Politics
Polarized politics has changed the dynamics of legislation and policymaking at the state and local level. Political parties with supermajorities are increasingly in control in many states and cities. These stories explain what that means for legislators, governors and mayors and how politicians can navigate this new political landscape.
Noncitizen voting is extremely rare, and a presidential executive order would create unfunded mandates and unintended consequences, two former Republican secretaries of state argue.
These programs align with core American values. Democrats shouldn’t be the only ones defending them.
Cody Balmer said he would have beaten Gov. Josh Shapiro with a hammer if he’d gotten the chance.
People want more political choices but end up defeating independent candidates. In Mississippi, single-party rule has not ended division.
The SAVE Act threatens to block millions of Americans from voting while also imposing significant burdens on state and local election officials.
Cubans have been granted special status since the Cold War. That's suddenly changed, leading to a sense of betrayal among a staunchly Republican group.
The field is now set for the governor's race, with both Democrats and Republicans nominating women. GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin is term-limited.
In local elections Tuesday, 79 percent of the candidates backed by the Illinois Democratic Party won. Several Republican mayors were unseated, pointing to problems for the GOP in the suburbs.
The race for mayor in Mississippi’s capital features a dozen Democrats in Tuesday’s primary. Some complain there are too many candidates and too little information about them.
Non-citizen voting is rare but a number of states and Congress are considering laws requiring proof of citizenship.
Democrats are not enjoying their time in the wilderness — or seeing a way out. At the same time, Wisconsin is now hosting the most expensive judicial race in the nation's history.
The Democrat is expected to announce a run for a third term in the coming weeks. In the meantime, he is devoting much of his energy to attacks on the administration in Washington.
Next month, voters will replace ex-Mayor Sheng Thao, who was recalled and then indicted. The two leading candidates both accuse the other of ties to Thao.
The Maryland legislature is considering dozens of proposals to make energy cheaper, more reliable and more abundant. Meanwhile, residents’ utility costs are rising.
With the federal law eroded by court decisions, about a half-dozen states want to enshrine protections for non-white voters. But it’s a tough sell even in Democratic states.
The Legislature once gave Gov. Ron DeSantis nearly everything he wanted, but now are pushing back in areas such as immigration and spending.
A suite of changes passed by the legislature toughen signature requirements and raise the vote threshold for changing the state constitution to 60 percent.
Cutting this unloved levy has again become a flashpoint in some states, once more raising difficult issues of fairness. Here’s what we can learn from decades of tax-limitation laws.
A report tallies 400 allegations of harassment against 145 lawmakers over the past decade, including 11 new allegations last year. Due to underreporting, the actual figure is probably three times as high.
The impending defeats of three big-city mayors tell us a lot about how politics have changed over the past four years. Also, Utah is giving up on universal mail voting.
Republican presidents used to talk enthusiastically about empowering states and localities. That isn’t happening now.
Legislators have gone so far as to claim it’s “a myth” that courts have the power to strike down laws. So far, however, the most aggressive proposals to strip power from judges have been defeated.
The Republican has made addressing law enforcement response to mass shootings a top priority, but he does not favor stricter gun control measures.
Citizens in half the states have the power to place initiatives or referendums on the ballot. That process is under threat, but in an era of partisan gerrymandering and unresponsive legislatures we must keep it viable.
They can call attention to important social causes, and they can invest in their communities. They might even hold public office themselves.
Former federal workers offer a range of skills and experience that we need among elected officials at every level of government.
Turner’s death comes two months into his first term representing Texas’ 18th Congressional District.
Thirty years ago, it was taken as a given that Latino politicians would be Democrats. Now there are a record nine Latino Republican lawmakers in Sacramento.
The Democrat touted his experience in formally launching his bid, but many believe his tainted past and resignation as governor make him unelectable.
In his address to Congress, the president said tariffs and tax cuts would help manufacturing, farming and other sectors.
Legislators have filed bills following the administration’s lead on issues from health to government efficiency. They also have property insurance problems to straighten out.
