2026Talks

Former VP Joe Biden won the Alaska primary, which saw high turnout as a result of the recent switch from a caucus. New Hampshire Republican Governor Chris Sununu is expanding access to vote by mail. And, Biden is facing a sexual assault allegation from a former aide from his time in the Senate.

Today's the deadline for ballots to be returned to the Alaska Democratic Party office in Anchorage. They're using using vote-by-mail to try and expand the electorate -- but the system alone does have some limitations.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders drops out of the race for president, though he assured supporters yesterday his movement will continue. A federal judge ruled this week a lawsuit in Florida awaiting trial will apply to all people with former felony convictions, not just the 17 plaintiffs.

Wisconsin held their primary yesterday, in the midst of the COVID-19 epidemic. But a shortage of poll workers led to just five polling stations in Milwaukee instead of the usual 180.

Today's the Wisconsin primary, though Democratic Gov. Tony Evers tried to delay by executive order. A conservative majority in the state Supreme Court blocked the delay, after the Republican legislature previously stymied similar efforts.

Wisconsin is planning to go ahead with primaries as usual, despite requests for a delay from the Governor, and lawsuits from voting rights advocates. There's also a judicial election, where a liberal judge is challenging the conservative incumbent.

The Democratic National Committee delayed its July convention in Milwaukee until August. Wisconsin has a primary this Tuesday, but hasn't cancelled or delayed in-person voting like many other states have done.

Some states this year use ranked-choice voting. What are some of the benefits during COVID-19? Plus, President Trump and former VP Biden continue to battle over the Affordable Care Act.

Hawai'i, Alaska and Wyoming instead of delaying their in-person primaries and caucuses, cancelled them and switched to all vote-by-mail. Plus, it's Trans Day of Visibility, and the two remaining Democrats showed their support on Twitter. The Trump administration while in office has rolled back protections for the transgender community.

During the new coronavirus pandemic, many are advocating more mail-in ballots. Some say restricting voting by mail is one method of suppressing the vote.  

Campaigning from Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders has been virtual, and largely about the novel coronavirus. Sanders also spoke out about the Trump administration's Interior Department order to disestablish the Mashpee Wampanoag's reservation in Southern Massachusetts.  

3.3 million people reported being jobless last week, according to new Labor Department numbers. And Puerto Rico was supposed to hold primaries this weekend, though they pushed it back to late April, because of COVID-19.

The first person in ICE custody tested positive for the coronavirus this weekend, and advocates are worried about COVID-19 spread in detention facilities. The Senate is working to pass a stimulus package, which includes money for elections.

COVID-19 cases continue to grow, and this year's elections face many changes. There's lots of debate in Congress, though, on exactly how to proceed.

Former VP Joe Biden spoke yesterday for the first time in a week on the 10th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act. The Nurses Union petitioned Congress to provide an emergency temporary standard for health workers, and stimulus funding for elections won't go to Wyoming's primary, because it's run by the party and not the state.  

Congress and the White House are working on coronavirus response, but Senators disagree on how to provide economic stimulus and relief. Bernie Sanders is using his campaign as a way to provide information about the response, and advocate for help for working people.

Tulsi Gabbard drops out of the race for president, and discussions continue on how to move forward through the coronavirus with almost half of the states' primaries still yet to occur.  

Ohio cancelled its primary this week, Florida, Arizona and Illinois went on. What are states going forward planning to do? The DNC recommends voting by mail, but there are some limitations.

Joe Biden won primaries in Arizona, Illinois and Florida yesterday. Ohio was supposed to vote in person yesterday too, but postponed at the last minute. And in Florida, Demos is filing a suit requesting a statewide extension for voting by mail.

Three states vote in primaries today, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, including Florida, where the right to vote for people with past felony convictions was restored in 2018. Ohio had planned to vote today, but the Governor declared a public health emergency and closed polls.  

Former VP Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders faced off in the first one-on-one debate of the primary season. Coronavirus showed up, in a lengthy debate discussion, plus lecterns six feet apart and no handshakes beforehand.

Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders address the coronavirus, and the Trump administration's response so far. In Ohio, some voting procedures have changed, like moving polling locations away from nursing homes.

Sen. Bernie Sanders didn't do so well in Tuesday's primaries, and former VP Joe Biden still has a huge lead. How have young voters and switches from caucuses to primaries played into recent contests?

Former VP Joe Biden widened his delegate lead last night, including by winning Michigan, which Sen. Bernie Sanders took in 2016. Sanders led voters under 35, but trailed Biden overall.  

Six states have primaries today, including Washington where 19 people have died from the coronavirus. The virus shouldn't affect turnout, because Washington's a vote by mail state.