuck in a State of Disarray, Maine Politics Stand Still
Divided government is always challenging, but what's happening in Maine right now -- where Gov. Paul LePage and the legislature are barely on speaking terms -- is an exercise in extreme political hostility.
February 26, 2016
Too Many Chiefs? Chief Bike Officer Is the Latest Addition
Despite their important-sounding titles, many of the growing number of “chiefs” in government don't have much actual authority.
February 26, 2016
The Week in Politics: Scalia Battle Mirrors State Court Fights, Ferguson Makes History and More
The most important election news and political dynamics at the state and local levels.
February 25, 2016
Right-to-Work Laws Top Republican Wish Lists
With the recent addition of West Virginia, a majority of states now make it harder for unions to collect dues. More could soon be added to the list.
February 19, 2016
The Week in Politics: Democrats Struggle in Coal Country, Christie Struggles at Home
The most important election news and political dynamics at the state and local levels.
February 12, 2016
The Week in Politics: Top Officials at Risk and Unresolved 2016 Election Maps
The most important election news and political dynamics at the state and local levels.
February 9, 2016
What Would Happen If America Made Voting Mandatory?
Dozens of other countries force their citizens to participate in elections.
February 5, 2016
Gas Tax Increases Still a Hard Sell in States and Congress
Just as proposals to increase gas taxes to pay for roads have failed in most states, Obama's latest pitch to tax oil companies is likely dead on arrival.
February 5, 2016
The Week in Politics: State Legislative Race Predictions, a New Voter Registration Rule and Campaign Problems
The most important election news and political dynamics at the state and local levels.
January 29, 2016
The Week in Politics: What to Watch in the Caucuses, Voter ID on Trial and Budget Blame
The most important election news and political dynamics at the state and local levels.
January 22, 2016
Love Urban Planning and Board Games? Cards Against Urbanity Is For You.
Called Cards Against Urbanity, the game is a twist on the popular and politically incorrect Cards Against Humanity.
January 22, 2016
The Week in Politics: Flint Fallout, Corruption in Court and One State's New Supermajority
The most important election news and political dynamics impacting states and localities.
January 20, 2016
Milwaukee's Problems Leave Longtime Mayor Vulnerable
Most of the city's problems, the mayor argues, are out of his control. Will voters blame and oust him anyways?
January 12, 2016
SOTU Pushes Nikki Haley's Spotty Record Into the Spotlight
The South Carolina governor has been selected to give the GOP's response to the State of the Union. Despite her popularity, she struggles to lead her own state.
January 6, 2016
Mike Gronstal: Iowa’s Perennial Power Player
Republicans have the governorship and the state House in Iowa, but Democrats have Mike Gronstal, who adheres to the old-fashioned sense that voters elect politicians to work on policy before retreating to their respective partisan corners.
January 1, 2016
Breaking Down the 2016 Governors Races
Republicans could strengthen their power in many states this year, but Democrats only have realistic chances in two.
December 25, 2015
When Politicians Behaved Badly Around Kids This Year
From proposing Planned Parenthood mascots to silencing 10-year-old advocates, lawmakers weren't always on their best behavior around the children.
December 21, 2015
Can New Mexico Break Its Cycle of Corruption?
The conviction and incarceration of former Secretary of State Dianna Duran is the latest in a long history of scandals. Lawmakers are pushing ethics reforms, but some doubt change will come.
December 18, 2015
Will Peer Pressure Prevail in the Push to Let Young Teens Vote?
A few cities recently lowered the voting age to 16 for local elections. The idea has been debated for years but now appears to have some momentum.
December 16, 2015
Campaign Spending’s Gray Areas Getting Politicians in Trouble
High-level officials around the country have recently been caught misusing their campaign funds.
December 15, 2015
The Waning Power of State Political Parties
They’re far from irrelevant, but campaign financing laws have hurt their influence.
December 14, 2015
Terry Branstad Breaks Record for Longest-Serving U.S. Governor
The Iowa Republican, who's been in office through three economic downturns, surpasses the 18th-century governor who previously held the title.
December 14, 2015
How Teardowns Are Reshaping Suburbia
Old houses are being torn down and replaced in suburbs all over the country. But not everyone, especially the people being priced out of once-affordable neighborhoods, is happy seeing the past obliterated.
December 9, 2015
In Test of Houston's Liberalism, Democrat Wins Mayor's Race
Last month, voters in America's fourth biggest city rejected a gay rights law. This month, they elected a new mayor dedicated to expanding government services.
November 18, 2015
Louisiana Governor's Race Tightens in Final Days
The election has been less about issues and more about personalities -- but not always the candidates'.
November 18, 2015
States Are Putting the Brakes on Driver’s Ed
Over the last decade, many have stopped funding it. Are the roads more dangerous?
November 11, 2015
The End of Political Polling?
The Kentucky governor's race is just the latest example of how election polls have become less accurate, more expensive and harder to gauge public opinion.
November 9, 2015
Welcome to Jobs Inc., Where States Have Little Say in Economic Development
Several states have decided the way to juice up economic development is to turn it over to a corporation outside the government bureaucracy. Is it working?
November 5, 2015
In Oregon, Women Take the Lead
Oregon has long had more women in top political positions than practically any other state. There may be several reasons why.
November 4, 2015
How People Voted on Local Ballot Measures Across the Country
Social conservatives hailed the rejection of a gay rights measure in Houston. But progressives were able to claim victory elsewhere.
November 4, 2015
Democrats, Women and LGBT Win Big in 2015 Mayoral Races
Most incumbents won re-election, while several cities elected their first female or openly gay mayors.
November 3, 2015
Republican Matt Bevin Wins Kentucky Governor's Race
The Republican businessman will succeed term-limited Democrat Steve Beshear, weakening the Democrats' power in one of the last Southern states where they still have some.
November 3, 2015
How Seattle Is Increasing Diversity in Politics
Seattle is largely run by older white men, but changes in the city's election law will likely make its politicians more representative of the people.
October 30, 2015
How Bathrooms Became a Political Battleground
As rights for transgender people are debated across the country, a surprising amount of attention is on where they can go to the bathroom.
October 22, 2015
Which States Could Adopt Automatic Voter Registration Next?
Several states may soon follow California and Oregon's lead, but almost all of them are Democratic-led.
October 19, 2015
The Nation's Closest Race for Governor
In Kentucky, one of the few Southern states where Democrats still hold power, it's a tossup between a Republican businessman appealing to religious conservatives and a Democratic AG distancing himself from Obama.
October 14, 2015
Climate Change Fight Gets Cash From the Right
One conservative billionaire wants to convince his fellow Republicans to believe in climate change. Can his money make a difference?
October 5, 2015
Nevada Shines Light Onto America's Future
Rocked by heavy immigration and demographic change, Nevada must retool its government to cope with the new reality. It’s a sign of things to come in the rest of the country.
October 2, 2015
From Campaign Finance to Pot, Progressives Look to Local Voters
Giving up on the gridlock at the federal and state levels, progressives are turning their attention to local ballots to get their ideas passed. But policies that sell well in cities won't always work statewide.
October 1, 2015
The Most Important Mayoral Races of 2015
Most incumbents are safe bets for re-election, but races remain unpredictable in several big cities.
September 25, 2015
Why Candidates With No Experience Are Winning Over Voters
The truck driver who won the Democratic bid for Mississippi governor -- without spending a cent -- is the latest in a string of nominees for statewide office who lack any political experience.
September 24, 2015
GOP Could Sweep 2015 Governors Races
If Republicans do win in every state this year, it could be a bad omen for Democrats in 2016.
September 23, 2015
In Politics, Chambers of Commerce Carve Their Niche
The business community has a reputation for being skeptical about public spending and regulations. But on some issues, they're actually government’s strongest ally.
September 16, 2015
Even in One-Party States Like Alabama and North Carolina, Republicans Battle Over Budgets
Some are taking longer than they have in decades to pass a budget. Why can't the GOP work together?
September 15, 2015
Paul LePage: The Governor at War With Both Political Parties
Maine Gov. Paul LePage has become so unpopular with lawmakers that many Democrats and Republicans have united against him. What does that mean for the next three years?
September 14, 2015
Why Women's Presence in Politics Has Stagnated
Women have held less than 25 percent of all state legislative seats for years. But both parties are trying to recruit more female candidates.
September 9, 2015
In Thriving Nashville, a Very Negative Race for Mayor
Thursday's election will test the appeal of anti-government populism in a booming Democratic city.
August 18, 2015
From Marijuana to Gas: Tax Issues on the Ballot in 2015
A rundown of the most important tax-related measures facing voters this November.
August 13, 2015
Will Raising the Minimum Wage Raise Rents Too?
In some of the country’s most expensive cities to live, economists worry increased incomes will put even more pressure on housing markets.
August 11, 2015
The Elections No One Cares About
Turnout in local elections has gotten so low that some places might start practically paying people to vote. But there's a simpler, cheaper way to get more people to the polls.
August 6, 2015
Kentucky Governor's Race: A Battle for the Future of the South
Republicans want to make Kentucky the next Southern state with a GOP governor. It won't be easy.
August 5, 2015
When Governors Travel, Who Pays?
With so many governors running for president, new attention is being given to how out-of-state political trips are funded.
August 1, 2015
Missouri Stays Purple While Other States Turn Red
Republicans may have a supermajority in the legislature, but they can't seem to win statewide offices.
July 31, 2015
Jefferson Who? Democrats Are Disowning Their Founders
In several states, the Democratic party is dropping the name of slave-owning presidents from annual fundraising dinners.
July 28, 2015
If Congress Finally Overhauls NCLB, Are States Ready?
For the first time in more than a decade, the House and Senate have passed bills to rewrite the No Child Left Behind law and give states more freedom in education.
July 22, 2015
How the Never-Ending Battle of Redistricting Will Impact 2016
Florida and Virginia (and possibly two other states) have to redraw their unconstitutional voting maps for the 2016 election. Similar legal challenges are only likely to increase in coming years.
July 16, 2015
Will New Housing Rules Really Reduce Racial Segregation?
After many places failed to enforce parts of the 1968 Fair Housing Act, the feds are trying again. But this time, they're offering agencies more help.
July 10, 2015
Why So Many Attorneys General Are in Legal Peril
A striking number of current and former state AGs are facing criminal charges or investigations.
July 3, 2015
Hawaii Raises Smoking Age to 21
Hawaii recently became the first state to raise the legal age for buying cigarettes to 21.
July 1, 2015
True Believer: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker
Walker has proved to be an effective leader in one of the most polarized states. But how will the conservative governor’s record in Wisconsin translate to a presidential bid?
July 1, 2015
The Republican Who Helped Elect Obama and Now Wants Montgomery, Alabama, to Elect Him
Former Democratic Congressman Artur Davis is hoping to beat the odds in his hometown.
June 26, 2015
Slain Senator, Clementa Pinckney, Remembered as 'Moral Conscience' of South Carolina Legislature
Clementa Pinckney was killed in the Charleston church shooting, but his legislative legacies will live on.
June 23, 2015
How Bobby Jindal, a Rising Star, Plummeted Back to Earth
As the Louisiana governor prepares to make his presidential run official on Wednesday, he's struggling to find support at home and nationally.
June 19, 2015
The Forgotten Governors Trailing the Presidential Pack
The increasingly large Republican field includes several governors (like Jim Gilmore) who are trying to make a comeback after being absent from politics for years.
June 2, 2015
Divided Legislatures Produce Gridlock, Not Compromise
In most states where Democrats and Republicans split control of the legislative chambers, getting anything done has been a struggle this year. But there is at least one exception.
June 1, 2015
A Win for Political Compromise
A primary challenge this week sent a message to politicians nationwide about how much freedom they have to step outside party lines.
June 1, 2015
The Story Behind the Prominent Rise of State AGs
The role of attorney general in states has evolved from policy enforcer to policy creator.
June 1, 2015
Rex Sinquefield: The Tyrannosaurus Rex of State Politics
Billionaire Rex Sinquefield's crusade to control Missouri politics sheds light on the power and limits of money in contemporary American politics.
May 29, 2015
Why States' Campaign Donation Limits Could Be in Jeopardy
A federal appeals court decided this week that states can only limit campaign contributions if they can somehow prove that they lead to corruption.
May 22, 2015
Is Kasich Conservative Enough for 2016 Republican Voters?
While other GOP presidential contenders will be touting their conservative policies, Ohio Gov. John Kasich would have to defend his.
May 11, 2015
Arkansas Cities Pass LGBT Protections That Defy State's New Discrimination Law
Local governments are likely headed for legal trouble after taking a stand against the state's new law that blocks them from banning discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
May 7, 2015
Mayor Martin O'Malley Versus Governor Martin O'Malley
Baltimore's unrest has cast a negative spotlight on the probable presidential candidate's tough-on-crime policies as mayor. But as governor, he left a liberal legacy on nearly every front.
May 5, 2015
In Arkansas, Huckabee Was a Believer in Big Government
Mike Huckabee may be one of the more conservative presidential candidates, but as governor, he expanded government programs and increased taxes.
May 1, 2015
Tracing Chris Christie's Fall From the Top
Once considered a "master of disaster" and frontrunner in the presidential race, the New Jersey governor is now neither.
May 1, 2015
Government Accountability? GOP Says No Thanks, Wisconsin
Republicans are attacking the state’s ethics board for engaging in partisan witch-hunts, particularly for its investigation of Gov. Scott Walker.
May 1, 2015
Lawmaking Behind Closed Doors Under Fire in States
As the saga of Hillary Clinton’s emails has shown the world yet again, looking like you might have something to hide immediately arouses suspicion.
April 29, 2015
The Next Baltimore?
Freddie Gray's death sparked the riots in Baltimore, but they reveal deep systemic problems that plague many American cities.
April 23, 2015
Lincoln Chafee's Not-So-Brag-Worthy Record as Governor
To the surprise of many, Lincoln Chafee, the Republican-turned-Independent-turned-Democrat, joined the presidential race Wednesday.
April 15, 2015
What Not to Do When Asking Voters to Increase Their Taxes
Voters in a wealthy suburb of St. Louis rejected tax increases to fund schools last week.
April 15, 2015
Rick Perry Runs for Redemption
After stumbling off the stage during his last presidential run and being indicted on criminal charges, Texas’ longest-serving and possibly most influential governor wants to redeem his political career.
April 7, 2015
Now Seen as Moderate, Jeb Bush Governed Florida Like a 'Conservative Hurricane'
The latest presidential candidate cut government's role and taxes every year he was governor.
April 2, 2015
Do Protests Impact Whether and How People Vote?
History shows that large-scale protests are no guarantee for change.
April 1, 2015
The Battle for Alamo City
The San Antonio mayoral race is crowded.
April 1, 2015
Patience and Pragmatism Dominate Asa Hutchinson’s First 100 Days
For the first time in more than a century, Arkansas is completely controlled by Republicans. But the new governor has slowly and deliberately built bipartisanship in the legislature.
April 1, 2015
Common Core Critics Are Loud But Losing
The nationwide pushback against the education standards hasn't been very successful.
April 1, 2015
Why Some Lawmakers Want to Abolish the 17th Amendment
Adopted in 1913, it took the job of electing U.S. senators away from state legislatures.
March 31, 2015
Foundation Funds Fresh Ideas for Urban Living
From "houselets" to "regional play days," the Knight Foundation is giving $5 million to people or organizations around the country with new ideas to improve cities.
March 19, 2015
College Cuts Clash With Calls for Better-Educated Workers
At a time when Obama is calling for free community college and governors want better-educated workforces, some states are considering big cuts to higher education.
March 16, 2015
Why 2016 Voters May Favor Governors Over Senators
With confidence in Congress at an all-time low, governors' distance from D.C. politics could help them win over some voters in the presidential race.
March 10, 2015
As State Civics Testing Grows, Critics Worry It's Not Fixing the Real Problem
Following Arizona's footsteps, states are starting to make students pass the U.S. citizenship test that immigrants take in an effort to create a better-informed citizenry.
March 1, 2015
Q&A With Jerry Abramson: States’ and Localities’ New Man in D.C.
The head of the White House Office of Governmental Affairs talks about his plans for the job and what to expect on the domestic front during Obama’s remaining time in office.
March 1, 2015
In Red States, Cities Can’t Win
The lack of urban legislators in Republican states means cities will have their concerns largely ignored or challenged.
February 18, 2015
Kate Brown Unlikely to Upend Oregon Politics
After succeeding embattled Gov. John Kitzhaber Wednesday, Democratic Secretary of State Kate Brown is expected to pursue policies in line with her predecessors.
February 13, 2015
The Perils of Political Spouses: Kitzhaber's Not the First to Find Trouble
Oregon Gov. Kitzhaber, who's now resigning, is just the latest politician in a controversy involving his significant other -- a phenomenon some say will grow in the era of dual-career households.
February 11, 2015
Cities Confront Long-Neglected DNA Evidence in Rape Cases
With about 400,000 untested rape kits nationwide, officials at the federal, state and local levels are devoting new attention and money to reducing the backlog.
February 1, 2015
Do Cities Need Kids?
Seattle is one place that’s trying to figure that out.
