Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Follow Us:
Top Stories

Beyond the Virginia governor's race, here's what's on the Nov. 2 ballot

New York City voters

Voters in New York City cast their ballots early for the Nov. 2 general elections for mayor and city council.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

While most of the national attention will be on Virginia's gubernatorial election next week, many other states will also be holding key elections on Nov. 2.

The tight race between Republican Glenn Youngkin and Democrat Terry McAuliffe, who is seeking a second, non-consecutive term in Virginia's Executive Mansion, is seen by many political prognosticators as a sign of what's to come in next year's midterm congressional elections. And the Democratic-led General Assembly could be up for grabs as well.

But there's also a governor's race in New Jersey. Democrat Phil Murphy is running for a second term against Republican Jack Ciattarelli, while down-ballot races will fill out the Legislature.

Here are other local and statewide elections taking place across the country next week:


    • In Arizona, there will be votes on ballot initiatives in Chandler, Scottsdale and Gilbert, and a municipal election in Tucson.
    • California has several localities with ballot measure elections, as well as candidate races in Los Angeles County and other jurisdictions.
    • Colorado has elections for statewide ballot measures, as well as some local ballot initiatives.
    • In Florida, there are municipal elections in Miami, St. Petersburg and Orlando, as well as a special primary for the state's 20th congressional district.
    • Georgia's capital, Atlanta, has municipal elections and Fulton, the most populous county, has a ballot initiative election. There's also a special election for a state House seat.
    • Iowa's capital, Des Moines, has municipal elections.
    • Idaho has municipal elections in its capital, Boise, as well as local school board and ballot measure elections.
    • In Kansas, Wichita and Topeka have municipal elections. Several other jurisdictions have school board elections.
    • Kentucky has three special elections for seats in the General Assembly.
    • Massachusetts' capital, Boston, has a municipal election and there's a special election for a state House seat.
    • In Maryland, the cities of Annapolis and Greenbelt have municipal elections.
    • In Maine, there are municipal elections in Portland and Bangor, as well as statewide initiatives on the ballot.
    • In Michigan, Detroit and Lansing have municipal elections. There are also special elections for two state Senate seats.
    • In Minnesota, there's a high-profile race for mayor of Minneapolis. Also, St. Paul has a municipal election and two other jurisdictions have school board contests.
    • Mississippi has two special elections for state Senate seats.
    • In Montana, there's a municipal election in Helena.
    • Durham, N.C., has a municipal election.
    • In New Hampshire, there's a municipal election in Concord and a school board election in Manchester.
    • In New Mexico, there are municipal and school board elections in Albuquerque and municipal elections in Santa Fe.
    • New York City has its general election for mayor and city council. Elsewhere in the state, there are local elections in Albany and Erie County.
    • Ohio has a statewide ballot initiative election. The cities of Toledo, Cincinnati and Cleveland have municipal elections, and there are special elections to represent the 11th and 15th congressional districts. Several other jurisdictions have school board elections.
    • Pennsylvania has statewide elections for district attorney, city controller and several judges, as well as ballot initiatives. There are also special elections in Philadelphia and for two state House seats.
    • Rhode Island has a special election for a state Senate seat.
    • Columbia, S.C., has municipal elections.
    • Several jurisdictions in Texas have special elections for school districts and local measures on the ballot. There's also a runoff election for a state House seat.
    • Salt Lake City, Utah, has municipal elections.
    • Washington has municipal elections in Seattle and Tacoma, as well as a statewide ballot measure.
    • Wyoming has local elections in Laramie County.

    Read More

    The Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Decision Could Reshape Local Government Across Texas

    A landmark Supreme Court ruling on the Voting Rights Act could reshape Latino and Black political representation in Texas. Guillermo Ramos and other leaders warn the decision may weaken protections against discriminatory election systems in school boards and city councils.

    The Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Decision Could Reshape Local Government Across Texas

    Guillermo Ramos remembers seeing few elected leaders who looked like him while he was growing up in the 1980s in Farmers Branch, a fast-growing affluent suburb northwest of Dallas.

    Over the years, Latino representation continued to lag, he said. In 2015, after he had become a lawyer, he decided to do something about it.

    Keep ReadingShow less
    The Paradox of Young Voters: Disillusioned and Divided
    person in blue denim jeans and white sneakers standing on gray concrete floor
    Photo by Phil Scroggs on Unsplash

    The Paradox of Young Voters: Disillusioned and Divided

    In 2024, young Americans were expected to be the stabilizing force in U.S. politics. But instead, they emerged as one of its most paradoxical constituencies: increasingly disillusioned, economically anxious, and sharply divided. Millennials and Gen Z are rapidly becoming the demographic center of political power: by 2028, they may account for nearly half of the electorate. Yet, according to the Spring 2025 Harvard Youth Poll conducted by the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics, only 19% of young Americans trust the federal government to do the right thing most or all of the time. Just 13% believe the country is headed in the right direction. The question arises: will this generation accelerate democratic fragmentation, or help rebuild a more resilient civic culture?

    This growing pessimism is not confined to one party. Young Americans rate both major political parties poorly, displaying chronically low approval of national leadership, and increasingly question whether democratic institutions are responsive to their needs. The result is not apathy–it is polarization.

    Keep ReadingShow less
    stethoscope and us dollar bills on blue-colored background.

    As debate over universal health care intensifies in the United States, rising medical costs, insurance complexity, and international comparisons are fueling renewed calls for a transparent, accountable system that guarantees basic care for all Americans.

    Getty Images, aaaaimages

    The United States May Be the Best Place to Build Universal Health Care

    The debate over health insurance in the United States has returned to the forefront as the Affordable Care Act faces political pressure, insurance premiums continue to climb, and physicians experience increasing restrictions from insurance companies. A recent poll shows that roughly 62 to 68 percent of Americans believe the government has a responsibility to ensure health care coverage for all. Yet after more than a century of debate, the federal government has taken only small steps toward universal coverage. Today, the United States spends a relatively high amount per person on health care, but Americans die younger and are less healthy than residents in other high-income countries.

    Having experienced different health care systems firsthand, I am deeply aware of how universal health care can impact life. Surprisingly, I have also realized that the United States may actually have one of the systems best suited to making it work.

    Keep ReadingShow less
    A café owner hangs an “Open” sign on the front door at the start of the business day. Concept of entrepreneurship and readiness.
    Getty Images, Willie B. Thomas

    Cassidy’s Latest Chance To Boost The Small Businesses He Has Long Championed

    When election season rolls around, voters are accustomed to hearing politicians proclaim their support for small businesses–institutions that routinely top Gallup’s list of America’s most trusted by a country mile.

    It’s easy to talk the talk during campaign season. It’s much harder to do the work when the cameras are off, and the spotlight fades.

    Keep ReadingShow less