On the Ballot

On this episode: Arizona has one of the most active ballot measure histories in the country, with nearly 500 measures decided since gaining statehood in 1912. The state has also considered more immigration-related measures than any other state, reflecting its role on the frontlines of national debates. Former Host Geoff Pallay returns for the latest installment of our Historical Ballot Measure Ser...

On this episode: The Federal Reserve has been at the center of America’s biggest economic turning points for more than a century as one of the country’s most powerful institutions. Former Richmond Fed President Jeffrey Lacker joins host Norm Leahy to trace that story—from the banking panics that led to its creation in 1913 to JP Morgan’s role in corralling Wall Street leaders. He explains how Cong...

On this episode: Louis Jacobson, senior columnist for Sabato’s Crystal Ball, explains why the 2026 secretary of state elections could be among the most important contests of the cycle. In most states, secretaries of state oversee elections, giving them direct influence over how voting is administered and results are certified. With 26 seats on the ballot—including key battlegrounds such as Arizona...

On this episode: Texas lawmakers are considering mid-decade changes to the state’s congressional map after President Donald Trump called for them to create five additional Republican-leaning districts. In response, some Democratic legislators have left the state to block a quorum, delaying a vote. To help bring you up to speed, we this episode features two interviews:  First, Texas Tribune reporte...

On this episode: Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield secured 51% of the vote in the city's August 5th mayoral primary, significantly exceeding pre-election polling that predicted she would finish with around 35-36%. Sheffield will face Reverend Solomon Kinloch, who finished second with 17%, in November's general election. The nine-candidate field included several experienced poli...

On this episode: Seattle's August 5th mayoral primary produced unexpected results, with incumbent Bruce Harrell—endorsed by the governor and congressional delegation—currently trailing progressive organizer Katie Wilson. The city hasn't re-elected a mayor since 2005, and this tight race looks as if that pattern could continue. As mail-in ballots are counted through mid-August, the contest...

On this episode: The second installment of our new series Office Hours , featuring founder and CEO Leslie Graves in wide-ranging conversations about how and why Ballotpedia does its work, ranging from editorial decisions and coverage philosophy to broader questions about civic engagement. Each episode builds on themes from Leslie’s Pathfinder column for PBS/WNET’s Preserving Democracy initiative ....

On this episode: Explore Michigan's fascinating 140-year ballot measure history with our very own Ryan Byrne. From its origins as the first state east of the Mississippi to adopt direct democracy, Michigan has seen voters reject income tax proposals six times over 50 years and nearly opt out of daylight saving time by just 490 votes. The state became the first in the Midwest to legalize mariju...

On this episode: Nebraska is the only state with a unicameral, nonpartisan legislature—and it's creating some fascinating political dynamics. Former state Senator Laura Ebke joins us to break down how nonpartisan voter registration is skyrocketing while Democratic registration plummets, with nonpartisans potentially outnumbering Democrats in the next election cycle. She explains why people tem...

On this episode: Split ticket voting—where voters cast ballots for candidates from different political parties—has declined dramatically since peaking in the 1980s, according to new analysis of over 100 years of election data. Mixed party outcomes, where states elect different parties for president and down-ballot races, reached historic highs in 1972 and 1984 when Nixon and Reagan won 49 states r...

On this episode: Indiana recently became the fifth state to require partisan school board elections, changing from the nonpartisan format used by over 90% of school boards nationwide. Under the new law, candidates must run with party labels, joining four other states that mandate partisan elections while 41 states continue to require nonpartisan races. The policy change reflects ongoing discussion...

On this episode: The Washington DC Council faces an unprecedented situation as Ward 8 holds a special election on July 15th following the expulsion of Trayon White, the first council member ever removed from office in the district's history. White, who was charged with federal bribery in August after allegedly being caught on video accepting cash envelopes in exchange for steering city contrac...

