The Downballot

What's it like to have to indefinitely uproot your life in the face of thuggish legal threats so that you can help save democracy as we know it? Texas state Rep. Mihaela Plesa returns to The Downballot podcast to give us a rare inside look at the remarkable decision by Democrats to flee the state in an effort to block Republicans from passing an egregious new gerrymander.Plesa hammers the GOP for prioritizing partisan gain over critical flood relief; explains the devious ways Republicans want to undermine Black and Latino voting rights; and tells us about Democrats' new life on the road and the enthusiastic reception she and her compatriots have received—wherever they've gone.Co-hosts David Nir and David Beard also explore newly reported details about California's plan to fight back, including a likely special election asking voters to adopt a new map, as well as which Republican incumbents might get targeted. Get full access to The Downballot at www.the-downballot.com/subscribe

On this week's episode of The Downballot podcast, Ally Mutnick, a senior congressional reporter for Punchbowl, joins us to run down the ins and outs of mid-decade redistricting. We go through the Texas GOP's newly proposed map district by district to see how Republicans are targeting five Democratic seats—and discuss how Democrats might try to block the plan by breaking quorum in the state legislature.Then we look at the many other states where Democrats have suggested they might engage in an eye-for-an-eye response, with a particular focus on California. Mutnick also shares her thoughts on key Senate races across the country, including messy GOP primaries in Texas and Georgia; a matchup in North Carolina that already looks set; and a big outstanding question in Maine.If you haven’t already subscribed to The Downballot’s Morning Digest newsletter, just click below! Get full access to The Downballot at www.the-downballot.com/subscribe

The big boss is (almost) here: Former Gov. Roy Cooper is reportedly set to run for North Carolina's open Senate seat, and we're talking all about it on this week's episode of The Downballot podcast. Co-hosts David Nir and David Beard explain why Cooper is the Democrats' No. 1 recruit of the 2026 midterms.We also talk with Brian Lemek, the executive director of Defend the Vote, about how his organization helps elect candidates eager to fight for democracy. Lemek tells us that it's okay for Democrats to acknowledge that the system is broken—and that doing so allows them to connect the task of fixing our democracy with voters' everyday concerns. He also flags some of his favorite candidates running this cycle, including one surprising name. Get full access to The Downballot at www.the-downballot.com/subscribe

Deb Krishnadasan, a newly appointed Washington State Senator for the 26th legislative district, shares her insights on navigating a competitive political landscape. She discusses the complexities of running in a special election and the significance of California's counter-gerrymandering strategies against Texas Republicans. With an eye on voter sentiment, Deb reveals how Trump's policies sparked local unrest and highlights the importance of grassroots campaigning amid widespread public dissatisfaction.

Zohran Mamdani's stunning upset in last month's primary is still reverberating, which is why we were eager to talk with his pollster, Jane Rayburn of Workbench Strategy, on this week's episode of The Downballot podcast to understand just how he pulled it off. Rayburn pulls back the curtain to explain how her firm captured the sentiments of a radically reshaped electorate, why Mamdani wanted a two-person race, and when she knew he could actually win. Plus, the challenges of polling a ranked-choice contest!Co-hosts David Nir and David Beard also delve into two major Republicans who announced retirements just before the Fourth of July: Thom Tillis in North Carolina and Don Bacon in Nebraska. Why are they bailing? Who has the inside track to succeed them? And what exactly is Lara Trump's job? We do our level best to answer all of these questions! Get full access to The Downballot at www.the-downballot.com/subscribe

Zohran Mamdani pulled off one of the most astonishing upsets of all time on Tuesday, so we've devoted this week's entire episode of The Downballot podcast to understanding how it happened and what it all means.Co-hosts David Nir and David Beard discuss how Mamdani drew out new voters and forged an unlikely multi-ethnic coalition through his singular emphasis on affordability—a stark contrast to Andrew Cuomo's old-school campaign (or lack thereof) and his reliance on dark money.The Davids also look ahead to November and explain why Mamdani remains the frontrunner despite Wall Street's panic. They conclude by emphasizing the lessons Democrats should learn from the race, including the most important of all: act like a winner. Get full access to The Downballot at www.the-downballot.com/subscribe

We're diving deep into New York City's many-layered Democratic primary for mayor on this week's episode of The Downballot podcast. Polls keep showing Andrew Cuomo in the lead, but is it big enough to stop a late surge by Zohran Mamdani? Will Brad Lander's arrest by federal agents give him a last-minute jolt? And will we see any more alliances like the recent Mamdani-Lander cross-endorsement? We explore all these questions and many more.Co-hosts David Nir and David Beard also recap Virginia's fascinating primary results, including why Richmond's former mayor did so poorly in his hometown. They then look ahead to November as Democrats display unity while the Republican ticket is in shambles. And finally, one of the winners of the Second Annual Downballot Awards is back in the news, and it's for a good reason! Get full access to The Downballot at www.the-downballot.com/subscribe

The 2025 primaries are underway! On this week's episode of The Downballot podcast, we're recapping all the action from Tuesday's elections in New Jersey and previewing next week's contests in Virginia. As per usual, there are also special elections to discuss, including a monster Democratic overperformance in Oklahoma.We've also got the bizarre case of Republican Rep. Mark Green, who just announced his resignation … while reportedly in Guayana, where he's apparently in the midst of some mysterious business dealings that have even fellow Republicans saying, WTF? Get full access to The Downballot at www.the-downballot.com/subscribe

We've been subject to endless hot takes about last year's elections, but Catalist has much more compelling answers. CEO Michael Frias joins us on this week's episode of The Downballot podcast to explore his firm's detailed new report, What Happened in 2024, that uses carefully assembled voter data to understand how things really went down.Frias explains why greater turnout might not have benefited Democrats and doesn't flinch from highlighting serious weaknesses the party has with key constituencies like young Latino men. And as we look toward the midterms, he cautions that MAGA is "not standing still," saying Democrats must be prepared to evolve as well.Co-hosts David Nir and David Beard also spotlight the huge Democratic overperformance in Tuesday's special election in South Carolina, which was the first to take place in a majority-Black district. And they explain why Iowa Democrat J.D. Scholten was smart to immediately jump into the race against GOP Sen. Joni Ernst after her "we're all going to die" outburst. Get full access to The Downballot at www.the-downballot.com/subscribe

Republicans have been trying to make it harder for ordinary citizens to effect change at the ballot box for many years, and their latest effort has now washed ashore in the Sunshine State. This week on The Downballot podcast, Amy Keith, the executive director of Common Cause Florida, joins us to explain how a new GOP bill would impose wild new restrictions on the ballot initiative process, including making it a felony if grandma collects more than 25 signatures on bingo night. But, promises Keith, no matter the hurdles placed before them, Floridians just keep jumping higher.Co-hosts David Nir and David Beard also preview the top state supreme court races taking place across the country both this year and next. The Davids explain why once-sleepy "retention" elections could be the next major battleground in Pennsylvania and Arizona; how Democrats can expand their majorities in Michigan; and why you shouldn't sleep on Montana, whose top court has acted as an independent check on Republican power-grabs. Get full access to The Downballot at www.the-downballot.com/subscribe