Consider This from NPR Could next week's elections predict the political future?
21 snips
Oct 31, 2025 
Mara Liasson and Domenico Montanaro join to dive into the upcoming state elections in California, Virginia, and New Jersey. They explore why off-year races matter as political indicators and how these contests may influence midterm trends. With Virginia's governor race as a historical bellwether, they discuss the potential impact of federal shutdowns on voter turnout. Additionally, they analyze redistricting effects, particularly California's Proposition 50, and the volatile dynamics of House control shaped by shifting voter preferences.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Governor Races As Early Warning
- Governor races often act as a canary in the coal mine for midterm outcomes.
- Historical patterns can predict trends until they suddenly stop working.
Virginia's Off-Year Pattern
- Virginia's recent history favors the party out of the White House in governor races.
- Off-year elections let voters aligned with the opposition register frustration first.
Redistricting Fight In California
- California's Proposition 50 would temporarily remove independent redistricting commission rules.
- The measure is part of a larger redistricting 'arms race' tied to control of the House.