On this episode: The Supreme Court’s recent term produced decisions affecting nationwide injunctions, healthcare access, and parental rights. Zachary Shemtob, Executive Editor of SCOTUSblog, outlines rulings that barred universal injunctions in Trump v. CASA, upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors in United States v. Skrmetti, and opened the door for parents to exclude children...

On this episode: To mark our 200th episode, Ballotpedia Founder and CEO Leslie Graves joins Host Norm Leahy for the debut of our new monthly series Office Hours. Leslie outlines her ambitious vision to cover all 520,000 elected offices in the U.S. by 2034, explains the mission behind Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey, and makes the case for why voters deserve “robust information” at every...

On this episode: In this installment of our monthly ballot measure series, Geoff Pallay and Victoria Rose trace the history of North Carolina’s statewide ballot measures—from 19th-century amendments on slavery and segregation to recent court battles over voter ID laws. They explore why the state has never adopted a citizen initiative process, how its high legislative referral pass rate compares to...

On this episode: New York City voters head to the polls for the Democratic mayoral primary on Tuesday, June 24 – with early voting totals already exceeding what the city saw in 2021. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo is attempting a political comeback, while Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani has gained traction with a progressive message and growing grassroots support. Annie McDonough, City Hall reporter f...

On this episode: For over 75 years, the American Bar Association has played a key role in evaluating the professional qualifications of federal judicial nominees. But its involvement has long been a source of debate—particularly among Republicans, with concerns about bias dating back to the Reagan administration. In this episode, University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias explains how the AB...

On this episode: New Jersey’s gubernatorial race is taking shape following a pair of high-profile primaries on June 10th that set the stage for one of 2025’s most closely watched elections. Democrat Mikie Sherrill secured her party’s nomination with broad statewide support, while Republican Jack Ciattarelli dominated his field with the backing of Donald Trump and institutional GOP support. The mat...

On this episode: Constitutional scholar Sai Prakash of the University of Virginia joins us to explore the origins, evolution, and modern realities of presidential power. Drawing on historical debates from the Constitutional Convention, Prakash outlines how early framers envisioned a limited executive—primarily tasked with enforcing laws—and how that vision has shifted over time.  Prakash and our H...

On this episode : House majorities have grown razor-thin in recent elections, with three cycles in a row decided by just a handful of seats. Kyle Kondik of Sabato’s Crystal Ball joins to explain how voter sorting, redistricting changes, and a shrinking battlefield are shaping the odds for 2026. He breaks down why historical midterm trends may be less reliable, how key states like New York, Ohio, a...

On this episode: As of May 6, 2025, fourteen members of Congress had announced they will not seek re-election in 2026. This group includes five senators—three Democrats and one Republican—and nine representatives, comprising four Democrats and five Republicans. Among the House members, one Democrat is retiring from public office, while the others are pursuing higher offices: four are running for t...

On this episode: As school districts adjust to the end of federal COVID relief funding and new policies under President Donald Trump’s administration, many are navigating budget shortfalls, shifting enrollment trends, and tough financial trade-offs.  Dr. Marguerite Roza — Director of the Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University — joins the show to break down how education funding works, who makes ke...

On this episode: From local zoning laws to federal education funding, rules created by the administrative state shape daily life in more ways than most people realize. Amy Handlin — a new member of Ballotpedia’s Policy team — unpacks how the modern regulatory system developed in response to 20th-century corruption, how it expanded through citizen demand and federal policy, and how it continues to...

On this episode: Congress is once again turning to the powerful tool of budget reconciliation to try and pass major legislation — and with razor-thin majorities in both chambers, every vote counts for the Republican coalition trying to pass President Donald Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill.’ Michael Thorning, director of the Structural Democracy Project at the Bipartisan Policy Center, joins the show...

On this episode: Virginia may hold elections every year, but the 2025 contests are shaping up to be especially exciting. With races for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and all 100 seats in the House of Delegates, the state is once again a key barometer for national political sentiment. The Virginia Scope’s Brandon Jarvis joins Ballotpedia’s new host, Norm Leahy, to unpack why thes...