State and Local Elections

Members of the Texas Department of Public Safety inside the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas, on Monday, August 4, 2025. Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered the arrest of Democratic lawmakers who left the state to block a controversial vote on new congressional maps.

Representative Democracy Will Live or Die In Texas Representative Democracy Will Live or Die In Texas

A gerrymandering fight reveals how far Trump will go to avoid electoral accountability.

Aug 5, 2025 / John Nichols

Zohran Mamdani takes photos with supporters during a press conference at the Hotel & Gaming Trades Council building on July 02, 2025, in New York City.

Democrats: Let’s Get Our Shit Together! Democrats: Let’s Get Our Shit Together!

Or, to put it another way: Stop helping Republicans and back people like Zohran Mamdani. Now!

Aug 1, 2025 / Justin Brannan

Zohran Mamdani smiles in front of a microphone with his hand on his chest.

Zohran Mamdani Is Keeping Hope Alive Zohran Mamdani Is Keeping Hope Alive

The doom-obsessed Democratic Party remains as unpopular as ever—but there is another path.

Jul 28, 2025 / Jeet Heer

Zohran Mamdani speaks at the United Palace Theater in Manhattan on July 10, 2025.

How Zohran Mamdani Should Govern How Zohran Mamdani Should Govern

Running New York City is brutal. But if he wins in November, there are key lessons from past mayors that Mamdani should learn from.

Jul 21, 2025 / Waleed Shahid

Katie Wilson prepares canvassers in Seattle

Katie Wilson of Seattle Shows Zohran Mamdani Is Not Alone Katie Wilson of Seattle Shows Zohran Mamdani Is Not Alone

She’s running on a populist economic message that puts affordability of care at its heart and mobilized young grassroots organizers.

Jul 18, 2025 / John Burbank

Rideshare drivers on strike near O'Hare International Airport

In Chicago, a Coalition of Unions, Community Organizers, and Drivers Have Forced Uber to Come to the Table In Chicago, a Coalition of Unions, Community Organizers, and Drivers Have Forced Uber to Come to the Table

As the tech industry moves increasingly into alignment with the far right, the issue of worker power has never been more important. The Chicago campaign offers some key lessons.

Jul 16, 2025 / Will Tanzman and Lori Simmons

Caritas Christi CEO Ralph de la Torre at Norwood Hospital.

Ralph de la Torre: The Making of a Healthcare Oligarch Ralph de la Torre: The Making of a Healthcare Oligarch

And the price the rest of us pay—in money and in blood.

Jul 14, 2025 / Chuck Collins

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, participates in an endorsement event with Representative Adriano Espaillat at the United Palace Theater in Manhattan on July 10, 2025.

Zohran Mamdani Is Making History. When Will Top Democrats Catch On? Zohran Mamdani Is Making History. When Will Top Democrats Catch On?

Mamdani won a record-setting primary victory, and unions, grassroots Democratic groups, and savvy elected officials are rushing to back him. Now it’s the establishment’s turn.

Jul 11, 2025 / John Nichols

Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) arrives at the US Capitol on Thursday, March 27, 2025.

If Democrats Want to Appeal to Rural America, They Need to Talk Like a Neighbor If Democrats Want to Appeal to Rural America, They Need to Talk Like a Neighbor

Saving a democracy that has delivered diminishing returns for 50 years—and is widely seen as rigged on behalf of the 1 percent—is not as compelling as the political class thinks.

Jul 11, 2025 / Erica Etelson

Zohran Mamdani attends the 2025 New York City Pride March on June 29, 2025.

New Yorkers Aren’t Afraid of a Democratic Socialist Mayor New Yorkers Aren’t Afraid of a Democratic Socialist Mayor

Andrew Cuomo's allies spent a fortune shouting that Zohran Mamdani is a socialist. Result? A Mamdani landslide in the Democratic primary.

Jul 2, 2025 / John Nichols

x