February 1, 2015
U.S. Supreme Court to Rule on the Meaning of ‘Legislature’
How it’s defined could impact state election laws from campaign finance to voter ID.
January 26, 2015
5 Reasons State House Speakers May Be Prone to Corruption
Sheldon Silver, who lost his job as one of the most powerful political posts in New York, is the fourth state house speaker to face legal trouble over the past year.
January 21, 2015
Obama State of the Union Addresses Domestic Issues
Despite making frequent calls for bipartisanship, President Obama delivered a State of the Union address that was clearly, and unsurprisingly, a call to arms in favor of Democratic priorities.
January 19, 2015
How Majority Parties Can Lose Leadership Positions in the Legislative 'Game of Thrones'
After winning majorities last fall, Republicans managed to lose leadership elections in New Hampshire and Washington state.
January 14, 2015
Are Pardons Becoming More Politically Acceptable?
Gubernatorial pardons have been in decline since the 1980s, but that appears to be changing as views evolve on rehabilitation and drug offenses.
January 1, 2015
Financial Pressures May Table Republicans’ Bold Initiatives
Republicans haven’t had this much power at the state level in almost a century. But budget constraints may temper their appetite for extreme policies in 2015.
January 1, 2015
Democrats’ Future Looks Grim
Republicans not only swept the states in the fall, they’ve been building up a team of candidates to climb the political ranks.
December 31, 2014
How Minorities Can Help America
With the nation's share of Asians and Hispanics expected to double in 40 years, the changes these rising minority groups are making to politics and society are only beginning.
December 26, 2014
The 'Politics of Self-Expression' Increasingly Divides Americans
In the last few years allegiance to political parties may have gotten stronger, making the work of governing much harder.
December 24, 2014
Falling Oil Prices Help Consumers, Hurt States
The price of oil has dropped by 40 percent over the past few months. Most oil states have money saved in permanent funds, but the drop in revenues is causing shortfalls already.
December 8, 2014
California's 'Game of Chicken' over College Tuition
Unlike nearly every other state, California lacks a central board that oversees higher education, pitting political leaders against university administrators. At issue now is a 28 percent tuition hike.
December 2, 2014
The Governor's Race That Still Isn't Over: Vermont
Vermont's election was so close that the legislature must decide who wins when it convenes next year. If it's Gov. Shumlin as expected, many question what he can accomplish with so many unpopular programs.
December 1, 2014
Message to Lawmakers: Say What You Really Think
A new study shows that when legislators make their stance on even controversial issues public, they convince people to join their side.
December 1, 2014
Why Some Politicians Don’t Win Higher Office
Candidates like Texas Sen. Wendy Davis and Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald are examples of the Peter Principle: They were both successful, but both lost their campaigns for higher office.
November 21, 2014
Unions Rethink Strategy After Election Losses
Most of the candidates public-sector unions spent time and money supporting this fall were defeated, prompting leaders to question the effectiveness of endorsing any candidates at all.
November 12, 2014
U.S. Supreme Court to Decide Limits on Race in Gerrymandering
The ruling in two cases challenging Alabama's legislative maps could have an impact on congressional and legislative maps across the country.
November 5, 2014
What All the GOP Wins Mean for Governors
Democrats hoped to have the upper hand when it came to races for governor. Instead, Republicans pulled off some unexpected victories.
November 5, 2014
Cities Embrace New Mayors, Liberal Policies
Voters in a number of cities chose new mayors and supported ballot measures that were either green or worker-friendly.
November 3, 2014
Will Bipartisanship Bring Down Alaska's Gov. Sean Parnell?
Republican Sean Parnell expected to be easily re-elected, but the joined forces of Democrats and Independents and his slow response to recent challenges have put him in jeopardy.
November 3, 2014
Tom Wolf May Win Pennsylvania Easy, But the Job Won't Be
Pennsylvania's Tom Wolf is sure to become the governor, but he's unlikely to get his way once he's in office.
November 1, 2014
The Progress and Promise of Pittsburgh's Turnaround
After years of decline, the city is making gains, and Mayor Bill Peduto’s administration represents a new brand of politics that’s moving into big cities across America.
November 1, 2014
City Hall Drama Takes Center Stage in New Play
An interactive show casts theatre-goers as participants in a city council meeting.
October 29, 2014
Why So Many Incumbent Governors Are in Political Peril in 2014
It's likely that more incumbents will lose next week than at any time since 1990.
October 28, 2014
In Florida Governor’s Race, Attacks Overtake Issues
The race between Gov. Rick Scott and former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has been one of the year's most negative, dominated by personal attacks and enormous advertising budgets.
October 27, 2014
Why Illinois Has the Least Predictable Governor's Race in the Country
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, who carries clear liabilities on his record, has kept the contest a dead heat by attacking his opponent.
October 22, 2014
Maine Gov. Paul LePage Hopes to Make History in November
Even though a majority of voters don't want the Republican re-elected, he may become the first U.S. governor elected with less than 40 percent of the vote -- twice.
October 17, 2014
Recall Survivor Scott Walker Faces Toughest Challenge Yet in November
The Republican governor of Wisconsin survived a recall election two years ago, but recent ethics scandals and attacks on unions may have wrecked his chances for a second term.
October 15, 2014
Can Obama Carry Dan Malloy across Connecticut's Finish Line?
A poor economy and tax increases in one of the wealthiest states have made the Democratic governor one of the most vulnerable incumbents in the country.
October 13, 2014
Centrism Hurting Once-Popular Gov. Hickenlooper's Re-Election Hopes
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper's decisions that once seemed like triumphs or smart compromises have turned off many voters.
October 8, 2014
Why Massachusetts Might Elect Another Republican Governor
In the bluest of states, Democrat Martha Coakley, best known for failing to win Ted Kennedy's U.S. Senate seat, is polling evenly in this year's race against Republican Charlie Baker.
October 6, 2014
Sam Brownback Has Made Enemies, May Lose Election
The Kansas governor's policies are starting to look too conservative even for one of the reddest states, giving opponent Paul Davis a slight edge.
September 29, 2014
With Millions to Give, Foundation Takes Urban-Improvement Ideas from Anyone
The Knight Foundation begins accepting applications for its new Cities Challenge program Wednesday. Unlike other competitive grant programs, anyone can apply.
September 25, 2014
Arkansas Is Likely the Next State to Turn Red
Arkansas' outgoing Democratic governor is one of the most popular governors in the country, but his successor may be a Republican he's already beat.
September 23, 2014
Michigan GOP Gov. Rick Snyder Has Created an Opening for His Opponent
The self-proclaimed nerdy governor of Michigan has made some mistakes in the past few months that have turned his re-election race into a dead heat.
September 17, 2014
Kansas Democrats Seek to Oust Secretary of State Kris Kobach
The politician has long been a lightning rod for Democrats. This fall, they think they have a chance to beat him.
September 5, 2014
Andrew Cuomo Is Going to Win but Not with the Landslide He Wants
The New York governor is essentially guaranteed to win re-election but not by so much that he can secure his spot as a top contender for president.
September 1, 2014
From Vacant to Vibrant: Cincinnati’s Urban Transformation
How a lot of money and a little luck brought one of the nation’s most dangerous neighborhoods back to life.
August 15, 2014
Leadership Lessons from Ferguson
The chaos that erupted after a police officer shot an unarmed black teen showcases the need for strong leadership and how law enforcement can lead best in communities where life is already a daily struggle.
July 1, 2014
How Millennials Can Make Their Mark on Unions
Younger workers can bring a new energy to organized labor. But if unions want to attract millennials, they’ll have to change some of their ways.
June 1, 2014
ALEC Goes Local
The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is expanding its reach beyond the states to local governments.
April 1, 2014
Rural Areas Lose People But Not Power
Rural lawmakers are dwindling in number as people continue to migrate to metropolitan areas. But the battle between urban and rural politics is as big as ever -- and those out in the country may be winning.
March 1, 2014
Politicians’ “Peanut Butter Problem”
Government officials are intensely aware of the political need to spread out resources equally but doing so means there probably won’t be enough to make a major impact anywhere.
February 1, 2014
Texas’ Next Governor? Meet Wendy Davis' Opponent, Greg Abbott
The Attorney General is poised to beat Democrat Wendy Davis in the state's nationally watched and heated governor's race, but most Texans know very little about him.
January 1, 2014
Corporate Entrepreneurs Are at the Heart of Downtown Revitalizations
Private-sector actors are reshaping the center of some cities in ways local governments no longer have the ability to do themselves.
January 31, 2013
What China's Unique Urbanization Can Teach America
Nineteen of the 20 fastest-growing cities in the world last year were in China. For more from Governing's first-ever International Issue, click here.
December 28, 2012
Newbies Infiltrate State Legislative Chambers
Thanks to term limits and anti-incumbent fervor, half the lawmakers across the country have less than two years’ experience.
December 28, 2012
The Era of Divided Government is Over
For the first time in a long time, one party holds both the legislature and governorship in 37 states.
December 28, 2012
States Double Down on Incentives to Woo Companies
In the wake of the recession and the long, slow recovery from it, state and local governments have been even more eager to offer incentives to the few projects they have hopes of landing.
December 28, 2012
Teachers Rack Up Wins Against Reform Efforts
Education reform ideas that have generally received widespread support are experiencing pushback in the states, including some surprising places.
November 30, 2012
Rural Areas Lose More Legislative Representation
With fewer state lawmakers representing rural districts, issues important to rural areas may go unheard.
November 30, 2012
What Did the Stimulus Do for States?
Governing interviewed Time correspondent Michael Grunwald, who argues in his new book that the stimulus has had more influence on domestic policy than any other piece of legislation in decades.
November 30, 2012
When Will Governments Hire Again?
Even where the fiscal picture has brightened, state and local officials are understandably wary about taking on new obligations.
October 31, 2012
When Governors Don’t Play Nice
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal doesn’t even bother working with the state Legislature. Does it matter?
October 31, 2012
One of the Most Segregated U.S. Cities Opens the Race Conversation
Cleveland has started a yearlong series of forums on race relations to educate citizens and city leaders.
October 31, 2012
In Vote-Counting, Human Errors Still Creep In
New York has been reluctant to embrace technology when it comes to counting votes. Could the state’s hesitation be the source for its recent election debacles? For full election coverage, go to Governing's Election Center.
September 28, 2012
Can You Separate Federal Issues from State Elections?
Many state candidates are asked less about their stance on issues affecting the state and more about federal matters they can do little about.
August 31, 2012
Transportation Plan? Atlanta Voters Say No Thanks
Voters in the Atlanta region rejected a ballot measure to raise sales taxes by a penny to fund some $6 billion in transportation projects.
August 31, 2012
Cloud Computing Taxes Up in the Air in States
A dozen states are debating whether they should and how they could tax cloud computing services.
August 31, 2012
Did Wisconsin End the Recall Wave?
Recalls have been on the rise. But after Gov. Scott Walker survived his election, two other high-profile recall attempts failed in Michigan and California.
August 10, 2012
More Incumbents Losing Grasp on State Legislature Seats
Voters aren't waiting until November to express their anger. With 14 states still to hold their primary contests, already 135 incumbent state legislators have lost their seats.
August 9, 2012
Pension Plan Changes Pose Challenges for Lawmakers
Lawmakers have become acutely familiar with the financial challenges caused by pension underfunding, and they're certainly aware of the political difficulties involved in trying to change pension formulas. But the legal hurdles involved in changing pension benefits can be formidable as well.
July 31, 2012
Counties: An Outdated Concept or the Future?
Hit harder by the economic downturn than either cities or states, counties are feeling pressure from all sides, leading many to reexamine county functions altogether.
June 29, 2012
Social Issues Overshadow Tennessee Legislative Session
Tennessee made a bid (again) to become the nation’s most socially conservative state by voting on bills regarding school prayer, sex education, climate change and abortion.
June 29, 2012
Los Angeles Transit Needs Taxpayers' Money to Rebuild
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is asking voters to pay a half-cent sales tax longer so he can finish his plans to improve the highway and subway systems quicker.
June 29, 2012
Does Drug Testing Welfare Recipients Save Money?
Seven states have enacted drug testing for welfare applicants in an effort to cut costs and combat fraud -- but it’s not clear the move does either.
May 31, 2012
The New Black South
After nearly a century of moving north, African-Americans are reshaping cities and suburbs in the South.
April 30, 2012
Governors Have 'The Best Job in Politics'
In his new book, political scientist Alan Rosenthal professes that no one gets what they want more than governors. Find out why.
April 30, 2012
Stockton, California’s Bankruptcy Makes 'Normal' Cities Nervous
Unlike many high-profile bankruptcies, Stockton’s financial woes are the result of many different factors that are not unusual for many localities.
April 30, 2012
Caucus System Cracks Revealed During 2012 GOP Primary Season
Several states were embarrassed by faulty counts in their caucuses, which are run by political parties rather than by public officials.
April 30, 2012
Citizens United’s Corporate Candidate
Now that private-sector groups are allowed to spend unlimited amounts of money in state elections, who’s really running for office?
March 30, 2012
Wisconsin Recall Elections Draw Lots of Attention -- and Cash
The recalls of Gov. Scott Walker, his lieutenant and four state senators could top $100 million, but that's just a prelude to the fall when the parties will fight for control of the state House.
March 30, 2012
GIS Mapping Helps Frogtown, Minnesota Track Neighborhood Data
Residents use geographic info systems to learn more about where they live.
March 30, 2012
Grease Disposal Laws Target Thieves
California and Virginia have passed statutes to regulate the disposal of cooking grease -- a hot commodity because of the demand for biofuel -- to keep people from stealing it from restaurants.
March 30, 2012
Tuition? UC Riverside Students Say Bill Me Later
A student group called “Fix UC” suggests colleges take a share of each student’s salary for the first 20 years after they graduate.
March 30, 2012
Sunday Alcohol Sales Making a Comeback
In the last decade, 15 states have repealed so-called blue laws that banned Sunday sales of beer, wine and liquor.
February 29, 2012
Kris Kobach Tackles Illegal Immigration
Kansas’ secretary of state is redefining immigration laws not only in his state, but in Arizona and elsewhere.
January 31, 2012
Conservatives Question the War on Drugs
Some surprising political figures like New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie have started questioning how effective U.S. drug policy is.
January 31, 2012
TED Prize Winner: City 2.0
For the first time, the TED Prize (which includes a cash prize) is being awarded to an idea, not a person. But cities will benefit.
January 31, 2012
Elected as a Democrat, Now Governing the City Like a Republican
Some liberal leaders are pursuing a conservative economic agenda.
January 31, 2012
Downtown Revitalization During a Recovery: Great Idea or Huge Mistake?
Only time will tell if Kansas City’s unusual and possibly risky move will pay off.
January 1, 2012
More State Workers Face Personnel Cuts
With the ballooning cost of benefits, a poor job market and more lean-government advocates in power, states are cutting personnel more than they have in the past.
January 1, 2012
In Kansas, It’s GOP vs. GOP
For years, there have been two kinds of Republicans in the Kansas statehouse: conservatives and moderates. This year, the conservatives want total control.
January 1, 2012
States Legislate in Response to News Headlines
In the current 24/7 news cycle, scandals often lead to bills in several statehouses.
November 30, 2011
ALEC Enjoys A New Wave of Influence and Criticism
The American Legislative Exchange Council’s conservative ideas are resonating in practically every area of state government. And its opponents aren’t happy about it.
November 30, 2011
Taxing the Rich Isn’t Always a Moneymaker
Several states increased taxes on the wealthy in recent years. The move brought in extra revenue but didn’t solve all of states’ budget problems.
November 30, 2011
St. Louis Wants to Control Its Own Police Force Again
In the nineteenth century, some states took control of local police forces. Today, St. Louis is the last big city whose force is still under state control.
November 30, 2011
America’s Least Active City Sits Down to Celebrate
After Lexington, Ky., earned the award for least active city, residents and the mayor took to the streets to boast their win in a Sedentary Parade.
November 30, 2011
California’s Money-Saving MVP
If finding ways to save money for a cash-starved state wasn’t enough, California’s Auditor Elaine Howle is adding the task of setting up a new redistricting commission to her to-do list.
November 30, 2011
Governments Abandon Fingerprinting for Food Stamps
Most states and cities stopped requiring that recipients be fingerprinted because it was costly and slowed the application process. New York City and Arizona are the last jurisdictions that still do it.
October 31, 2011
New Headaches for ‘No Child Left Behind’
New NCLB waivers may impact the classroom more than the old law they’re trying to escape did.
October 31, 2011
What Can Cities Learn from Wasps?
An evolutionary biologist adapts his theories to help local officials plan parks and improve schools.
October 31, 2011
States Cut Welfare Benefits -- Again
At a time when people need it the most, states are tightening work requirements, lowering payments and setting time limits for welfare recipients.
October 31, 2011
Can Redistricting Ever Be Fair?
Several states are setting up independent commissions in the hope of removing bias from the line-drawing process.
October 31, 2011
South Carolina Says It's a 'Great Day'
A new etiquette directive from Gov. Nikki Haley has state employees sounding more chipper.
