Louis Jacobson

Recent Articles

• Why Did Tomblin Prevail in Special Election Despite GOP Efforts?
• Oct 5, 2011
• Earl Ray Tomblin narrowly defeated his Republican rival in last night's gubernatorial special election. What factors are contributing to the state's Republican resistance?

• Electoral Regulations at Stake in 13 Sec. of State Races
• Sep 28, 2011
• Keep an eye on upcoming secretary of state races to gauge the future of voter ID and same-day registration laws -- and find political up and comers.
• 2 Comments

• Democrats Remain on Defensive for AG Spots in 2011-2012
• Sep 21, 2011
• The outlook for upcoming state attorney general races has changed only slightly. Out of six competitive races, Democrats will have to protect four seats versus the Republicans' two.

• Redistricting’s Impact on State Legislatures in 2012
• Sep 14, 2011
• Closely divided chambers, new redistricting processes and court battles could make 2012’s new maps more important in some states than others.
• 3 Comments

• A Democratic Governor Gets His Way
• Aug 30, 2011
• In just a few months, Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy is implementing measures that many state legislators would have balked at.
• 1 Comments

• How Losing Leads to Winning
• Aug 25, 2011
• Losing an election can teach candidates valuable campaign lessons that could help them win statewide office later on.

• Rhode Island's Voter ID Law: Oddity or Game Changer?
• Jul 28, 2011
• A very blue state approves a law similar to some the national Democratic Party is criticizing.
• 8 Comments

• An Update on the 2011-2012 Gubernatorial Contests
• Jul 25, 2011
• Just seven months after a painful 2010 midterm election, things are looking a little better for Democrats

• Reader-Recommended State Legislators to Watch
• Jul 19, 2011
• Readers recommended their own up-and-coming state legislators in this third legislators-to-watch list.

• How Tied Chambers Affect States
• Jun 9, 2011
• Do tied chambers complicate or facilitate getting legislative business done?

• Democratic Legislators to Watch
• Jun 1, 2011
• By consulting with a network of national and state sources, we've come up with a list of up-and-coming state legislators. Here's a look at the Democratic field.
• 3 Comments

• GOP Legislators to Watch
• May 24, 2011
• By consulting with a network of national and state sources, we've come up with a list of up-and-coming state legislators. This week, we look at the GOP field.
• 11 Comments

• One Party Dominates the Top Five Offices in 29 States
• Apr 19, 2011
• Such partisan domination can cause concern for the future of the minority party.
• 7 Comments

• Insurance Commissioners Prepare for Health Care Policy Conflicts
• Apr 12, 2011
• This low-profile office will receive more attention as state officeholders decide on how to progress on the Affordable Care Act.

• How 2010 Is, and Isn’t, Like 1994
• Mar 24, 2011
• While Republicans cruised to victory in both 1994 and 2010, the class of freshman governors elected in 2010 has proven to be strikingly different, at least for now.