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.
Letitia James and other Democratic attorneys general have emerged as Trump’s leading antagonists, with lawsuits that have been essentially relentless.
Republicans are defending eight of the 11 governor's offices up this year, but Democrats still have little chance for pickups.
The November election could boost Native representation in the state’s legislature.
Like his father, the city’s longest-serving mayor combined preternatural instincts with sheer audacity. Sometimes Richard M. Daley overreached, but he left his city better than he found it.
Oakland and Alameda County, Calif., are holding unusual overlapping recall elections, with two top officials both facing complaints that they have been too soft on crime.
A new task force made up of several county law enforcement agencies is tasked with keeping voters safe.
39 South Carolina counties will choose a coroner this election.
Cherelle Parker is the 100th mayor of Philadelphia and the first woman to hold the job. She has forged ahead on her first-year agenda, but some constituencies feel left out.
State Sen. Rob Sampson’s concerns about the state’s election security have risen again after a noncitizen was allowed to register to vote in Bridgeport. But election officials across the state assure election integrity.
It’s an emerging form of grassroots activism that could have a big impact, from educating voters to calling out political shenanigans.
Michigan voters are in the crosshairs of hundreds of millions of dollars in political advertising ahead of the November election. But deciphering what claims are true isn’t always easy.
Nearly 6,000 legislative seats are up but real competition is only taking place in a handful of states, including Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.
Voters in Colorado, Kentucky and Nebraska have school choice questions on the November ballot.
The California city was an early adopter of the election format but after clerical errors in the general election two years ago, local residents are ready to ditch the method despite its growing popularity nationwide.
There are more ways to vote for mayor of Portland this November than there are people in the state of Oregon. Nearly 100 people are running for City Council.
When residents head to the polls on Nov. 5, they will be voting under new legislative maps that are expected to create near-equal chances that either party will gain control of the Legislature.
Utah state Senate President Pro Tempore Wayne Harper was selected to lead the National Conference of State Legislatures. The bipartisan organization is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
For many localities across the swing state, election workers are bracing for a flood of conspiracy theories and abuse on Election Day in November. But through its history, culture and grassroots efforts, one Pennsylvania county has a different experience.
Republican Sen. Mike Braun remains favored but has not been able to build a substantial lead in Indiana. Voters in Oakland, Calif., meanwhile, might recall the mayor and the district attorney in one fell swoop.
Despite some local officials’ claims that they will not certify election results, there are ample safeguards to ensure that ballots are tabulated accurately and election results are certified in a timely manner.
Both red and blue states across the nation have emission reducing plans that are dependent on federal funds from the Inflation Reduction Act. Depending on who is elected in November, available funding could change.
Term-limited as governor of Delaware, Democrat John Carney decided to cap his career with a stint as mayor of Wilmington.
New analysis shows the breadth of Nebraska campaign giving by Pete Ricketts and his parents, which spiked when he ran for governor and spiked again to support Jim Pillen, who soon appointed Ricketts to the U.S. Senate.
Aaron Peskin, who is an advocate for community services, rent control and neighborhood preservation, is now an underdog in the famously liberal city’s mayoral race that wants a hard-line approach to homelessness and crime.
Voters and voting offices in Western N.C. face unprecedented challenges in finding their bearings, and each other.
Law enforcement officials aren’t supposed to appear in campaign ads showing a badge or wearing a uniform. But lots of them are doing it.
Generally not that much when it comes to the economy or utility bills or how bureaucracy functions. But there are some important things they can influence.
Future in Context
From revitalizing the economy to confronting his city’s racial past, Tulsa, Okla., Mayor G.T. Bynum leaves office having created a focus on unity and progress. He is the fourth member of his family to serve as mayor.
Decades ago, enterprising newcomers had the run of legislative chambers. Control of campaign funds has changed that dynamic.
Voting reform advocates say ranked-choice voting will give voters more voice in their elections. But clerks of small counties worry that any advantages will be undermined by more cost and confusion.
Voters in eight states will decide whether to bar municipalities from allowing noncitizens to vote. Few noncitizens cast illegal votes, leading critics to claim the issue is being hyped for political reasons.