September 30, 2011
Your Day in Court? Get in Line.
As San Francisco County closes more than a third of its courts, local lawyers are trying to find ways to raise more revenue.
September 30, 2011
South Carolina's Ethics Problem
Scandal and corruption have plagued Palmetto State politics for years. Some say it’s because it's virtually a one-party state.
September 30, 2011
Should Governments Start Borrowing Again?
The word "borrow" may be taboo still, but one economist says states and localities should take advantage of historic low interest rates.
September 27, 2011
Billionaires in the Classroom
Bill Gates and other philanthropists are reshaping public education policy with private cash. Can they succeed at making schools perform to their liking?
July 29, 2011
Light at the End of a Scandal
After six were indicted for underfunding San Diego’s pension system, the city made some changes to close deficits with the unions on their side.
July 29, 2011
Kansas City Businesses Want to End the ‘Economic Border War’
Businesses are tired of jumping across state lines for wasted tax incentives.
July 29, 2011
Will Education Cuts Lead to More Lawsuits?
States that are cutting their K-12 budgets by billions of dollars can expect more lawsuits, but they may not have an immediate impact.
June 30, 2011
Are the Unions Winning the Fight?
Governors and mayors say their workers are demanding unsustainable benefits. Union rebuttals are not turning the tide.
May 31, 2011
Fixing Bridges ... Or Not
The lack of money for bridge repairs is symptomatic of a larger problem: Transportation projects in general are going to slip behind.
May 31, 2011
States Roll Back Early Voting, Enforce Voter ID Laws
Democrats complain that GOP legislators are seeking to disenfranchise vulnerable groups of voters. Republicans say they're merely protecting the sanctity of the ballot.
May 31, 2011
Pink Slips Affect the Future of the Teaching Profession
Massive teacher layoffs have led to concerns that young people will shy away from entering the suddenly less-than-secure profession.
May 31, 2011
Rahm Emanuel Takes on Chicago
Chicago's Richard M. Daley is a tough act to follow. But Rahm Emanuel is determined to make his own mark.
April 29, 2011
New Governors Time Their Battles
Unpopular governors have good chances of winning re-election -- as long as they push their most controversial policies early on.
April 29, 2011
Detroit's Disappearing Population -- and Revenues
With the loss of 25 percent of its residents, Detroit could also lose its ability to levy higher income taxes.
April 29, 2011
Does the Popular Vote Matter?
While some states offer extra protection for statutes enacted by popular vote, legislatures can still overturn ballot initiatives in most states.
March 31, 2011
States Handing Off More Responsibilities to Cities
States are asking cities to take charge of more programs, but they may not provide enough support.
February 28, 2011
The Troubled State of Mental Health Funding
States have cut mental health funding by more than $2 billion. Things may get worse this year.
February 28, 2011
The Immigration Enforcement Divide
Legislators are trying to pass laws requiring immigration checks, but they're running into resistance from the people who would enforce them.
February 28, 2011
School Vouchers Are In ... Again
Different circumstances and a favorable political climate make school vouchers more attractive than before.
January 1, 2011
Voters to Decide Fate of Earnings Tax
Two Missouri cities may soon be facing a huge drop in tax collections.
January 1, 2011
The Increasing Opposition to the New Health-Care Law
Attorneys general in several states are seeking to overturn the federal health-care law.
January 1, 2011
Christie's Hands-On Approach With Local Government
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is playing an extremely active role in local government affairs.
June 1, 2010
Playing Dumb
Liability rather than serendipity is the focus of playground design.
Some are trying to change that.
May 1, 2010
Death From Washington
Federal prosecutors are increasingly eager to invoke capital
punishment--even in states that don't like it.
May 1, 2010
Greenhouse Shift
By one vote, the U.S. Supreme Court has altered the politics of air
pollution.
May 1, 2010
Horrendous Honeymoon
It's hard to imagine a worse start than the one Nevada's governor is
off to.
May 1, 2010
New Clout In a Big County
L.A. County supervisors have done something unusual--given up power
voluntarily.
May 1, 2010
Property Dilemma
Florida property taxes badly need reform. But it has to be sensible
reform.
May 1, 2010
King of Swing
In an all-but-deadlocked Montana House, iconoclast Rick Jore holds the
balance of power.
December 31, 2009
In Wisconsin, Partisan Battles Rule the Legislature
In this January 2010 feature from our archive: State legislatures may not be as partisan as Congress, but they're getting closer.
November 30, 2009
The Standardizing of Classroom Standards
How well can Johnny add? Right now, states try to answer that question in troublingly disparate ways. According to one recent federal study, a fourth-grade...
November 30, 2009
Bending the Law on Slots
Gambling interests seeking permission to move into a state like to tell voters that neighboring states are already profiting from casinos and lotteries, so they...
November 30, 2009
California Voters and the Water Spigot
California has just enacted a huge and enormously complicated package of bills meant to put an end to the state's longstanding water wars. But the...
November 30, 2009
Local Government and Recall Fever
The printed agenda for meetings of the county board in Monroe County, Wisconsin, always reminds elected supervisors to wear name tags, because "it helps visitors."...
November 16, 2009
Weekend Update: Governors
Two big events in 2010 gubernatorial news this weekend.
The first was Saturday's announcement by Kay Bailey Hutchison that she will not resign her U....
November 12, 2009
Suozzi Sounds Off
Politico blogger Ben Smith had an interview today with Thomas Suozzi, the Nassau County, New York, executive who is currently down 500 votes in the count ...
November 10, 2009
Spending Election Night Online
I have to admit that I'm a very late adopter. I'm a big music fan, but all my friends had iPods before I ...
November 4, 2009
For New York's Mayor, a Surprisingly Narrow Win
As the votes were counted in mayoral races across the country, the biggest shock of the night occurred in a race that turned out just...
November 3, 2009
Legislative Outcomes
Despite Chris Christie's win, New Jersey Democrats will maintain control of the state Assembly.
It's clear that in Virginia, Republicans will add to ...
November 3, 2009
Gay Marriage Losing in Maine
The gay marriage repeal is leading, 52 to 48 percent. The count still has a ways to go but it's been the repeal side that's ...
November 3, 2009
Garamendi Holds Early Lead in House Race
John Garamendi, the Democratic lieutenant governor of California and a perennial candidate, holds an early lead in a special congressional election in Northern California.
He'...
November 3, 2009
McGinn Up Early in Seattle
Environmentalist Mike McGinn is leading cell-phone executive Joe Mallahan in the Seattle mayor's race, but just barely.
With 38 percent of precincts reporting, McGinn has 50.5 ...
November 3, 2009
Bell Wins in Toledo
Mike Bell, Toledo's long-time fire chief, has won election as mayor. Bell ran as an independent and defeated Democrat Mike Wilkowski.
Bell will replace ...
November 3, 2009
Ravenstahl Wins Full Term
Luke Ravenstahl, the youthful mayor of Pittsburgh, took 55 percent of the vote today in his successful quest to win a full term.
Ravenstahl became mayor ...
November 3, 2009
Norwood-Reed Runoff
In the Atlanta mayor's race, Mary Norwood has 43 percent of the vote, with 93 percent of the precincts reporting. She'll be headed for a ...
November 3, 2009
Elsewhere in Upstate
posted by Alan Greenblatt
Stephanie Miner was elected as the first woman mayor of Syracuse today.
Albany Mayor Gerald Jennings easily won a fifth term.
...
November 3, 2009
Rybak Looking Strong
For all the possible merits of instant runoff voting, it seems to be slowing down the count in Minneapolis.
With just 11 percent of the vote ...
November 3, 2009
Christie Wins By 5
The vote counting is just about done in New Jersey. Chris Christie has taken 49.2 percent to Corzine's 44.4 percent, with Chris Daggett finishing at 5.6 percent.
November 3, 2009
Gay Marriage Slipping Behind in Maine
With 60 percent of precincts reporting in Maine, the yes votes for repeal of gay marriage are now ahead, 51.58 to 48.42 percent.
More clear outcomes on tax ...
November 3, 2009
McDonnell's Crushing Win
Bob McDonnell's almost-final vote total in Virginia is 59 percent to Creigh Deeds' anemic 41 percent.
For all the talk of a referendum on Obama (to ...
November 3, 2009
Houston: Headed to Runoff
The Houston mayor's race was always expected to go to a runoff, but there looks to be a surprising cast of characters in the ...
November 3, 2009
Cincinnati's Mallory Winning Second Term
Mark Mallory, the Democratic mayor of Cincinnati, looks like he's cruising to a second term. He's got 57 percent of the vote with 55 percent ...
November 3, 2009
Chris Coleman Reelected in St. Paul
Chris Coleman, who unseated a St. Paul mayor four years ago, won a second term in that office today. Coleman, a Democrat who recently ruled ...
November 3, 2009
Bloomberg's Narrow Win?
MSNBC has retracted its call of the New York City mayor's race, but The New York Times is still calling it for Bloomberg.
With 89 ...
November 3, 2009
NY-23: Dem Up, Still Close
To make it a trifecta, Repubilcans are rooting for Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate, to win the special congressional election in upstate New York.
...
November 3, 2009
Looks Like an Upset in Dayton
Counting has stalled at 98.7 percent of the precincts in Dayton, but challenger Gary Leitzell may have already run up an unbeatable lead against incumbent Mayor ...
November 3, 2009
New Florida Mayors
Tomás Regalado has triumphed in the Miami mayor's race, taking 72 percent of the vote. Fellow city commissioner Joe Sanchez has conceded.
In St. ...
November 3, 2009
Norwood Ahead But Not Mayor
As expected, Councilwoman Mary Norwood is leading in Atlanta's mayoral contest. She has 47 percent of the vote, with 19 percent of precincts reporting.
She would ...
November 3, 2009
NJ Gov: Christie Ahead
With 44 percent of precincts reporting, Republican Chris Christie is leading Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine of New Jersey, 50 to 44 percent.
November 3, 2009
Maine: Gay Marriage Barely Ahead
With 22 percent of precincts reporting, Maine's ballot measure to repeal the state's gay marriage law is barely trailing, with 55,569 "no" votes ...
November 3, 2009
Other NYC Races
Despite apparently voting in a Republican for mayor for the fifth time in a row, New York City is otherwise living up to its bona ...
November 3, 2009
Bloomberg Wins Third Term
With just 17 percent of the precincts in and a close count so far, The New York Times is nonetheless calling the New York City mayor'...
November 3, 2009
A Real Race in Dayton
Dayton, Ohio, Mayor Rhine McLin is ahead in her race for a third term, but not by much. With 80 percent of the precincts counted, McLin ...
November 3, 2009
Wasting No Time
At least six of the nine members of the Monroe County, Wisconsin, board were recalled last month. One may have survived, pending a recount of ...
November 3, 2009
Instant Runoff in the Twin Cities
Instant-runoff voting, in which voters would mark their first, second and third choices for an office, made its first appearance on Minneapolis ballots today. Over ...
November 3, 2009
Jackson Out in Front
Polls have just closed in Cleveland, where Mayor Frank Jackson is expected to cruise to a second term. He had outpaced his opponent, former city ...
November 3, 2009
A New Direction for Miami?
Polls are closed in Miami, which will elect a new mayor to replace Manny Diaz. It looks like it might be quite a replacement.
Tomá...
November 3, 2009
That Was Fast
The Washington Post isn't calling the Virginia race yet, but one of their columnists in an online chat says "I believe McDonnell is ...
November 3, 2009
The Expectations Game
There's certainly no getting around the "referendum on Obama" idea. It's the only thing holding these disparate races together. "What ...
November 3, 2009
Wait Till Next Year
Marc Ambinder at TheAtlantic.com, while dismissive about reading too much "meaning" into today's elections, looks ahead to 2010 and declares that races ...
November 2, 2009
Corzine-Christie: Last Round of Polls
Bunch of polls out today on the New Jersey governor's race:
Monmouth/Gannett: Corzine 43, Christie 41, Daggett 8
SurveyUSA: Christie 45, Corzine 42, Daggett 10
Democracy Corps: Corzine 41, Christie 37, ...
November 2, 2009
Anticipating Hoffman Fallout
With Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman opening up a big lead (or smaller but still sizable lead) heading into tomorrow's special congressional election in ...
November 2, 2009
Are Third Party Candidates Viable?
Given public unhappiness with the two major parties -- which seems almost to be a constant in our politics -- the question always arises as ...
October 31, 2009
Miami's Visionary Zoning Plan
When it comes to building and construction, Miami has always been a wide-open town. That's about to change. Last month, the city council approved a...
October 31, 2009
Tribal Trouble in Tennessee
Given the limited number of Native Americans, it would be natural to expect that today's tribes would welcome the recognition of any new group with...
October 31, 2009
The Search for Interstate Cooperation
In desperate budget times, more and more local governments are turning to their neighbors, hoping to save money by sharing services and equipment. This kind...
October 30, 2009
Monroe County Wipeout
Lots of Americans are worried about keeping their jobs these days, but if you're Dennis Hubbard you have special reason to worry. Hubbard is ...
October 29, 2009
Latest SC Euphemism for Sex...
... is "going to the cemetery."
Roland Corning, a former South Carolina state legislator, was fired from his job as a deputy assistant attorney ...
October 29, 2009
Another Former Rising Star
Erie County Executive Chris Collins was considered a rising star in New York Republican politics, talked up as a potential candidate for governor next year. ...
October 26, 2009
Republican Comeback in the Suburbs
Last year, when I wanted to write a story about how the suburbs -- especially older, inner-ring, dense suburbs -- were trending Democratic, I traveled ...
October 26, 2009
The United Not-States
There's been a debate of sorts in recent days in the liberal blogosphere on the question of whether states should be eliminated.
Matthew Yglesias, ...
October 23, 2009
Bai's Take
Matt Bai has a very long and Corzine-centric but worthwhile account of the New Jersey governor's race in the New York Times magazine. Neighboring ...
October 23, 2009
Will Republicans Squander a House Seat?
Along with the races for governor in Virginia and New Jersey, the marquee race in the country is next month's special election for a ...
October 23, 2009
White House Sticks a Fork in Deeds
President Obama will campaign for Creigh Deeds, the Democratic candidate for governor in Virginia, next week. But sensing his likely defeat, the White House is ...
October 22, 2009
Could Chris Daggett Win?
The latest poll in the New Jersey governor's race, this one from Eagleton-Rutgers, shows Jon Corzine, the Democratic incumbent, opening up a three-point lead ...
October 20, 2009
Why Deeds Is Losing
Creigh Deeds, the Virginia state senator who is the Democratic candidate for governor in next month's election, has never gotten his act together. He ...
October 20, 2009
Dayton Foreclosure Update
I wrote a cover story early last year on foreclosures, looking at Dayton, Ohio, to give a sense of what the effects were like in ...
October 19, 2009
Suburban Diversity
The National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University on Long Island will be hosting a big academic conference later this week on the increasing ...
October 16, 2009
New Jersey: Not Loving the Choices
Democrat Jon Corzine and Republican Chris Christie take turns holding slim leads in the latest polls in the New Jersey governor's race.
According to ...
October 16, 2009
In the End, It Wasn't Close
As expected, A C Wharton Jr. was elected mayor of Memphis yesterday in a special election. Wharton had led all comers in polls but won ...
October 15, 2009
Branstad Getting Ready
Terry Branstad, a former four-term governor of Iowa, has been a little bit coy about plans to run again. But it looks like he's ...
October 15, 2009
Peterson Opens Campaign
Bill Peterson, a former majority leader in the South Dakota House, has formally launched his bid for Sioux Falls mayor. Peterson is the first to ...
October 14, 2009
Republican Momentum
It seems more than likely that Republicans will do better in next year's elections than they did in 2006 and 2008. And, while I'm deeply ...
October 14, 2009
Hyperlocal New Jersey
If you're following the news about the news, you've probably heard that many media companies are hoping to find successful niches in so-called ...
October 14, 2009
Postcard From New Mexico
I spent several days in New Mexico last week, speaking at the Council of State Governments' western regional meeting and enjoying much of the stunning ...
October 2, 2009
How Politicians Get Their Money
I was just talking with Tennessee Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey about a legislative matter but since he's running for governor next year I asked ...
October 2, 2009
Smokers Need Not Apply
Nothing is certain but death and taxes. That doesn't mean they have to occur in the same place.
Anne Gannon, the tax collector in ...
September 30, 2009
What is the Age of Responsibility?
Justin McNaull grew up in a hurry. By the time he was 23, McNaull had graduated from college, married and gone to work for his local...
September 30, 2009
For Louisiana's Governor, Jolts from Washington
No one really thinks of Bobby Jindal and Barack Obama as personal or even political rivals these days. But it seems like at every turn,...
September 30, 2009
Disappearing Dues in Kansas
Bankers, barbers and doctors in Kansas, who pay a fee to support the state organizations that monitors their professions, might want to take a close...
September 30, 2009
A Spending Spree in Kentucky
Like governments everywhere, cities and counties in Kentucky seem to realize that the current budget environment requires them to keep a close watch on spending....
September 30, 2009
Corzine Still Stuck at 39
A new Quinnipiac poll out today shows New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine still trailing in his reelection bid, but not by as much. Republican Chris ...
