State and Local Elections

It Isn’t Populist to Defund Rural Schools

It Isn’t Populist to Defund Rural Schools It Isn’t Populist to Defund Rural Schools

The Republican Party has won rural America by fanning the flames of the culture war. But by taking a match to public schools, it may have finally gone too far.

Sep 20, 2022 / Jennifer C. Berkshire and Jack Schneider

Republican U.S. Senate candidate J.D. Vance speaks to supporters after winning the primary, May 3, 2022.

Republicans May Not Run on Abortion, but They Can’t Hide From the Debate Republicans May Not Run on Abortion, but They Can’t Hide From the Debate

J.D. Vance's contortions and Lindsey Graham’s blundering press conference show that the abortion issue has become a quagmire for the right.

Sep 16, 2022 / Jeet Heer

California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks

Facing a Rising Right, Liberal Politicians Need to Stand Firm Facing a Rising Right, Liberal Politicians Need to Stand Firm

If blue-state politicians want to have an impact on national politics, they have to show that their policies work—and that they can get them passed.

Sep 16, 2022 / Sasha Abramsky

Shell Alaska rig

Alaska’s Special Election Offers a Lesson for Democrats Alaska’s Special Election Offers a Lesson for Democrats

The race can be a road map for campaigns in areas the party has all but written off.

Sep 13, 2022 / Katrina vanden Heuvel

Stacey Abrams at a campaign event

Can Stacey Abrams Turn the Tide in Georgia? Can Stacey Abrams Turn the Tide in Georgia?

Despite years of laying the groundwork, she’s trailing in the gubernatorial election. Will Georgia’s discouraged voters rise again to lift the nation?

Sep 13, 2022 / Joan Walsh

President Joe Biden speaks outside Independence Hall in Philadelphia on September 1, 2022

How the Democrats Got Their Groove Back How the Democrats Got Their Groove Back

Abortion, MAGA, and healthy partisanship are changing the midterm dynamics.

Sep 9, 2022 / Jeet Heer

Sarah Palin’s Loss Is Democracy’s Gain

Sarah Palin’s Loss Is Democracy’s Gain Sarah Palin’s Loss Is Democracy’s Gain

How Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system freed the majority of voters to elect pro-choice, pro-labor Democrat Mary Peltola.

Sep 2, 2022 / John Nichols

Yuh-Line Niou

Lessons for Progressives From Yuh-Line Niou’s Loss Lessons for Progressives From Yuh-Line Niou’s Loss

Could the outcome in the NY-10 congressional race—a centrist going to Washington—have been avoided?

Sep 1, 2022 / Editorial / Joan Walsh

Sam Lawrence

Can This Teenage Democrat Win in Ohio? Can This Teenage Democrat Win in Ohio?

Sam Lawrence is a college student running for the Ohio House of Representatives, modeling his campaign after Tim Ryan and Pete Buttigieg.

Aug 29, 2022 / StudentNation / Zurie Pope

Searching for Local Identity in “The Bear” and “Chicago Party Aunt”

Searching for Local Identity in “The Bear” and “Chicago Party Aunt” Searching for Local Identity in “The Bear” and “Chicago Party Aunt”

The FX drama and Netflix animation both attempt to embody the city of Chicago. That’s an increasingly difficult task when the city itself is a jumbled simulacrum of its own past.

Aug 25, 2022 / Ryan Zickgraf

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