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.
Urban Democrats and state-level Republicans have long been at odds. Could what’s happening in Charlotte signal a ceasefire?
The feminist, documentary filmmaker and wife of California Gov. Gavin Newsom has had several traumatic experiences that have shaped her life. Now she lets her past help guide her impact on the state through advocacy.
There used to be a time when voters had to choose from a much smaller pool of candidates. Meanwhile the Voting Rights Act lives and ways to encourage poll workers.
Attorneys of outgoing chairman of the state’s GOP David Shafer argue that an “act of statesmanship” in Hawaii in 1960 is justification for Shafer’s 2020 decision to convene a meeting of “alternate” electors in favor of Donald Trump.
The state’s Judicial Tenure Commission will hire an auditor to review the racial composition of judges who were subject to complaints and how the organization resolved the issues. Since 2016, five of nine public complaints have involved Black judges.
The numbers are still at historical lows. Civic engagement is the most important factor in building trust in our institutions, and our communities need to find better ways to encourage active participation in civic life.
It took a long time for the state’s unique system of governance to fall into the hyperpartisanship that so many states have experienced. Can Nebraska find a way back?
Many bills die during the end-of-session rush. Some people like it that way.
Imagine political technologists develop a machine called Clogger, a political campaign in a black box. Clogger relentlessly pursues just one objective: to maximize the chances that its candidate prevails in an election.
In first-of-its-kind legislation, elected officials in the state are now able to block people from their private social media pages for any reason. But it’s unclear if a pending Supreme Court decision will affect the law.
The Texas attorney general has been impeached for accepting bribes, but his case speaks to the broader importance of AG offices across the country.
California leaders have threatened to prosecute Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for kidnapping after he sent Latin American migrants to Sacramento. But experts believe the allegations aren’t a basis for a criminal case.
GOP state lawmakers are exerting pressure on local election officials in left-leaning areas.
Thirty-nine state governments are now “trifectas.” It’s not the kind of government the Constitution's framers wanted.
A recent poll found that Biden's approval rating among Black adults has dropped to 58 percent. Meanwhile election tool ERIC is under serious attack and the annals of non-cooperation.
A former executive at the disgraced cryptocurrency exchange FTX donated $500,000 to the state’s Democratic Party under a false name. Here are the events that led up to the misreported donation and Oregon’s response.
The audit focuses on 11 broad categories to analyze, including the department’s recruiting, hiring and personnel practices, training on interracial relations, BIPOC community relations, immigrant and refugee populations. More will likely be completed in June.
Newport News, one of the nation's oldest cities, has one of its youngest mayors.
Eight states this year have left and three more may soon leave the cooperative that seeks to maintain accurate voter registration rolls. Experts worry it's part of a larger trend away from nonpartisan election administration.
Some paint him as a moderate and note his friendly demeanor sharply contrasts with far-right politicians such as Donald Trump. But critics say the governor has consistently shown himself to be cut from the same cloth.
Eric Adams’ accusations that the “national government has turned its back” on the city have enraged top Biden aides. They reportedly view Adams as grandstanding without weighing the political consequences for the president.
Too many election administrators and polling-place workers are the subject of harrassment, threats and even violence, and they’re quitting in droves. If we don’t protect them, who is going to be left to work our elections?
Two former Republican governors are already running and a handful more could still announce their candidacy. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence will make political ads even worse and does the Supreme Court even care about corruption?
On Tuesday, Democrats held onto control of the Pennsylvania House, while robbing Republicans of two of their major local offices. However, the GOP is solidly behind its candidate in the year's key race for governor.
The city councilmember won the Democratic primary for mayor of Philadelphia on Tuesday. She’s also the heavy favorite to win the general election in November and to become Philadelphia’s first woman mayor.
With ranked-choice voting, voters are more likely to choose city leaders who have broad support. And it’s a big step toward dialing down the divisiveness of our politics.
Proposed legislation would prohibit any person from creating, serving or conspiring to submit a “false slate of presidential electors” and the infraction would be punishable by up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $5,000.
Allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses is about more than highway safety. It's good for assimilation, belonging and community engagement.
Round Valley Indian Tribes of rural Northern California declared a state of emergency on April 16 after two brutal killings this spring and said the slayings highlight the urgent need for greater investment in youth services and programs.
Judges at the state and federal levels are becoming more nakedly partisan, ruling in ways that reflect not careful contemplation but the desire for particular policy outcomes.
A half-century ago, a Republican president moved to devolve power from Washington to states and local governments. Today it’s the right that’s trying to turn that around.