September 30, 2009
A Real Mensch
Pennsylvania state Rep. Bob Mensch easily won yesterday's special state Senate election.
Our friends at the Republican State Leadership Committee say that Mensch's ...
September 29, 2009
Wharton for Mayor
AC Wharton Jr., our September cover subject, has been leading a big field in the Oct. 15 special election for mayor of Memphis. He won't ...
September 29, 2009
Polanski Case Deserves an Ending
I'll admit to feeling some ambivalence about the Roman Polanski case, but my bottom line is that if he's extradited and serves time, ...
September 24, 2009
Wilder Doesn't Endorse Deeds
Doug Wilder, the former Virginia governor and Richmond mayor, announced today that he will not endorse either candidate in this year's gubernatorial contest.
Anita ...
September 23, 2009
Declining Democratic Enthusiasm
Thinking about this year's two elections for governor, one thing stands out -- Democratic voters have been lacking enthusiasm for their candidates. That seems ...
September 23, 2009
'Julie & Julia' and Bureaucrat Bashing
I finally got around to seeing Julie & Julia. No one told me how anti-government-work it is.
September 22, 2009
Where to Meet the Mayor
Before I went to Memphis for our September 2009 cover story on Shelby County, Tennessee, Mayor A C Wharton Jr., at least two people had told ...
September 17, 2009
Why Washington, D.C. Is Rich
To live in Washington, D.C., is to have friends and family in other parts of the country. And while talking to people I know ...
September 16, 2009
Passing on Rumors
The ironically titled "I Love You Gavin Newsom!" blog has a perhaps wishful post speculating that San Francisco's mayor will soon drop ...
September 16, 2009
Why Tourists Are Sustaining Local Culture
I've had the chance this year to visit Chicago and Memphis and in both cities I took in at least one blues show. Judging ...
September 15, 2009
Blogging Metros
One of the positive developments in the fracturing of the media world is that real experts are now blogging on just about every subject, obviating ...
September 10, 2009
Stateline's Take
Our friends at Stateline.org have posted their big preview piece on the two races for governor this year, in New Jersey and Virginia.
In ...
September 9, 2009
Two Towns, One Street, One Way, Both Ways
This story is about a week old but it's too amusing not to pass on. In fact, I first heard about it on NPR'...
September 8, 2009
Corporate Cash Decision
I should have gone up there myself, but instead I've been waiting to read other people's accounts of the oral arguments in the ...
September 2, 2009
Kitzhaber Comeback?
Former Democratic Gov. John Kitzhaber of Oregon*, who served from 1995 to 2003 and has been promoting health care ideas ever since, ended any doubts by announcing ...
September 1, 2009
Corzine Still Losing
Two polls out today show continuing trouble for Jon Corzine, the Democratic governor of New Jersey, who is trailing his Republican challenger.
According to Quinnippiac, ...
August 31, 2009
New Jersey's 'Non-Operating' School Districts
New Jersey has just 21 counties, but it has more than 600 school districts. Although merging small districts is a problem everywhere, New Jersey's system is so...
August 31, 2009
Abdicating the Budget Role to the Governor
Legislators in many states this year, faced with huge budget shortfalls and difficult choices, must have been tempted to just sign off on any plan...
August 31, 2009
In Memphis, a Plea for Regionalism
The mayor of Shelby County, Tennessee, is one of the relatively few local officials in America who regularly conducts business across state lines. As mayor...
August 31, 2009
Scandals at Home Weaken New Mexico's Governor
When federal officials let it be known that New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson would not be indicted in the pay-to-play scandal that cost him a...
August 31, 2009
Perata's Prostate
Don Perata, a former California state Senate president who is running for mayor of Oakland, has been treated for prostate cancer, apparently successfully.
Perata got ...
August 31, 2009
The Draft Mitch Movement
During his reelection run last year, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels kept insisting that it was going to be his last election ever. And good on ...
August 31, 2009
Expensive Minnehaha Race
South Dakota state Sen. Scott Heidepriem is running for governor, which means that the race for his Senate seat next year will likely be the ...
August 27, 2009
Douglas Steps Down
James Douglas, Vermont's Republican governor, announced today that he will not seek a fifth term next year.
Vermont is one of the bluest states ...
August 11, 2009
Deeds Mixes Things Up
The Virginia governor's race has been a sleepy affair since the two candidates won their nominations a couple of months back. For the first ...
August 10, 2009
Sanford Grounded
You probably saw the news last week that Jenny Sanford has moved out of the governor's mansion in South Carolina. Today, the Associated Press ...
August 6, 2009
Bad News for the GOP
Yesterday, I promised to post some bad news for the GOP, to leaven the good news. But maybe this isn't really news -- people ...
August 5, 2009
The Good News for the GOP
I'm going to have two posts about the prospects of the Republican Party today, one containing good news and one bad. As these things ...
July 31, 2009
A Call to Order
People complained for decades that the New York State Senate was dysfunctional. But that was before it shut down altogether.
In April, a special committee...
July 31, 2009
Taming of a Deficit
San Diego just closed an $83 million hole in its budget and is looking at a shortfall conservatively estimated at $115 million next year. For a place...
July 31, 2009
Mind Your Meters
Parking has gotten worse in Chicago, and many see Mayor Richard Daley's decision to privatize parking meters as the culprit. Daley has been a privatization...
July 31, 2009
A Succession Question
South Carolina is one of the most Republican states in the country, but picking a successor to Governor Mark Sanford is going to be a...
July 31, 2009
Off to a Great Start
As expected, Kay Bailey Hutchison announced this week that she'll resign her U.S. Senate seat in order to challenge Texas Gov. Rick Perry ...
July 30, 2009
Watch Herenton Retire
Many people in Memphis have said lately that they'll believe long-time Mayor W.W. Herenton will retire when they see it.
Well, you can ...
July 30, 2009
Cash-Strapped Zoo: "Give Us Money or the Gorilla Gets It"
I was up in Boston earlier this week, so of course I heard lots of talk about the Henry Louis Gates/Officer Crowley controversy. But ...
July 29, 2009
Who Resigns and Who Doesn't (Updated)
I've long been fascinated by the question of why certain politicians don't resign from office even when it's clear to all around ...
July 29, 2009
Stanley Resigns
A week ago, news broke that Tennessee state Sen. Paul Stanley had had an affair with a 22-year-old legislative intern in his office. Last night, ...
July 29, 2009
NCSL: Too Liberal?
The National Conference of State Legislatures' Grasscatcher blog, being a good sport, links to a Paul Rolly column looking at how legislators in Utah and ...
July 14, 2009
Check Your Gubernatorial Scorecard
Everybody who attends meetings of the National Governors Association wears a name tag imprinted with a photograph. Everyone, that is, except governors. But as governors ...
July 13, 2009
Memphis Musical Chairs
The Shelby County, Tennessee, Commission just voted, 8-0, to elevate Joyce Avery to the chair. Incumbent chair Deidre Malone had sought a second year, but ...
July 13, 2009
Obama's Urban Policy Gets Going
It's not getting much attention here in Washington, with all eyes on the Sotomayor hearing, but President Obama's Office of Urban Affairs held ...
July 9, 2009
NY Senate to Flip Again
The buzz around Albany this afternoon is that Democrats are about to regain control of the New York State Senate, breaking a month-long stalemate. Pedro ...
July 6, 2009
Destroy the Party in Order to Save It
David Frum makes a point similar to what I wrote about on Saturday.
And yet - bitter irony - Palin's self-immolation today may yet do ...
July 4, 2009
GOP Running Out of Options
Remember the main dynamic of the GOP presidential primary season in 2007-08? It was like musical chairs. One candidate after another would emerge as the ...
July 4, 2009
Retreating, Not Advancing
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin offers a sobering variation on the Peter Principle --
the idea that because talented people are usually
promoted, they "rise ...
July 2, 2009
Sanford Saga: No Crime Involved
Saying his agency doesn't "intend to be used in a political battle about the governor," Reggie Lloyd, head of South Carolina's ...
July 1, 2009
Palin's Profile
Todd Purdum has published a lengthy piece on Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin -- "the sexiest and riskiest brand in the Republican Party" -- ...
July 1, 2009
Under Pressure
Always finding new ways to look bad, S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford is backing away from a promise to release financial records relating to his ...
July 1, 2009
SC Senate President Calls for Sanford Resignation
Glenn McConnell, Senate President Pro Tempore, joins the chorus:
"That decision is his alone. I do believe, however, that the Governor has lost the ...
July 1, 2009
Will Sanford Be Forced Out?
The number of Republican senators signing Majority Leader Harvey Peeler's petition for South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford to resign is up to 12, out of 27 ...
July 1, 2009
Resignation Drumbeat Deepens
If S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford hoped to quiet his personal controversy by laying out more of his past indiscretions, the strategy hasn't worked. ...
June 30, 2009
Coal-Fired Compromise
No one expected Mark Parkinson to pursue an aggressive agenda as governor of Kansas. When he took over on an interim basis in April, after...
June 30, 2009
Too Broke to Fix?
Fiscal shortfalls in the tens of billions of dollars are virtually an annual occurrence in California. But this year, the state's voters seem even more...
June 30, 2009
Stalled Trains
Transportation might seem like the one issue best suited for local, state and federal cooperation. No transit system is built without affecting the planning process...
June 30, 2009
Vacuum in Oakland
Ron Dellums never really wanted to be mayor of Oakland. He expressed doubts when civic leaders recruited him to run in 2006, and ever since then,...
June 30, 2009
Shortfall Shock
Given a climate of national recession, Maine's budget process went pretty smoothly in 2009. Despite some scary revenue shortfalls, the legislature passed a $5.8 billion budget bill...
June 30, 2009
Court Rules for Franken
Possibly ending the longest-running recount battle in memory, the Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled unanimously in favor of Democrat Al Franken in what looks to ...
June 30, 2009
Keep the Noise Down at Fundraisers
Officers from the San Diego County sheriff's department busted up a Democratic congressional candidate's fundraiser Friday, in response to a noise complaint from ...
June 30, 2009
Sanford Fuels Fire
Chris Cillizza of The Washington Post suggests that Mark Sanford's AP interview today, in which he admitted to non-line-crossing encounters with additional women and ...
June 30, 2009
McGreevey's Second Act
A blog called Shankbone outlines former New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey's good works:
McGreevey volunteers at Exodus Ministries at the Church of Living Hope ...
June 30, 2009
Sanford Tells AP of Earlier Meetings With Chapur
AP has interviewed Gov. Mark Sanford:
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford said Tuesday that he "crossed lines" with a handful of women other than his ...
June 30, 2009
Bauer Makes His Case
The State uses its turn to interview South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer to profile the man and his career. Bauer confirms yesterday's news ...
June 29, 2009
Rudy Officially on the Fence
Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani says today maybe he will and maybe he won't run for governor next year.
"I don't know if I'm ...
June 29, 2009
Sanford Lays Out Reasons for Not Resigning
Mark Sanford has posted an open letter on his Web site offering apologies and offering a spiritual explanation for staying in office.
Immediately after all ...
June 29, 2009
Maybe He Can Go Hiking
New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch says he'd consider furloughing himself as part of the state's budget-cutting efforts.
"I think we are all ...
June 29, 2009
Sanford: Week Two Begins
The lead story in The State brings us up to date on the latest buzz on lawmakers wanting Gov. Mark Sanford to resign. As has ...
June 28, 2009
"Women?! Women?!"
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford tells the Associated Press today that he has considered resigning but won't.
"Resigning would be the easiest thing ...
June 27, 2009
NYT: Jealous Boyfriend Source of Emails
New York Times :
A business associate of Mr. Sanford's Argentine mistress said Friday that private messages between the two lovers had been sent anonymously to ...
June 26, 2009
Chris Christie's Ashcroft Connection
Chris Christie, the Republican nominee to take on New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine this fall, appeared before a congressional subcommittee yesterday to answer charges stemming ...
June 26, 2009
Setting a Good Example for the Boys
Washington Post :
"I go back to this larger voyage we're all on, and so you take everything a day at a time," ...
June 26, 2009
Bauer, Knotts Refuse to Call for Resignation
South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer has issued a cagey statement that does not call for Gov. Mark Sanford to resign:
However, do not look ...
June 26, 2009
"Puttin' Y'all in a Bad Spot"
AP is reporting that Gov. Mark Sanford wanted more time and meetings in Argentina during last year's trade mission, citing a state Commerce Department ...
June 26, 2009
Will Sanford Survive?
Here's a sure sign that the Sanford story may start cooling off: Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer tells The Associated Press in an interview this ...
June 25, 2009
More Calls for Resignation
I have to admit that when I heard the news about Sanford taking time out from an official trade mission to meet up with his ...
June 25, 2009
Hunting for the Governor
South Carolina state troopers didn't know where Sanford was during his absence and couldn't find out from staff, the Washington Post reports.
The ...
June 25, 2009
Politico: Sanford Planned 10-Day Trip
Update: Gossip site TMZ quotes Guido's owner Carlos Soto as saying he's seen Sanford and Maria Belen Chapur in his place several times ...
June 25, 2009
Sanford Had Dalliance During Trade Mission
Every time I stick my neck out for this guy, more bad news follows.
As noted earlier, Sanford went to Buenos Aires on a trade ...
June 25, 2009
Spartanburg Paper Calls for Resignation
The Spartanburg Herald-Journal calls for Sanford's resignation:
Mark Sanford cannot navigate a deep and painful personal crisis and lead the state through its economic ...
June 25, 2009
A Previous Encounter?
On the misuse of funds watch, here's a tidbit from CNN:
Sanford visited Argentina in June 2008 as part of a state-funded trade mission, according ...
June 25, 2009
Gov. Sanford: Don't Resign
Josh has a post over at Ballot Box suggesting that Sanford's viability, like that of any politician caught in a big scandal, depends on the depth of the reservoir of popularity and goodwill he may have enjoyed before getting caught out.
June 25, 2009
Sanford Mid-Afternoon Update
Gov. Mark Sanford has flown out to Sullivan's Island to be with his wife and sons, AP reports.
That's a shot of a ...
June 25, 2009
Other Cheaters Weigh In
Former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey was booked on the Today show and says honesty is Sanford's best policy.
Says McGreevey: "He can be ...
June 25, 2009
Emails May Have Triggered Confession
In its story today, The State of Columbia, S.C., indicates that although the paper had emails between Gov. Mark Sanford and his lover since ...
June 25, 2009
Paper Was Tipped About Flight
Gina Smith of The State has expanded her story from yesterday about her Atlanta airport interview with Gov. Mark Sanford, turning it into "how ...
June 24, 2009
Haley Erases Sanford
Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer helped push the "Where's Sanford" story along, letting it be known that he was indignant that he hadn'...
June 24, 2009
Where's Sanford
SC Gov. Mark Sanford will hold a must-see news conference at 2 pm.
I've been trying to keep on top of the twists and turns ...
June 24, 2009
Don't Miss the Emails
In case you're joining us late, another link to the emails between Gov. Sanford and "Maria" at The State.
June 24, 2009
CNN Interviews Tom Davis
Campbell Brown got an interview with Tom Davis, the South Carolina state senator and former top Sanford aide whom Sanford repeatedly apologized to during his confessional news conference.
June 24, 2009
Sanford's Appreciation of Argentina
DemConWatch notes that Sanford has traveled to and referred to Argentina quite often, including in two State of the States.
hat tip: Ben Smith
June 24, 2009
Sanford Lied to Staff
From Sanford's post-news conference statement:
I apologize to my staff. I misled them about my whereabouts, and as a result the people of South ...
June 24, 2009
Are Sanford's Enemies Working the Press?
A theme in our coverage here and on Ballot Box has been that South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has been the type of politician to ...
June 24, 2009
Here Come the Emails
The State has some of the emails between Gov. Sanford and Maria, the woman with whom he's had an affair. The paper has removed ...
June 24, 2009
Sanford's Wife: We're Separated
During his news conference, Sanford kinda sorta ducked the question of whether he and his wife Jenny are separated.
South Carolina's first lady has ...
June 24, 2009
Sanford Then and Now
Mark Sanford was elected to Congress as part of the "Republican Revolution" Class of 1994. If you were a reporter, he was always great ...
June 24, 2009
More Unresolved Sanford Questions
If I were a reporter in South Carolina, I would be tracking down Sen. Tom Davis and some of the other Sanford friends that the ...
June 24, 2009
Sanford Fallout
If you scroll down, you'll see that I tried to be a willing dupe for Sanford as long as I could. I took his ...
June 24, 2009
Sanford Resigns as RGA Chair
Update: Here's video of Sanford's announcement, if you missed it:
2:33 - Sanford announces he will resign as chair of Republican Governors Association, both ...
June 24, 2009
Live Blogging the News Conference
2:10 - hasn't started. crowded hallway space not good optics.
2:12 - someone just said, "guys, it's going to be about 15 minutes, just to ...
June 24, 2009
Sanford Enemies Go to Town
South Carolina Sen. Jake Knotts, the lead whistleblower/critic of Gov. Sanford's disappearance, tells MSNBC:
"Lies. Lies. Lies. That's all we get ...
