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.
This is a nation in need of de-escalation training. Bad behavior has been normalized to the point that some people are celebrating assassins.
Immigration is no longer the primary lens through which Latinos see the world. They are rapidly becoming more defined as economically populist voters, exasperated with the political failure to address their economic concerns.
After being suspended by Florida’s governor in 2023, Orlando-area prosecutor Monique Worrell won reelection in November. But DeSantis’ replacement said he might not help her return.
The contest was decided by 48 votes, but about 60 residents were given ballots for the wrong district. A judge may order a new election.
A measure that provided some hurricane relief was a vehicle for taking power away from executive offices that will be controlled by Democrats next year. The GOP’s legislative supermajority overrode a veto from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.
Prosecutors allege that Mike Madigan, the former Democratic speaker, and associates directed companies to provide campaign contributions and no-show jobs to allies. The defense will begin its presentation at trial next week.
School vouchers, border enforcement and energy infrastructure are on the GOP agenda in Texas. A fight for speaker of the House could determine its prospects.
Tom Homan, who will lead Trump’s deportation effort, said that sanctuary policies can shield dangerous criminals. Harboring or concealing undocumented immigrants, he said, is a federal crime.
Mayors, state legislators, members of Congress – much of New Jersey’s political class hopes to succeed term-limited Democrat Phil Murphy next year.
As a new administration takes power in Washington, the work of state and local public officials who champion free and fair elections will become even more critical.
Los Angeles County voters have approved changes that include an expansion of the county Board of Supervisors and creation of a separate executive leader. Reform advocates had pushed for such changes for decades and an atmosphere of scandal helped them succeed.
Phelan narrowly survived a primary challenge and lacked the support of a majority of House Republicans. Having angered conservatives with the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton, Phelan dropped out the day before leadership elections.
A judge has ruled unconstitutional the core of Act 10, the state’s famous 2011 law that ended collective bargaining for most public employees. Republican legislators vowed to appeal the decision.
Voters in a former Democratic stronghold in Minnesota complain that both the national party and Minnesota Democrats have swung too far to the left on spending and cultural issues.
School districts bear significant financial costs: Security, communications, legal work and heightened staff turnover related to conflict all come with price tags. The money could be better spent elsewhere.
Ohio would be the fourth state to require proof of citizenship under a legislative proposal. The bill would also require monthly maintenance of voter rolls.
Democratic governors are scrambling to mount an effective opposition to the policies of the new administration. They may not be holding a winning hand.
Larry Rhoden has been serving as Kristi Noem's lieutenant governor. He'll inherit a tougher budget environment than she had.
A proposed bill claims to provide disaster relief to those suffering the impacts of Hurricane Helene but in actuality focuses on obstructing power from the newly elected Democratic governor, attorney general and state schools superintendent.
Rising minorities in big cities are increasingly concerned about order and security. Political parties need to pay attention.
Participation for Washingtonians 18-24 dropped 8.5 points from the 2020 election, but improved compared to 2016.
A new Brookings analysis of counties' 2024 presidential vote shows that lower-output, small town, and rural areas still comprise the foundation of the GOP base. But they've been joined by numerous new Republican-leaning places in the Sun Belt and elsewhere.
Voters in five states rejected the voting system, while D.C. voters approved it.
The political landscape has shifted dramatically in Vermont. Nationally, the election showed that partisanship matters most but active campaigning still makes a difference.
Other states, including Nevada, are deleting references to slavery in their constitutions and banning forced prison labor. California voters rejected that path when they turned down Prop. 6.
The meat industry’s multimillion-dollar lobbying fight succeeded in stopping the city’s slaughterhouse ban, which will result in the continued operation of one of the nation’s largest lamb processing facilities.
State constitutional amendments that voters approved in seven states on Nov. 5 also are vulnerable to federal moves that could essentially override them.
It will be the leadership of our states and cities that will have the most direct impact on the issues that animated the presidential campaign.
Having won a big victory, Donald Trump can claim a mandate. But recent history shows that voters punish politicians who change things too much.
Less than 36 hours after Trump’s resounding victory, the California governor called to bolster the state’s legal resources with the aim of protecting reproductive health care, climate policies and immigrant communities in California.
Moderates have been largely squeezed out of political relevance. There is room for a new party, and it would have to start at the state level. It could bring pragmatic solutions to critical problems the major parties avoid.