June 24, 2009
Lessons in PR from Mark Sanford
If there's one thing Mark Sanford's trip down South America way illustrates, it's the notion that public officials need to get out ...
June 24, 2009
The Skeptics Were Right
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has spent the last several days in Argentina, he tells The State.
Sanford said he had considered hiking on the ...
June 23, 2009
Where's Sanford Been Hiding?
Plenty of chatter questioning whether SC Gov. Mark Sanford really was on the Appalachian Trail during his absence from Columbia/duty.
TPM has been on ...
June 23, 2009
Governors Gone Wild: Sanford's Not the First Governor to Go AWOL
The news that Gov. Mark Sanford had taken off without telling even his wife where he was -- and not letting Lt. Gov. Andrew Bauer ...
June 22, 2009
Yet Another Bailout
The Supreme Court released its highly-anticipated decision in a voting rights case today. But the decision opens the door to further questions.
It its 8-1 ...
June 18, 2009
But Will the Mormons Bankroll Them?
Opponents of Maine's new gay marriage law have hired the same PR firm that ran California's Proposition 8 last year to run their ballot ...
June 18, 2009
Separating Mayors From the Administration
In case you hadn't heard, pickets by firefighters angry over negotiations with Providence Mayor David Cicilline kept Vice President Joe Biden and other administration ...
June 18, 2009
Policy Making Through Budget Cuts
Everyone in government knows about the Washington Monument strategy. When budget times are tough, you threaten to shut down the most visible and popular programs ...
June 17, 2009
Backing the Conservative
Jim DeMint, a Republican U.S. senator from South Carolina, held a news conference yesterday to endorse Marco Rubio, the former Florida House Speaker who ...
June 17, 2009
The Whole World Is Twittering
The central role of Twitter in helping to organize the protests in Iran and getting news and pictures out of that country despite the ban ...
June 15, 2009
New York Senate to Flip Again
posted by Alan Greenblatt
NY Times :
ALBANY -- A week after Republicans wrested power of the State Senate away from Democrats, their thin majority appeared ...
June 14, 2009
The Tiananmen of Our Time
Events in Iran are well outside the scope of this space, but as a political blog it's impossible not to note the election there ...
June 12, 2009
Cities and Counties Find Common Cause
Fans of regionalism and metro cooperation will want to read a column that William Stafford has up on Citiwire.net. Stafford is president of the ...
June 8, 2009
VA-Gov: Democratic Primary Preview
With this year's hottest contest taking place tomorrow -- the three-way Democratic primary for governor between Terry McAuliffe, Brian Moran and Creigh Deeds -- ...
June 3, 2009
Coleman Comeback?
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty's announcement yesterday that he won't seek a third term has already triggered political maneuvering. Marty Seifert, the Republican leader ...
June 2, 2009
Pawlenty Not Running for Reelection
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is expected to announce in about two hours that he will not run for a third term next year. Speculation turns ...
June 2, 2009
3rd Generation, 3rd State
Josh Romney, son of Mitt and grandson of George, tells the Deseret News he's looking at the soon to be vacant lieutenant governor slot ...
June 1, 2009
GOP to Pick Corzine Challenger
Today's marquee race is the GOP gubernatorial primary in New Jersey, where Chris Christie (to the right) and Steve Lonegan are squaring off for ...
June 1, 2009
Two for Number Two
Virginia attorneys general are more or less guaranteed to run for governor, but lieutenant governors are only slightly less likely to make the run. Outgoing ...
June 1, 2009
Tax What You Love
While I was in Arkansas recently to report this profile of Gov. Mike Beebe, I visited Searcy, where he practiced law for many years. Beebe ...
May 31, 2009
The Job of a Lifetime
Things were starting to go sour for Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe. Earlier this year, both chambers of the state legislature quickly passed a new 3-cent...
May 31, 2009
The Corzine Chase
Despite his abysmal poll ratings, it might be a mistake to rule out Governor Jon Corzine for reelection in New Jersey. This coming month may...
May 31, 2009
The Full-Count Press
With the census less than a year away, cities across the country are gearing up fast. Although the census is a constitutional responsibility of the...
May 31, 2009
Arne's Cashbox
Education Secretary Arne Duncan has something none of his predecessors have had: billions of dollars in discretionary funds. The question is whether they will be...
May 31, 2009
George Tiller Shot, Killed
George Tiller, a Kansas doctor who was one of the few physicians in the country to perform late-term abortions, was shot dead today as he ...
May 29, 2009
Virginia's Democrats
With the Democratic primary coming up, The Washington Post has been profiling the party's three major candidates for Virginia governor in recent days. (The ...
May 29, 2009
Lawn Chairs in Times Square
Alex Ross, music critic for The New Yorker, posted this picture on his blog of Times Square, through which car traffic on Broadway is now ...
May 28, 2009
Rants Gets Ready to Go
Christopher Rants, a former speaker of the Iowa House, is making all the noises a prospective gubernatorial candidate might make, suggests the Des Moines Register.
May 27, 2009
Mitch Daniels, Rising Star
My friend Matt Tully of the Indianapolis Star notes the trend of national media turning its attention to Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels as a potential ...
May 26, 2009
Bloomberg's March to a Third Term
Ben Smith links to news reports suggesting that Congressman Anthony Weiner will get out of the New York City mayoral race.
May 18, 2009
Big Cities Still Attract
Creative class guru Richard Florida is guest blogging in Andrew Sullivan's space this week. His first entry ponders where college grads, facing an uncertain ...
May 15, 2009
Huntsman Shocker
AP is reporting that President Obama will name Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., a Republican, his ambassador to China on Saturday.
Huntsman has been mentioned ...
May 14, 2009
Hendren Keeps Digging
From TPM:
Arkansas state Sen. Kim Hendren, who is currently the only announced Republican candidate for U.S. Senator against Democratic incumbent Blanche Lincoln in 2010, ...
May 13, 2009
Sink Makes It Official
Alex Sink, Florida's CFO and the expected Democratic nominee to succeed Gov. Charlie Crist, has made her race official. From her statement:
Today, I'm ...
May 13, 2009
California, Prepare to Borrow
The Sacramento Bee has a story up predicting low turnout for next Tuesday's special election, when California voters will decide the fate of a ...
May 13, 2009
State Budgets Get More Grim
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has updated its report on state budgets. Not surprisingly, the news is pretty bad.
According to the Center, ...
May 12, 2009
Crist Scrambles the Field
Gov. Charlie Crist's decision to run for Senate will create a free-for-all in Florida politics next year. State Attorney General Bill McCollum (pictured), CFO ...
May 12, 2009
Corzine's Chances
I've been talking with people in New Jersey about the governor's race there. Among lobbyists, pundits and other observers, there's a pretty ...
May 11, 2009
Crist Gets In
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist will announce tomorrow that he is running for the U.S. Senate, raising Republican expectations of holding onto that seat.
As ...
May 7, 2009
Ridge Says No
Tom Ridge, the former governor and Homeland Security secretary, has decided against running for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Arlen Specter.
May 7, 2009
Hard to Call
I talked this morning with Clay Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, about the New Jersey Republican gubernatorial primary coming up next ...
May 7, 2009
Palin Poll Drop
Via Ben Smith:
A new poll from Hays Research in Anchorage says Gov. Sarah Palin now has 54 percent positive and 41. 6 percent negative rating in Alaska. ...
May 6, 2009
Steele's Troubles Mount
posted by Alan Greenblatt
You know you're in a bad position where your worst criticism comes from your nominal allies. That's the position ...
May 6, 2009
Politicians on the Court
I realize that headline, appearing today, might make you think I'm talking about former hoopsters turned mayor, with Dave Bing taking over in Detroit ...
May 5, 2009
Gay Marriage Momentum
I have a piece in our May issue about how the political dynamics have shifted on the question of same-sex marriage, with momentum suddenly on ...
May 4, 2009
Speaking of Pennsylvania
Despite expectations that Pat Toomey would have a clear shot as the GOP nominee to take on Arlen Specter in the fall of 2010, there's ...
May 4, 2009
Problems for Pennsylvania Republicans
Terry Madonna, a Franklin and Marshall political scientist, along with strategic consultant Michael Young, pivots off Arlen Specter's defection to look at the deeper ...
May 4, 2009
Safe and Sorry
Martin O'Malley is looking good for a second term as governor of Maryland, despite the downturn and his record as a tax-increaser. The state ...
May 1, 2009
"A Bureaucratic Nightmare"
Dayo Olopade, a reporter with The Root Web site, has written a story suggesting that President Obama's Office of Urban Affairs, and his urban policy ...
April 30, 2009
Gay Rights: The Not-So-Lethal Issue
Last month, the Iowa Supreme Court threw out a state law banning gay marriages, while the Vermont legislature overrode a gubernatorial veto to allow same-sex...
April 30, 2009
A Little Bit of Gun Control
A flurry of gruesome shootings nearly always brings the issue of gun control back into public debate. That's happening again, in the wake of cop...
April 30, 2009
Slumping Slots
Gambling proponents typically overstate the amount of revenue that lotteries and casinos will generate for state treasuries. But the numbers rarely fall as far short...
April 30, 2009
Virginia Firebrand
Jeff Frederick won't give up. Ousted as chairman of the state Republican Party last month, he may seek the post again at the party convention...
April 30, 2009
The Time Has Come for National Standards
State education officials have adopted a new mantra: "Fewer, clearer, higher."
The term refers to education standards -- what each state feels its ...
April 29, 2009
NJ: Christie No Longer a Lock
It seemed certain heading into the year that Chris Christie, the former U.S. attorney who has convicted more than 100 New Jersey politicians, would be ...
April 29, 2009
"I'm Calling About My Light Bill"
The Washington Post ran a long article about Greenwood, South Carolina, looking at how the community is faring thus far in the age of Obama (...
April 28, 2009
Hollow Gesture
State Sen. Roy Ashburn, one of six Republican legislators who voted for California's tax-raising budget deal, has become the first official target of a ...
April 28, 2009
Now, That's Harsh
One of today's popular apocalyptic fantasies is to imagine the world without human beings. This premise has been the subject of a bestselling book ...
April 28, 2009
Journalism Implosion Watch
Only one of last week's Pulitzer winners had already been laid off. Here's this week's early winner for the cheap irony award ...
April 21, 2009
Schwarzenegger Sells Access
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is selling seats to a pair of fundraisers at his Brentwood home for donors willing to cough up six-figure checks, the ...
April 14, 2009
How the Accidental Governors Are Faring
The nation currently has three "accidental governors." Each came to power because of a vacancy. Each inherited a big budget mess. Now all of them ...
April 13, 2009
Weekend Reading
The least surprising headline in yesterday's Washington Post was bannered across the top of the front page: "At Nationals Park, District of Dreams ...
April 9, 2009
Conway's In
Just got the release from Jack Conway, Kentucky's attorney general, that he's officially in the race for Senate. Conway's a Democrat and ...
April 9, 2009
Demanding Assimilation
The Texas legislature is debating voter identification requirements. Republican State Rep. Betty Brown thinks Asians would make the whole process a lot easier if they'...
April 7, 2009
SWAT Regulation
Last night, the Maryland Senate unanimously cleared a bill for Governor O'Malley's signature that would allow the state to oversee local deployment of ...
March 31, 2009
Obama and the Cities
For the past 40 years, through the Great Society initiatives of Lyndon Johnson, the Enterprise Zone programs of HUD Secretary Jack Kemp, and the Hope VI...
March 31, 2009
Digging for Dollars
It's boom time for grant writers. Cities across the country are lining up to collect their share of the $787 billion federal stimulus package, and they're...
March 31, 2009
Tanks for the Memories
The gas tax is, as you may have heard, about to run out of gas. It's not hard to see why this is happening. Motorists...
March 31, 2009
Wild West Budgeting
It's like one of those thrillers where one thing blows up after another.
Trying to patch big holes in the state budget earlier this year,...
March 31, 2009
Just Say No. Then Shut Up.
A three-quarters majority is required to raise taxes in Arkansas, but the legislature has done it twice in the past year. How did that happen?...
March 25, 2009
Anyone Can Clean Up Litter
Will Kempton, California's transportation chief, said that the state can't bar a group from its Adopt-a-Highway anti-litter program based on distaste for the ...
March 19, 2009
Mayors Want Service
Lots of mayors support a proposal, which the U.S. House approved yesterday, to expand national service programs. The bill would boost the number of ...
March 18, 2009
Reid Running
I'm not one to get much worked up about media bias but I've certainly noticed that as more and more journalists seek professional ...
March 18, 2009
We Don't Get No Stinking Chiefs of Staff
This year's Washington meeting of the National League of Cities was all about the love from the Obama administration. Multiple cabinet secretaries addressed the ...
March 3, 2009
More Bad News For Paterson
I just got a poll from Marist on New York Gov. David Paterson, our March cover subject. Not looking too good:
New Yorkers are sending ...
March 2, 2009
How to Select Judges
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case tomorrow regarding conflicts of interest for judges. The case resolves around a West Virginia justice who ...
March 2, 2009
Government Uncovered
Yesterday's Washington Post was filled with stories about the decline of the newspaper business, with two stories touching directly on state and local government ...
February 28, 2009
A Metro View
I talked with Steve Heminger, head of the Bay Area's regional transportation agency and a member of a bipartisan commission that recommended overhauling the federal...
February 28, 2009
Intense Rheeaction
As superintendent of schools in Washington, D.C., Michelle Rhee has become the most celebrated - and controversial - schools chief in the country. Her...
February 28, 2009
Austin's Surprise Speaker
Everybody in the Texas House of Representatives knew Joe Straus was one of its brightest newcomers, but nobody expected him to become speaker this year...
February 28, 2009
Predators' Reprieve
Congress passed the Adam Walsh Act in 2006 to create uniform national tracking standards for sex offenders. President Bush signed it amid White House fanfare. But...
February 26, 2009
Drip, Drip, Drip...
Chicago Sun-Times:
The son of embattled Sen. Roland Burris is a federal tax deadbeat who landed a $75,000-a-year state job under former Gov. Rod Blagojevich ...
February 26, 2009
I Knew Installing a Water Park Was a Mistake
I just read a story about a man charged $27,000 in Internet access fees for watching a football game on his laptop. That's nothing. Yesterday, ...
February 26, 2009
Medicare Scare
For all their problems paying for Medicaid, state employee health benefits, SCHIP and retiree plans, the one source of soaring health costs states don't ...
February 25, 2009
What Jindal's Fall Says About Politics
I'm going to reserve judgment about Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal's performance last night in response to Obama's speech. But I'd be ...
February 25, 2009
Can Congress Change Infrastructure Policy?
Much of the National Governors Association's winter meeting here in Washington this past weekend was devoted to discussions about infrastructure. The message out of ...
February 23, 2009
No on Taxes
One of the political dynamics that's fascinating to watch right now is the Republican Party's adamant refusal to raise taxes despite the enormous ...
February 19, 2009
Is This The Onion?
Michael Steele, the Republican Party chairman, recognizes that the GOP needs to retool his image. Judging by the interview he gave to the Washington Times, ...
February 18, 2009
Not All Schools Are Created Equal
The Washington Post ran a story the other day that was quite revealing about the politics of school closures. Everyone knows it's politically difficult ...
February 17, 2009
Burris As Bad Acorn
Drip, drip, drip goes the Roland Burris saga. After denying he raised funds for Rod Blagojevich, now he says he did. Or he tried. But ...
February 9, 2009
Assessing the Republican Strategy
About 10 days ago, I attended part of the Republican National Committee's winter meeting here in Washington. I talked only to a fraction of the ...
February 9, 2009
Special Election Tomorrow
Bowling Green, Kentucky, residents will go to the polls tomorrow to pick a new state senator to replace Brett Guthrie, who's been elected to ...
February 9, 2009
Not Quite Blago
Corruption charges against former Puerto Rico Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila never quite caught the public's imagination the way Rod Blagojevich's did, although they ...
February 5, 2009
Can Christie Win?
Quinnipiac has a poll out showing Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine of New Jersey trailing Republican Chris Christie, 44 to 38 percent.
Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post ...
February 2, 2009
Readings Elsewhere
I suppose it would be the bloggy thing to link to a piece I had in yesterday's Hartford Courant about the indictment of Mayor ...
January 31, 2009
Getting to Know You
There's a joke in Georgia about what folks in different cities ask strangers as a conversation starter. In Atlanta, people are likely to ask, "What...
January 28, 2009
Get the Popcorn Ready
As the Illinois Senate prepares to wrap up Gov. Rod Blagojevich's impeachment trial tomorrow, the governor has made a surprise request to make a ...
January 27, 2009
Eddie Perez Starts His Long Fall
Mayor Eddie Perez probably won't be going on "The View" and talking over his legal troubles with Barbara Walters. But it appears he's going to ...
January 15, 2009
Mayor, True to His Team, Changes His Name
The Pittsburgh Steelers are playing the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday in the AFC title game. Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl found that, under the circumstances, he ...
January 12, 2009
Rendell on Building Well
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell has made infrastructure the centerpiece of his presidency of the National Governors Association and, along with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and ...
January 8, 2009
Minorities Coming to Power
The Denver Post records a notable moment:
History caught up with Rep. Terrance Carroll on Wednesday morning as the rising political star became the first ...
December 31, 2008
Reformer in Power
If you want to understand how Joe Hackney operates as speaker of the North Carolina House, it's worth thinking about the other things that he...
December 30, 2008
Confronting Carbon
California lawmakers are finishing another ordinary year. Once again, their budget is a mess, with lawmakers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger arguing about how to close ...
December 29, 2008
Is Caroline Kennedy That Bad?
The Caroline Kennedy boomlet has been pretty interesting to watch. Some people are outraged that a person with no prior record in public office considers ...
December 29, 2008
Some Nerve
You might have missed this story over Christmas. James Marzilli Jr. was a long-time veteran of the Massachusetts legislature. But this year, he decided not ...
December 29, 2008
After Kwame
Quite a few major cities will be electing mayors in the coming months. But the stakes may be highest in Detroit, where voters will go ...
December 23, 2008
Moving South and West
Politico notes that reapportionment after the next census will continue longstanding trends, with more congressional seats moving to the South and West.
The study, from ...
December 22, 2008
Who's Best for the Salazar Seat?
Colorado has been a funny place in Democratic politics. It was pretty Republican just a few years ago, but now the Democrats have everything -- ...
December 19, 2008
Grim Headline
Here's the darkest headline I can remember seeing on a press release:
Cities Officials Hold the Worst Outlook in the Nation's Direction in ...
December 17, 2008
Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Blago Challenge
The Illinois Supreme Court has refused, without comment, to hear state Attorney General Lisa Madigan's petition that Gov. Rod Blagojevich be removed due to ...
December 16, 2008
GOP Field Opens Up in Michigan
Yesterday, Republican Congressman Pete Hoekstra announced he won't be seeking reelection in 2010. Most people expect him to run for governor instead.
With Democratic Gov. ...
December 16, 2008
"Smells Like Nixon and Watergate"
Gawker :
In 1980, a vacationing Rod Blagojevich camped in front of Richard Nixon's home, with a friend, until the pariah ex-president emerged and this picture ...
December 16, 2008
Splitting the Difference With Duncan
Barack Obama managed to find someone acceptable both to teachers unions and the education "reform" crowd with his selection of Arne Duncan, the ...
December 15, 2008
SNL Lands Low Blows
Here's "Saturday Night Live's" strikingly offensive skit featuring Fred Armisen playing New York Gov. David Paterson:
Paterson has objected to the ...
December 12, 2008
Blagojevich Aide Resigns
AP reports that John Harris, chief of staff to Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, and his alleged co-conspirator, has resigned.
December 12, 2008
State Senator: Blagojevich Shakedown Common Knowledge
New York Times from yesterday:
In a rare firsthand account of how Mr. Blagojevich, a two-term Democrat, went about the selection process, an Illinois state ...
December 12, 2008
Denham for LG
Add to the What Doesn't Kill Me Makes Me Stronger file:
Sacramento Bee:
Republican Sen. Jeff Denham, whose statewide profile grew during the failed ...
December 11, 2008
Tobacco Turns Into Porn
The British government plans to force merchants to keep cigarettes and other tobacco products under the counter and ban their public display. If this policy ...
December 10, 2008
Jindal: Count Me Out
AP:
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said Wednesday he's not interested in a 2012 Republican presidential bid and will seek a second term as governor in 2011. ...
December 10, 2008
Bad News for George Ryan
Reading Newsweek last night, I was struck by a little piece rating the likely odds that some high-profile offenders would receive late pardons from President ...
December 10, 2008
Blagojevich Reaction
Reaction to the alleged crimes of Rod Blagojevich has been unusually strong -- not surprisingly.
John Kass:
Political corruption in the state that has made ...
December 10, 2008
Granholm to Energy?
More state and local officials joining the Obama caravan to Washington, according to The Wall Street Journal:
WASHINGTON -- Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Nancy Sutley ...
December 10, 2008
NY Senate Deal Back on Life Support
A week ago, it appeared that New York State's Senate Democrats had finally made a deal with their renegade caucus members, allowing them to ...
December 10, 2008
Obama Calls for Blagojevich to Step Down
TPM:
The President-elect agrees with Lt. Governor Quinn and many others that under the current circumstances it is difficult for the Governor to effectively do ...
December 10, 2008
No Quick Solution
The NY Times' round-up story on Blagojevich includes this paragraph about a bill to take appointment powers to the Senate away from the governor:
Cindy ...
December 10, 2008
If He Won't Quit...
If Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich won't quit and the legislature fails to impeach him, state Attorney General Lisa Madigan is threatening to take him ...
December 10, 2008
The Most Corrupt States
Lots of news outlets take up FBI Agent Robert Grant's implicit challenge to figure out whether Illinois is the nation's most corrupt state. ...
December 9, 2008
Fresh Start for Siegelman?
Amidst today's Blagojevich hubbub, it's easy to overlook Don Siegelman's appellate hearing today. The former Alabama governor has already been released from ...
December 9, 2008
Rahm: It Wasn't Me
Talking Points Memo cites a source "close to" Rahm Emanuel denying stories that Obama's chief of staff and outgoing Chicago congressman had ...
December 9, 2008
Change to Win's Statement
The union where Blagojevich wanted to work has put out a statement:
"No one connected with Change to Win ever considered, discussed or promised ...
December 9, 2008
Rich Miller Asks Some Good Questions
The Capitol Fax Blog is one place I'll be checking in coming days for further news on the Blagojevich front. Rich Miller asks three ...
December 9, 2008
Not Learning From History
Just yesterday, Rod Blagojevich said at a press conference that he was not troubled by reports the feds were recording him:
If anybody wants to ...
December 9, 2008
What Does Obama Do With Fitzgerald?
Today's criminal complaint against Rod Blagojevich raises the question of the future of his prosecutor, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald is not only ...
December 9, 2008
Is There Something Different About Illinois?
"If it isn't the most corrupt state, it's certainly one hell of a competitor." -- Robert Grant, FBI, 12/9/08
Rod Blagojevich is ...
December 9, 2008
Blagojevich's Downfall
Although shocking, the news that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, was arrested this morning along with his chief of staff was not all that ...
December 5, 2008
California AG Field Shaping Up
Republican state Sen. Tom Harman has filed papers to run for attorney general in California, the Sacramento Bee reports. Several politicians are looking at the ...
December 5, 2008
Another Recount
A final result is due Sunday in an Indiana state House seat in Warren and Tippecanoe counties. Twenty-six votes separate Republican Randy Pruitt from Democrat ...
December 5, 2008
City Council Weighs in on Torture
John Yoo provided the legal justification and framework for the Bush administration's torture policies as head of the Office of Legal Counsel, but he ...
December 4, 2008
Spitzer Rehab Watch
Since writing one piece for the Washington Post led to speculation that his political career could be revived, is it any wonder Eliot Spitzer has ...
December 4, 2008
How to Replace a Senator
Impatient with Rod Blagojevich's "dilly dallying" in picking a replacement for Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate, Chicago Tribune columnist Eric ...
December 3, 2008
State of the VA Race
The four leading contenders to succeed Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine in next year's election appeared at their first forum yesterday in Richmond.
Attorney General ...
December 3, 2008
Jeb May Run for Senate
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush tells Politico he's considering a run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Mel Martinez.
December 2, 2008
Can She Unseat a Second Murkowski?
Will Sarah Palin -- who campaigned for Sen. Saxby Chambliss in Georgia yesterday -- seek a Senate seat of her own?
That has seemed less ...
November 30, 2008
Squeezing the Cops
These days, even cops can't get immunity. Given state and local budget woes, governments are taking a serious look at cutting programs they'd rather hold...
November 24, 2008
The Curse of Corporate Sponsorship
Unlike my colleague Chris Swope, I still am uncomfortable with the whole trend of corporate naming rights -- naming stadiums and high school hallways after ...
November 21, 2008
Daily City's Hometown Pride
Daily City was featured in Life magazine in the 1950s as a classic postwar suburb (see image).
November 20, 2008
Jan Brewer, Arizona Secretary of State
Learn about Jan Brewer, Secretary of State for Arizona and possibly its next Governor.
November 20, 2008
Nepotism Central
I just got a press release from the Democratic Governors Association announcing, "Glendening Named DGA National Political Director." Naturally, I thought at first ...
November 20, 2008
Obama May Tap Napolitano
The cabinet pick trial balloon du jour is Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano for Homeland Security.
The AP story quotes Napolitano's remark that building a 50...
November 20, 2008
Napolitano's Successor?
I put up a very quick sketch on our other blog of Jan Brewer, the Arizona secretary of state who would fill Janet Napolitano';s ...
November 20, 2008
Waxman Beats Dingell
Henry Waxman, a California Democrat, has ousted John Dingell as chairman of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.
This has repercussions for state ...
November 19, 2008
The Election's Nearly Over
It looks like Missouri finally falls into the McCain column, leaving Obama with a total of 365 electoral votes.
With Begich the winner over Stevens, that ...
November 19, 2008
Palin At Home and Nationwide
Anchorage Daily News:
As Sarah Palin settles back into her job as the state's chief executive, a new ethics complaint filed Tuesday says she'...
November 18, 2008
Voting for a Full Slate
An analysis by the Nashua Telegraph shows that most people voted for candidates all the way down the New Hampshire ballot on Nov. 4, putting to ...
November 18, 2008
Can Spitzer Stage a Comeback?
Eliot Spitzer's prostitution scandal and resignation as New York governor seem like a long time ago now, but it was just this past May. ...
November 18, 2008
Christie Gets Ready
Chris Christie, the U.S. attorney in New Jersey, has announced that he's leaving his post on Dec. 1. All signs indicate that he'll ...
November 17, 2008
Weingarten Willing to Talk
The election of Randi Weingarten as president of the American Federation of Teachers this past summer signaled a greater willingness from that union to accept that new ideas and education "reforms" are inevitable.
November 13, 2008
Anchorage Mayor, Giant Slayer
At some point yesterday, it became clear that Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich had erased Ted Stevens' election-night lead in their Senate race and was ahead ...
November 13, 2008
How Do Republicans Rebuild?
I confess that I haven't read all the many, many articles and blog posts wondering whither the GOP, but I've seen enough to ...
November 12, 2008
Prusi Takes the Helm
Michigan Senate Democrats have elected Mike Prusi as their new leader. His predecessor, Mark Schauer, is coming here to Washington after a successful congressional run.
...
November 12, 2008
GOP's Southern Success
The South was for Republicans last week what the rest of the country was for Democrats. Republicans made some gains in state legislative seats leading ...
November 12, 2008
Farewell, Reagan Democrats
Stan Greenberg, the pollster who made his name studying the Reagan Democrats of Macomb County, Michigan, had a piece in the NY Times the other ...
November 11, 2008
More Women Than Ever
More women than ever have been elected to state offices, according to the Center for American Women in Politics at Rutgers. There will now by 1,784 ...
November 11, 2008
IA House GOP Picks New Leader
Yesterday, Iowa House Republicans replaced Minority Leader Christopher Rants with Kraig Paulsen.
Iowa Defense Alliance:
This is the first step of what is shaping up ...
November 11, 2008
Upcoming PA Leadership Fight
One certain leadership fight will take place next week in the Pennsylvania House. Democrats expanded their majority from one seat to five so they'll ...
November 11, 2008
Val Kilmer for N.M. Gov?
Actor Val Kilmer tells the New York Post that he's thinking about running for governor.
"I know I'm not yet qualified for ...
November 11, 2008
Where Michigan Dems Gained
Michigan Liberal chews over the results of state legislative contests, noting that Democrats added to their House majority through big gains in the Detroit area, ...
November 11, 2008
Recriminations in Florida
Democrats made almost no gains in the Florida legislature last week, despite Obama moving the state into the Democratic win column. Florida is home to ...
November 10, 2008
Can Obama Corral Congressional Dems?
We've been negligent in not linking to a column our own Alan Ehrenhalt published today in The New York Times. He offers a reminder ...
November 10, 2008
Can Rudy Save NY GOP?
New York Republicans facing the wilderness after the loss of the state Senate are hoping that former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani will step in and ...
November 10, 2008
Palin Speaks
Gov. Palin will be on Fox with Greta Van Susteren tonight. Meanwhile, the Anchorage Daily News has put up its interview with the governor, in ...
November 10, 2008
Purpling of the Exurbs
Pace Josh, Charlie Mahtesian notes that Obama made significant inroads in the nation's fastest-growing counties, which were formerly near-pure Bush territory:
Four years after ...
November 7, 2008
Obama's Urban Policy
London's Center for Cities lays out likely highlights in urban policy from an Obama White House.
November 7, 2008
Hope for the GOP?
With modest gains Tuesday building on their sweep in 2006, Democrats are nearly back where they were in terms of state legislative seats in 1994, before that ...
November 6, 2008
More Polarized?
Scattered notes on red and blue America:
It looks like only eight states are going to have divided legislatures, where the two main parties each ...
November 6, 2008
Spitzer Walks
AP reports that former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer will not be charged in the prostitution case that led to his political downfall:
"In ...
November 6, 2008
McCain Country
Ben Smith and other bloggers are starting to post some interest maps.
He compares the two below. The first shows counties where McCain did better ...
November 6, 2008
Palin Revisionism Watch
Newsweek reports that Sarah Palin and her family were not as frugal as she claimed:
One senior aide said that Nicolle Wallace had told Palin ...
November 6, 2008
Blueburbs
A point we've been writing about this year -- that the suburbs are going more Democratic -- appears to have been borne out by ...
November 6, 2008
Gordon Smith Concedes
Gordon Smith, Oregon's Republican senator, has conceded, meaning Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley will be coming to the U.S. Senate.
NCSL updates the ...
November 6, 2008
Turnout in Alaska and the Nation
Shannon Moore, a Democratic blogger in Alaska, questions official figures that show turnout was down this year in the state. (Hat tip: Andrew Sullivan)
This, ...
November 6, 2008
Well, That Makes More Sense
Everyone I've talked to about why Bev Perdue was able to prevail in the North Carolina governor's race has pointed to the organization ...
November 6, 2008
Hawaii GOP About Wiped Out
John McCain took just 26.5 percent of the vote in Hawaii and the party managed to lose a couple more seats in the legislature. They're ...
November 5, 2008
Gay Marriage Ban Leads in California
Backers of Proposition 8, which would ban gay marriage in California, are declaring victory, while opponents say it's still too early to concede.
With 90 percent ...
November 5, 2008
Coleman Leads in Minnesota
Republican Norm Coleman has a fractional lead against Democrat and comedian Al Franken in the closest U.S. Senate race.
With 4,129 of 4,130 precincts reporting, Coleman ...
November 5, 2008
Can Palin Go Home Again?
The Anchorage Daily News previews what promises to be a fascinating story in 2009 -- how Gov. Sarah Palin will be received in Juneau.
"All ...
November 5, 2008
Power Sharing Continues in Alaska
It appears that Alaska Democrats gained a state Senate seat yesterday, pulling the chamber into a 10-10 tie.
The two parties have shared power in ...
November 5, 2008
Oregon House Democrats Get to 2/3
Oregon Democrats picked up at least five state House seats, bringing them to supermajority status.
They lost a seat in the state Senate, but retain ...
November 5, 2008
California Dems Post Modest Gains
Votes are still being counted in close races but California Democrats may have gained three or four Assembly seats.
They fell short of the 2/3 majority ...
November 5, 2008
Dem Wave in Nevada
Review-Journal:
Democrats took control of the state Senate for the first time since 1991 as two Clark County Republican incumbents, Bob Beers and Joe Heck, succumbed ...
November 5, 2008
Dems Sweep Wisconsin
Wisconsin State Journal:
Wisconsin Democrats won control of the state Assembly Tuesday night, giving them control of both the state Legislature and the governor's ...
November 5, 2008
Another Fight for Craddick
Texas Democrats made their first gain in the state Senate in a decade, AP reports, while picking up a probably three House seats.
That's ...
November 5, 2008
Minnesota Dems Fall Short of 2/3
Minnesota Democrats failed to gain the five House seats they needed to win a veto-proof majority in both chambers.
House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher said ...
November 5, 2008
So Much for Turnout
It looks like turnout nationwide is actually going to be down from 2004.
Will be fascinating if it's largely Republicans who stayed home.
Update: Whoops ...
November 4, 2008
Dems Fall Short in St. Charles
When I went out to Missouri to write a story about legislative elections recently, I was told Democrats were targeting three House seats in St. ...
November 4, 2008
Attorneys General: No Change in Party Control
Darrell McGraw, the Democratic attorney general of West Virginia, won a fifth term in a squeaker, taking 50.3 percent of the vote.
That was the closest ...
November 4, 2008
Legislatures: No Great Democratic Wave - Updated
Few legislative chambers changed hands Tuesday. Those that did reflected the increasingly regional nature of the major parties' strength.
Democrats won the biggest prize of ...
November 4, 2008
TN Legislature - GOP Seizes Control
Tennessee Republicans will control the legislature for the first time since Reconstruction. In perhaps the biggest surprise of the night in legislative voting, they have ...
November 4, 2008
Democrats Gain One Governorship
Democrats made a net gain of just one governorship yesterday, with Jay Nixon's victory in Missouri. But they had surprisingly easy wins in two ...
November 4, 2008
Ohio House Races
We're still watching the Ohio House, where Republicans hold a four-seat edge. Here are current results in a few key races:
Repeat candidate Nancy ...
November 4, 2008
U.S. Senate Check-In
Polls are about to close in Alaska where most prognosticators expect longtime Sen. Ted Stevens to lose to Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, following his conviction.
...
November 4, 2008
What to Watch at 1 am
The power-sharing arrangement in the Alaska Senate will probably come to its end, if Republicans can retain their majority. (Half the seats are up.) Republicans ...
November 4, 2008
IN House Remains Tight
Ed Feigenbaum, our man in Indianapolis, offers this update on the Indiana House, which Democrats currently hold by a 51-49 margin:
Things may be tightening ...
November 4, 2008
DC Council Results
Despite slow release of returns, it appears that Washington at-large Councilman Kwame Brown will win reelection.
Longtime Councilwoman Carol Schwartz, however, appears to have fallen ...
November 4, 2008
PA House Still Close
Pennsylvania Democrats went into the election with a one-seat state House majority. Those numbers aren't likely to shift much.
Democrats have picked up two ...
November 4, 2008
DE-House Goes Democratic
Delaware Democrats have taken control of the state House for the first time since 1984, giving the party undivided control of the government.
November 4, 2008
OK-Sen Goes Republican for First Time
Oklahoma Republicans are poised to break a tie in the state Senate and take control of the chamber for the first time in history, the ...
November 4, 2008
TN-Sen: Going to the GOP
The Nashville Tennessean reports that Republicans look likely to gain a couple of seats in the state Senate, giving them an 18-14-1 majority.
November 4, 2008
Breaking Barriers
All day, I read blog posts about elderly black people casting their first votes for Barack Obama. But at my own polling place, my thoughts ...
November 4, 2008
Shays Concedes
This space is taking a pass on U.S. House races tonight, but I wanted to note that Connecticut Republican Chris Shays -- incidentally the ...
November 4, 2008
What to Watch at 11
Update: We wrote this in advance, but clearly the thing to watch is Obama going over 270 thanks to California.
The marquee race in this time ...
November 4, 2008
IN House Update
Ed Feigenbaum comes through with notes from the field:
HOUSE AND SENATE : We're only watching one Senate races, SD 05, and Sen. Ed Charbonneau (R) ...
November 4, 2008
DeWeese Locked in Tight Race
Bill DeWeese, leader of the House Democrats in Pennsylvania, is locked in a tight race, AP reports. DeWeese is up 52-48 over Republican Greg Hopkins, ...
November 4, 2008
Cover Girl Winning
Jeanne Kirkton, our October cover girl, is winning in her state House race in Webster Groves, Missouri, just west of St. Louis. She leads Randy ...
November 4, 2008
Missouri Down Ballot
With Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon headed for the governor's mansion, Republicans have a chance to take over his old job. Mike Gibbons, the ...
November 4, 2008
Governors Races to This Point
Eight of this year's 11 governor's races have already been called.
In Vermont, incumbent Republican Jim Douglas is leading with 56 percent of the vote (44 ...
November 4, 2008
MT-Gov: Schweitzer Wins Easily
Brian Schweitzer has pulled off a rare two-fer. His longtime efforts at raising his national profile paid off with a widely-touted speech at the Democratic ...
November 4, 2008
UT-Gov: Huntsman By a Mile
We can now bring to a close one of the least suspenseful races of the year: Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. has won a second ...
November 4, 2008
What to Watch at 10
Will Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman earn the biggest victory margin of any governor tonight?
Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer will also win handily, but his party ...
November 4, 2008
Charlie's Heart Not in It
From CQ:
Fla. Gov. Charlie Crist skipping GOP "Victory Party" in St. Petersburg, citing a need to return to Tallahassee to address legal ...
November 4, 2008
Turn Out the Lights
The networks call Ohio for Obama.
November 4, 2008
IN House - Dems May Hold
State legislative results have been coming in maddeningly slowly, but I'm told that it looks like the Democrats may hold onto the Indiana House.
...
November 4, 2008
U.S. Senate: Four So Far
Democrats have picked up four U.S. Senate seats thus far tonight. The caucus ranks will include two former governors (Mark Warner of Virginia and ...
November 4, 2008
Color the Upper Midwest Blue
Watching the top of the hour network projections, it was striking how the Upper Midwest -- Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan -- went blue.
Remember when that ...
November 4, 2008
ND-Gov: Hoeven Elected to Third Term
Continuing our tour of gubernatorial races that played out as expected, Republican Gov. John Hoeven has prevailed in North Dakota. He will be the state'...
November 4, 2008
What to Watch at 9
Will Democrats end the GOP's 40-year-plus stranglehold on the New York Senate? We'll know fairly soon at this point.
Democrats will also be ...
November 4, 2008
MO-Gov: Nixon Takes It
The one governor's mansion that has been certain to switch party control this year just switched. Democratic Attorney General Jay Nixon has beaten Congressman ...
November 4, 2008
What to Watch at 8:30
Arkansas comes in. The state has a couple of interesting ballot measures. One would create a state lottery. The other would bar unmarried couples (including ...
November 4, 2008
Prez: Some Surprise Calls
Wow. I was just flipping around some of the stations at the top of the hour and saw that NBC has already called Pennsylvania for ...
November 4, 2008
Bellwethers: More Dem Early Voters in Columbus
This matters because four of the most contested seats in the battle for control of the Ohio House are in Franklin County. The Washington Post ...
November 4, 2008
What to Watch at 8
Lots of states come in at this hour.
New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch, a Democrat, is a sure winner.
The Missouri governor's race will ...
November 4, 2008
Prez: Waiting on Northern Virginia
McCain currently leads in Virginia, but NoVa counties such as Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William haven't come in yet.
November 4, 2008
Every Day Has Been Election Day
538:
31,268,357 voters have cast votes early in America, which represents 25.3% of the total of all ballots cast in 2004. Nobody doubts we are headed for an absolute ...
November 4, 2008
Exit Polls
Exit polls posted by Gawker suggest an Obama blowout. Earlier exit polls suggested a tighter race than expected in key states.
Your results may vary.
November 4, 2008
Bellwethers: Vigo Goes for Obama
Vigo County, Indiana, the celebrated bellwether that has called the presidential vote more accurately than any other county in modern history, is going strongly for ...
November 4, 2008
Good Night for Our Guys
Two Governing "Public Officials of the Year" have been declared winners so far tonight -- current honoree Mitch Daniels, the Republican just reelected ...
November 4, 2008
What to Watch at 7:30
Polls close on the North Carolina governor's race. We're both predicting Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory beats Democratic Lt. Gov. Bev Perdue in the ...
November 4, 2008
What to Watch at 7 PM
Results at last.
Indiana GOP Gov. Mitch Daniels should be declared winner at the top of the hour. Most of the state stopped voting at 6 ...
November 4, 2008
Exit Polls: Not Results
One of the odd things about exit polls is that although most people have learned to be cautious about their precision in calling states for ...
November 4, 2008
Mahtesian's Counties to Watch
There are races to watch lists and anticipatory hourly breakdowns all over the Internet. Imagine what will happen in about 10 minutes when exit polls start ...
November 4, 2008
All GOP Govs in 2012?
On his Wash Post chat today, Chris Cillizza fielded the inevitable question about 2012. Actually, I think he was asked about 2016, but only went as far ...
November 4, 2008
Lunchtime Lines
The line at my precinct was negligible a little while ago. At a neighboring precinct in Silver Spring, Maryland, folks snaked around the library parking ...
November 4, 2008
Dispatch from the Other Side of Obama's Family
From National Review's The Corner:
Kogelo, Kenya -- Here at the home village of Obama's father, there are some 50 members of the international ...
November 4, 2008
Early Voting
posted by Alan Greenblatt
For what it's worth, Dixville Notch closed its traditional midnight voting with a win for Obama, 15-6. That's roughly ...
November 4, 2008
Some Final Predictions
I expect that Indiana Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels will be the first person declared a winner tonight. Most of Indiana, along with most of Kentucky, ...
November 4, 2008
Legislative Seats by the Numbers
Some stats courtesy of Tim Storey of NCSL:
Total U.S. state legislative seats: 7382
Total seats having 2008 regular elections: 5823
Pre-election number of Democratic controlled legislatures: 23
...
November 3, 2008
Rounding Up the Races
Stateline.org has put out its overview of state races and ballot measures.
November 3, 2008
As Goes Terre Haute...
Josh has been helpfully posting tips on counties to watch for important ballot measures and state races, but Maureen Groppe (a friend) suggests that the ...
October 31, 2008
The Stuttgart Solution
If you want to see how regional consolidation works when it really works, you might take a look at Stuttgart, the manufacturing capital of southwestern...
October 31, 2008
Carnival of Democracy
After this month's elections, President Bush is likely to end up with a large memorial in San Francisco to visit during his retirement. It's neither "...
October 31, 2008
The Myth of Red and Blue States
The Washington Post's political chat just featured this exchange:
New York: In at least nine states, the governor of that state is of a ...
October 31, 2008
Watching the New York Senate
The divided government argument that some Republicans are employing in federal elections is also being put to good use in New York State. Democrats only ...
October 31, 2008
Why California?
By now, it's been widely reported that Mormons are providing the bulk of the funding in support of California's Proposition 8, which would ban ...
October 29, 2008
Will Republicans Turn Out?
One thing I've been wondering about regarding this election is how much Republican turnout goes down. If the polls hold steady as they've ...
October 29, 2008
AP's Take on Legislatures
The Associated Press has put out its round-up of state legislative races. This is a 30,000-foot view that touches on the expected highlights -- close ...
October 29, 2008
Daniels Snubs Palin
Josh Marshall notes about Mitch Daniels:
Unlike almost every other Republican in the country this November, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels appears on track for a ...
October 29, 2008
Candidates Get Ideas From States
The Washington Post devotes a sizable chunk of its front page today to comparisons of health coverage plans put out by John McCain and Barack ...
October 28, 2008
Crist Extends Voting Hours
Last year, I wrote a long feature about how Republican Gov. Charlie Crist was willing to work with Democrats -- not just to be a ...
October 28, 2008
Voting Early If Not Often
My old buddy Michael McDonald of George Mason University and the Brookings Institution -- by which I mean we've appeared on several conference panels ...
October 28, 2008
Michigan House to Stay Democratic
At the start of the year, the Michigan House looked to be one of the more competitive chambers. Democrats narrowly captured control in 2006 and hold ...
October 27, 2008
What About Ben Stevens?
The conviction of U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens yesterday on corruption charges leads me to wonder about his son. Ben Stevens, the former president of ...
October 23, 2008
Postcard from the Carolinas
My in-laws voted the other day in Greenville, South Carolina. The county has set up eight machines for early voting, which has proven to be ...
October 21, 2008
Could Crist Have Made the Difference?
Florida hasn't joined the ranks of states presumed lost to McCain, but Republicans there are worried. Newsweek has a piece about the GOP's circular blame ...
October 20, 2008
It's Wilson's Fault
It's pointless pointing out the points that people like to make commenting on Web sites, but this one, from the CBS.com video of McCain's ...
October 17, 2008
Supreme Court Okays New Ohio Registrants
The U.S. Supreme Court today rejected a suit brought by Ohio Republicans to challenge hundreds of thousands of new registrants. AP: Ohio Republicans contended ...
October 16, 2008
AP on McCrory
AP takes a look at the North Carolina governor's race, where Republican Pat McCrory looks like a fairly good bet to pull off an upset ...
October 16, 2008
What Republicans Face
A case can be made that state-level politics will offer Republicans rare glimmers of good news on election night. When you think about the few ...
October 16, 2008
Migden and FPPC Settle
A political battle that turned legal out in California was settled yesterday. State Sen. Carole Migden and the state's Fair Political Practices Commission got into ...
October 15, 2008
City Can Limit PAC Dollars
A federal judge has tossed a challenge brought against San Jose's law limiting candidate donations from political action committees. The ruling will likely have an ...
October 2, 2008
So, How'd She Do?
Sarah Palin did not crash and burn in last night's debate, as she had in her interviews with Katie Couric. There was a lot of ...
October 2, 2008
McCain's Map Shrinks
With 45 minutes to go before the Palin-Biden debate -- and maybe even after it -- the most important political news of the day is that ...
October 2, 2008
What's at Stake for Palin
The general commentariat pre-debate buzz is that Gov. Sarah Palin will do better in tonight's debate than in her disastrous interviews with Katie Couric. I'm ...
September 30, 2008
Blueburbs
Jeanne Kirkton was out canvassing a few weeks ago along Lilac Avenue in Webster Groves, an old rail-line suburb 5 miles west of St. Louis. Lilac...
September 30, 2008
Ohio House Remains a Toss-Up
Democrats had a big night in Ohio two years ago, capturing the governorship and three of the other four statewide offices. But they fell short ...
September 30, 2008
Bloomberg: And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going
NYT: After months of speculation about his political future, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg plans to announce on Thursday morning that he will seek a third ...
September 30, 2008
Daniels Back on Top
Survey USA has a new poll out today showing Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels with a 53-37 polling lead over Democrat Jill Long Thompson. This is ...
September 29, 2008
S.C. Mayor Wonders if Obama Is Antichrist
Charlotte Observer: FORT MILL, S.C. -- Fort Mill Mayor Danny Funderburk says he was "just curious" when he forwarded a chain e-mail suggesting Democratic ...
September 29, 2008
A Boon for Reform?
California voters have repeatedly voted down initiatives that would take redistricting out of the hands of legislators. But supporters of this year's version are hopeful ...
September 29, 2008
A Racial Schism in Maryland Suburb
AP has an interesting piece about Greenbelt, Maryland, a suburb with a minority-dominated population -- but which has never elected a minority to the city ...
September 29, 2008
The Truth About "Truth Squads"?
Both the McCain and Obama campaigns have "Truth Squads" in most if not all states, made up of state and local officials on ...
September 26, 2008
Obama Camp Denies Deal With Daniels
Fascinating he said, he said, from the Post-Tribune : CROWN POINT -- A staffer for Barack Obama's presidential campaign promised to deliver votes for Republican Gov. ...
September 19, 2008
Small State, Big Clout
Andrew Gelman, author of Red State, Blue State, Rich State, Poor State , speculates about why small-state governors tend to have high approval ratings: It seems ...
September 19, 2008
What Goes Around
California's prison guards union is always described as politically powerful. No doubt they are. I wonder whether they're getting a little carried away with themselves, ...
September 19, 2008
Good Poll for Long Thompson
An Indianapolis Star poll shows Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels holding a narrow lead against Democrat Jill Long Thompson, 46-42. That's in contrast to other polls ...
September 18, 2008
California Gay Marriage Ban Trailing
It looks like Jerry Brown's strategy paid off. The ballot proposition that would ban gay marriage in California is losing badly, according to a new ...
September 18, 2008
Govs Races to Watch
Lou Jacobson at Stateline.org offers a state of play roundup of the races for governor. There's not much to argue with in his analysis.
...
September 18, 2008
Rare Statewide Recount
From the St. Paul Pioneer-Press : In a rare statewide recount, votes will be tabulated again in the primary election for the number four seat on ...
September 16, 2008
State Employees Won't Testify in Palin Investigation
I'm starting to wonder what Sarah Palin's life as governor will be like if the Republican ticket loses in November. I understand that the legislature's ...
September 16, 2008
Four More Years of Mitch
Tonight, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels will square off against his Democratic challenger, former Congresswoman Jill Long Thompson, in their first debate. Somehow, I doubt it's ...
September 16, 2008
Does Romney Think McCain Lies?
Andrew Sullivan has a link up to video footage of Mitt Romney, posted a couple of days ago on YouTube, calling John McCain out as ...
September 15, 2008
That's S-C-H-W-A-R-T-Z
Carol Schwartz, a longtime fixture on the Washington city council and in D.C. politics in general, has decided to run as a write-in candidate ...
September 15, 2008
Dem Field Shaping Up in Virginia
Leaders of the Virginia Democratic Party on Saturday voted to choose the party's nominee for governor next year by primary. Virginia is a state where ...
September 15, 2008
Hoosier House Up for Grabs
Indiana Democrats are going to have a hard time defending their slim state House majority this year. They hold the chamber by the narrowest of ...
September 15, 2008
How to Pull Off a Convention
Laudatory praise of the logistics seems to reflect consensus opinion about the Democratic National Convention in Denver. To find out how the city pulled it off, GOVERNING spoke with Guillermo Vidal, Denver's deputy mayor and director of public works.
September 12, 2008
McCrory: Don't Aspire
It's always interesting how the statehouse races end up holding a funhouse mirror to the presidential contest. Josh posted the drill, baby, drill ad from ...
September 11, 2008
Same Old Democrats
Jim Scarantino, a columnist who co-chaired John McCain's 2000 campaign in New Mexico, has an interesting post up about why Barack Obama isn't running away with ...
September 11, 2008
Why Is This So Hard?
If you collect stories about voting machines going awry, you probably know we had a snafu in Tuesday's voting here in Washington, D.C. A ...
September 10, 2008
The Press Sours on McCain
Remember all the jokes John McCain used to make about the press being his "base"? That's no longer the case.
Plenty of writers ...
September 10, 2008
More Term Limit Trouble
The front page of The New York Times today is graced by a story about efforts to abolish term limits -- along with two stories ...
September 10, 2008
Annals of Pettiness
If you talk to a politician opposed to term limits, chances are that person will use this soundbite: "We already have term limits -- ...
September 10, 2008
How Little They'll Miss Him
After all these months of waiting for Kwame Kilpatrick to finally go away, the Detroit city council is in no hurry to find his replacement, ...
September 10, 2008
Decline in Voting Rights
Few trends in American politics have been as strong over the course of my lifetime as the expansion of voting rights. The Voting Rights Act ...
September 9, 2008
State Politics: Too Rough?
I like reading the daily political "chats" at washingtonpost.com. Sometimes you can learn some new information, but in general it's useful as ...
September 8, 2008
Moving On
The Republicans' official choice of John McCain and Sarah Palin as their nominees means this is the first presidential election since 1972 in which the GOP ...
September 4, 2008
Getting Ready for McCain
If John McCain is to win over the millions who remain skeptical about Barack Obama -- but still remember their disapproval of President Bush, and ...
September 4, 2008
How She Played With Independents
Michigan may well turn out to be the decisive Ohio or Florida of this cycle. A focus group of Michigan independents, Ds and Rs convened ...
September 3, 2008
Palin's Star Rises
She's no Dan Quayle. Sarah Palin certainly knows how to deliver a speech, which she showed at her "debut" last Friday at Dayton ...
September 3, 2008
In Her Own Words
The Washington Independent digs through Wasilla city records and finds the above note from then-Mayor Sarah Palin extolling success in securing federal earmarks (including some ...
September 3, 2008
Succeeding Sanford
The Columbia State takes a look at some of the politicking going on at the RNC convention in St. Paul -- in this case, the ...
September 3, 2008
Palin Wants Legislature's Probe Dropped
Gov. Sarah Palin's new attorney continues his aggressive attacks on the legislative body investigating her administration in the "Troopergate" scandal.
Palin took the ...
September 3, 2008
Schwartz in Trouble?
Next Tuesday, voters here in Washington will go to the polls in primary voting for half the city council. Carol Schwartz, a rare successful Republican ...
September 2, 2008
Palin Cut Spending for Troubled Teens
Earlier this year, Gov. Sarah Palin used her line-item veto authority to cut spending for a nonprofit that offers services to troubled teens, including a ...
September 2, 2008
The Palin Record in Wasilla
The New York Times offers an examination of Sarah Palin's record as mayor of Wasilla. The upshot of their account is that she succeed in ...
September 2, 2008
If Palin Were Replaced
Joshua Green gets the rundown on the mechanics of replacing Palin -- should McCain decide to go that route -- following her formal nomination tonight.
...
September 2, 2008
Palin's Foreign Policy Team
Plenty of former Bush aides are taking top positions with the Palin team, Newsweek reports. Steve Biegun, formerly Condoleezza Rice's No. 3 at the National Security ...
September 2, 2008
Don't Underestimate Palin
Christopher Orr at The New Republic posts an email from a friend in Alaska who cautions that Palin shouldn't be taken lightly. What the Republicans ...
September 2, 2008
LiLo Says Grow Up
Media circus veteran Lindsay Lohan says that the country is losing its focus with the unending focus on Bristol Palin's pregnancy and should stick to ...
September 2, 2008
What This Really Means
It's still too early to believe that polls matter, but the latest ones are interesting. Obama is up 51-45, according to Rasmussen, while Obama reaches 50 ...
September 2, 2008
Alaska Reporters Didn't Care
Michael Calderone at Politico has a piece looking at how Sarah Palin has been surprised by the glare of the national media spotlight. The interesting ...
September 2, 2008
Meanwhile, In Other News
Somehow I'd missed the news last month that Tom Cutsforth, the longtime district attorney in Wheeler County, Oregon, was recalled by voters angered by his ...
September 2, 2008
GOP's Midwest Woes
St. Paul was chosen as the site of the GOP convention this week because the Upper Midwest has been a big battleground in recent presidential ...
September 2, 2008
Quote of the Day
"I've always been a believer that God's not going to give us anything that we cannot handle," Palin said. That was last March, ...
September 2, 2008
The Blue Dress Standard
Yesterday came word that Sarah Palin has "lawyered up" for the Troopergate investigation, at state expense. Her new lawyer, Thomas Van Flein, has ...
September 2, 2008
More Bud Than Amstel Light
Charlie Mahtesian, my predecessor at Governing, lays out the contrarian point of view about Sarah Palin's problems. He says they may make her seem like ...
September 1, 2008
Some 72 Hours
As I write, the scandals surrounding Sarah Palin include the pregnancy of her unwed teenaged daughter; her husband's long-ago DWI; her directorship of the 527 group ...
September 1, 2008
That Time of Year
Maryland's Democratic Attorney General Doug Gansler rides in the Kensington Labor Day parade.
September 1, 2008
Quote for the Day
"It used to be that a lot of those smears and the crap on the Internet stayed out of the newsrooms of serious journalists. ...
August 31, 2008
A Union 'Yes'
Randi Weingarten likes to brag a little about the reading and math test scores posted this year at two New York City charter schools she...
August 31, 2008
Palin's Previous Firing
Andrew Sullivan has been hammering McCain nonstop over the Palin pick. He does point to an interesting nugget.
On becoming mayor a decade ago, Palin ...
August 29, 2008
Sarah Palin's Problem
While Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will be touted as a "reformer" in her new role as John McCain's running mate, it's worth remembering ...
August 27, 2008
Goodbye, Rudy
One of the things people who follow big-city schools quickly realize is that there is a great tension surrounding superintendents who are brought in to ...
August 19, 2008
Hodge Podge
Florida Republican Rep. Trey Traviesa, an apparent shoo-in for reelection in the Tampa area, dropped out surprisingly last week. Rachel Burgin, his former aide, has ...
August 19, 2008
Obamacon Watch
I borrow my headline from Andrew Sullivan, who has been tracking Republicans coming out in favor of Obama. Jim Leach, a former longtime Republican congressman ...
August 19, 2008
It Gets Worse for Fumo
The noose is tightening around Vincent Fumo, the retiring Pennsylvania Democratic senator who is facing trial on multiple fraud indictments. Two of his aides pleaded ...
August 19, 2008
How Big a Bounce
With the summer speculation season about to give way to actual running mate picks and the national conventions, it's a fair time to ask how ...
August 19, 2008
Not That We Had Any Doubt
Jon Huntsman Jr. is both the incumbent governor of Utah and a Republican -- two good things to be in an election year. He also ...
August 14, 2008
Will $4 Gas Kill the Suburbs?
One of the most common points of speculation coming out of escalating gas prices has been that people won't want to pay $100 to fill their tank and drive from distant suburbs to their jobs every day.
August 13, 2008
Shooting at Arkansas Party HQ
AP: LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- The chairman of the Arkansas Democratic Party was hospitalized in critical condition Wednesday, a party executive said. A television ...
August 13, 2008
Warner to Keynote
Mark Warner, the former Virginia governor who is heavily favored to win a U.S. Senate seat this year, will keynote the Democratic National Convention. ...
August 13, 2008
Connecticut Results
Several Connecticut state legislators turned back primary challengers yesterday, including Democratic Rep. Marie Kirkley-Bey, whose opponent had been endorsed by her party.
The Hartford Courant ...
August 13, 2008
Curious Quote for the Day
U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey gave a speech Tuesday saying that people wrongfully passed over for Justice Department jobs due to the politicized hiring ...
August 12, 2008
Will DiFi Do It?
Every Democrat worth his statewide name recognition is contemplating a run for governor in 2010, when Arnold Schwarzenegger will be term-limited out. Right now, speculation holds ...
August 12, 2008
Blago's Multifront War
They're really getting along now in Illinois. Pat Quinn, the lieutenant governor, led picketing yesterday of a speech by his boss, Gov. Rod Blagojevich. The ...
August 12, 2008
Regola Quits
When a public official gets indicted, the standard response is to blame prosecutors and, where appropriate, the media. Protestations of innocence and a politically-motivated smear ...
August 6, 2008
Her Energy Policy Makes Sense
Paris Hilton responds to McCain's celebrity-defamation ad. Can you resist watching...
August 6, 2008
Get Your Results
The Michigan House, which Democrats captured two years ago, will be competitive again this year. Michigan Liberal offers numbers and outcomes on tons of state ...
August 5, 2008
Doster Ain't the Judge
It looks like Eric Doster, the Michigan GOP's longtime general counsel, won't be moving to a seat on the state's 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.
August 5, 2008
Hulshof Leading in MO Gov Primary
As expected, Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon has won the Democratic nomination for governor in primary voting today.
It's still a little early to call ...
August 5, 2008
End of the Line for Kline?
Early returns show Steve Howe leading Phill Kline in the Johnson County, Kansas, district attorney's race, 65-35. Josh was kind enough to link earlier to ...
August 4, 2008
Party Loyalty
Jan Ting, a longtime member of the Delaware Republican state committee and the party's nominee for U.S. Senate in 2006, was asked to resign from ...
August 3, 2008
McCain's Turn to Be Lucky
After stumbling consistently during Barack Obama's widely-touted tour of Asia and Europe, John McCain and his advisors turned out to have perfect timing this past ...
August 1, 2008
Remember, Vermont Is a Cheap State
Democratic House Speaker Gaye Symington raised $205,000 in the first two months of her candidacy for Vermont governor, PolitickerVT.com reports.
Symington says she's pleased, but ...
August 1, 2008
Party People
Eric Doster, who has served as general counsel to the Michigan Republican Party since 1992, is on next week's primary ballot for a seat on the ...
August 1, 2008
Ramaley Out
Pennsylvania state Rep. Scott Ramaley dropped out of a state Senate race yesterday. Keystone Politics reports that internal polling suggested Ramaley was bound to lose.
...
August 1, 2008
Newsom Seeks to Build a Team
According to campaign finance reports due yesterday, several candidates for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors have already surpassed the $100,000 mark for their races this ...
August 1, 2008
Wal-Mart Targets Democrats
The Wall Street Journal reports today that Wal-Mart is seeking help from store managers in defeating Democrats during this election cycle, worrying that putting that ...
August 1, 2008
Garamendi Goes for It
California Lt. Gov. John Garamendi has become the first official candidate for the Democratic nomination to succeed term-limited Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. He won't be the ...
July 30, 2008
How to Word a Gay Marriage Ban
California is the center of this year's round of gay marriage battles. In May, the state Supreme Court threw out a ban on same-sex marriages, ...
July 30, 2008
My Problem With Batman
The central question I tried to address in my recent feature in Governing ["The Corruption Puzzle," July 2008] is whether prosecutors step across a ...
July 29, 2008
Dellums Continues to Struggle
Chip Johnson of the SF Chronicle is sick of Oakland's celebrity mayors -- first former (and future?) Gov. Jerry Brown, now Ron Dellums, who has ...
July 29, 2008
Is Chris Bell Afraid of Being Associated With Kinky Politics?
The Houston Chronicle's politics blog offers a run-down on lobbyists supporting various candidates for the state Senate seat being abandoned by Kyle Janek, who's going ...
July 29, 2008
Encountering the Slots Lobby
Whenever political canvassers comes to my door, I try to be reasonably nice. I offer them something to drink or, more urgently, the chance to ...
July 29, 2008
How Not to Fire Someone
Yesterday, the Alaska legislature approved a $100,000 investigation into Gov. Sarah Palin's motivations in firing Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan.
Palin has drawn criticism due to ...
July 29, 2008
Is States' Rights a Cover?
The Tampa Tribune has an article looking at various issues on which presidential candidate John McCain has, in effect, punted, citing states' rights. These include ...
July 28, 2008
Will Corbett Survive to Indict More Legislators?
Pennsylvania bucks the nationwide tendency to elect more Democrats as state attorneys general. No Democrat has won the job since it became an elected position ...
July 28, 2008
The Young Voter's Natural Habitat
We've heard a lot this year about how young people are finally starting to vote and otherwise participate in the political process. In South Florida, ...
July 24, 2008
If You Can't Beat 'em, Hire 'em
I stole my headline from a story in yesterday's Columbus Dispatch, which notes that Gov. Ted Strickland has eliminated two strong Republican candidates for House ...
July 23, 2008
How Bad Is the PA Legislature?
The Brookings Institution just hosted a conference to discuss problems with the Pennsylvania legislature. One idea was to create a big cash prize for "...
July 23, 2008
Bloomberg Tells Gates Where to Spend It
It's not enough that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg kicked smokers out of restaurants and onto the curb. He wants them to kick the ...
July 14, 2008
Nixon Ahead
A new poll shows Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon, a Democrat, holding nearly 20-point leads against either of his likely Republican opponents in the governor's ...
July 14, 2008
"I'm drawing a blank, and I hate it when I do that, particularly on television"
It's probably unfair to make fun of politicians for forgetting their talking points on TV -- but I guess I'm finding it impossible to resist. ...
July 11, 2008
In Iowa, No Contest
John Deeth runs down the 37 Iowa legislative contests, out of 125, where incumbents or other candidates face no major-party opposition.
July 11, 2008
News to Come
Lots of rumblings in the blogosphere about an alleged scandal involving a state attorney general. A heads up to let you know we'll post something ...
July 11, 2008
All in the Family
The Detroit News looks at the Michigan House field in the Aug. 5 primaries and considers that term limits, which is forcing out 44 state reps, has ...
July 11, 2008
Who Are Those 13 Percent?
Rod Blagojevich of Illinois is the most unpopular governor in the country, according to Rasmussen. Only 13 percent rate his performance as good or excellent.
July 11, 2008
Diss on Crist
For the most part, I've left the VP speculation posts to Josh, but I was struck by a quote in this Pensacola News Journal story ...
July 11, 2008
Corruption Continues
I'm starting to get feedback to my feature about prosecutions of public officials, mainly from people who feel I didn't sufficiently buy into complaints that ...
July 9, 2008
Catching Up
Here are some stories that caught my eye as I struggled to catch up on the news after a week out of the country:
The ...
July 9, 2008
Would They Care If He Weren't Term-Limited?
Some California Democrats are mad that their party has devoted record sums to help defray legal bills accrued by Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, ...
July 9, 2008
Living By the Sword
Tom Golisano is a billionaire who is fond of running for governor of New York. Since there is no governor's race this year, he announced ...
July 9, 2008
Is He?
Some years ago, at a friend's wedding, one of the other guests came up to me and said, "I understand you're also a member ...
June 30, 2008
The Corruption Puzzle
These are nervous days in Montgomery. Federal prosecutors, investigating corruption in Alabama's two-year college system, have subpoenaed legislators by the dozen -- in some cases...
June 27, 2008
Obama, Party Builder
By now it's old news that Obama is making efforts in states traditionally written off by Democrats, advertising and sending field staff to places like ...
June 26, 2008
Not Trying But Not Dying
Florida Democrats are disappointed that it looks like former Sen. Skip Campbell, the party's 2006 nominee for state attorney general, will drop out of his race ...
June 26, 2008
Black Pays Up
Jim Black, the former North Carolina House Speaker now serving time in federal prison on corruption charges, has paid a court-ordered $1 million fine, which will ...
June 26, 2008
Libertarians Unite (in Small Room)
You may have heard the spin from Obama strategist David Plouffe about how Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr might siphon enough votes from McCain to ...
June 26, 2008
Time to Call Oregon for Obama?
We're not posting a lot of U.S. Senate ads on this page -- not our beat -- but this one is fascinating.
Oregon Sen. ...
June 26, 2008
An Argument for IRV
You may not have paid much attention to Tuesday's runoff election for labor commissioner in North Carolina. Not many people did -- even in North ...
June 26, 2008
Richardson: Already Ready for a Comeback?
A la Hillary, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is raising money to retire debts from his presidential campaign and to help other Democratic candidates. In ...
June 26, 2008
Winning Through Simplicity
Florida Governor Charlie Crist is not a details guy. No matter how big the issue, he leaves it up to others in the legislature or ...
June 25, 2008
Upheaval in Utah
"Change" has become the cliche word of this election cycle, but a clear anti-incumbent mood was on stark display yesterday in Utah. Republican ...
June 24, 2008
Will Pennsylvania Redo Redistricting?
It's already coming on crunch time for advocates of changing redistricting practices in time for the next round of map-making, set to start, of course, ...
June 24, 2008
Bill Daley for Governor?
The Capitol Fax Blog reports that Bill Daley, the former U.S. Commerce secretary and brother of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, is considering a run ...
June 24, 2008
Unusual Housing Arrangements
Legislators in North Carolina are allowed to accept housing from lobbyists, as long as they pay market-rate rent. Nonetheless, the fact that tw