Daniel Nichanian

editor-in-chief of @bolts (BoltsMag.org). also contributing editor of Inquest.

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Last Notes

2024-10-12 17:34:55

i wrote a guide to the supreme court races in each and every state (that's 82 seats) earlier this year.
we recently updated the page to reflect primary results & late events.
this is a main event in many states—MI, OH, KY, OH, MT, AZ, & more: https://boltsmag.org/your-state-by-state-guide-to-the-2024-supreme-court-elections/

2024-10-12 15:17:00

Spotlight of the day: the referendums on abortion or reproductive rights.
Watch these measures in: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, and South Dakota — plus some local measures in Cali & Texas.
https://boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-ballot/your-guide-to-the-elections-in-november-2024/#abortion
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2024-10-11 17:54:11

An underrated race: Michele Morrow has called public schools “indoctrination centers,” suggested Obama should be executed, & said Trump should use military to overturn election.
She's running to lead North Carolina schools.
Among many races on my sheet: https://boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-ballot/your-guide-to-the-elections-in-november-2024/

2024-10-07 15:23:38

- reply

And only some of these are battleground states in the presidential race, but I promise you there's something interesting in each & every one of those states...
... from the Mississippi supreme court, to public transmit or affordable housing measures in Tennessee & Louisiana: https://boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-ballot/your-guide-to-the-elections-in-november-2024/

2024-10-07 15:22:48

Today is the last day to register to vote in many states:
Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, & Tennessee.
Even if you believe you're registered, it only takes a few moments to check, so you can act if there's an issue.

2024-09-20 02:56:57

Do you recall when Montana's supreme court, 12 years ago, defied Citizens United & upheld $$ limits?
SCOTUS shut them down—but it put stark spotlight on the Roberts Court.
Liberal justice who wrote opinion is retiring; the right REALLY wants his seat:
https://boltsmag.org/montana-supreme-court-elections-2024-and-voting-rights/

2024-09-16 17:10:46

NEW: 12 states are selecting the officials who'll run their elections.
So I took a look at all of them with my colleague Alex Burness, & we wrote a state-by-state guide.
Spoiler alert: Election deniers still abound. https://boltsmag.org/elections-chief-elections-2024-guide/

2024-09-12 18:07:04

The first two national polls conducted since the debate each have Harris leading by 5%.
—Harris up 50/45 in the new Morning Consult.
(She was up 49/46 last week in their poll.)
—Harris up 47/42 in the new Ipsos poll for Reuters.
(She was up 45/41 in their late August poll.)

2024-09-11 19:43:08

A ton of local & state races in November matter a lot... but it's hard to figure out what matters or what could flip.
So get in touch with questions! ASK BOLTS anything that's on your mind on deciphering local races, & we'll answer many in next 2 months! https://boltsmag.org/ask-bolts/

2024-09-11 16:08:28

NEW: Alaskans are deciding a ballot measure this fall on whether to repeal their new ranked-choice system.
And Native groups are now gearing up to fight repeal.
They are heartened by Peltola's win, yes, but they also say system is good for them broadly:
https://boltsmag.org/alaska-ranked-choice-voting-measure-native-organizers/

2024-08-14 16:08:06

NEW: DeSantis had suspended Tampa's Dem prosecutor, replacing him with a Republican. Within days, the new prosecutor rolled back local reforms.
Now, two years later, local voters finally get their say — & the removed prosecutor wants his job back: https://boltsmag.org/hillsborough-county-tampa-state-attorney-2024-election/

2024-08-14 02:51:44

RESULT: Wisconsin voters just *rejected* two constitutional amendments that legislative Republicans put on the ballot in a bid to weaken the powers of the governor and executive branch.
(Both measures are trailing widely).

2024-08-14 02:51:25

RESULT: Rep. Ilhan Omar has won her Democratic primary in Minnesota. With virtually all ballots reporting, she leads 56% to 43% against Don Samuels.
Omar had already beat Samuels two years ago by a much narrower margin, 50% to 48%.

2024-08-13 03:16:09

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3️⃣ In Arizona’s biggest county, there’s a big prosecutor election where the candidates differ starkly on abortion.
The GOP incumbent was prosecutor tapped by the Senate Republicans in 2018 during the Kavanaugh hearings to ask questions of Ford. https://boltsmag.org/arizona-abortion-ban-county-prosecutor-elections/

2024-08-13 03:15:05

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2️⃣ Arizona organizers worked hard to put an abortion rights measure on November's ballot. But the GOP has made its own move: They've put a separate measure on the ballot.
It'd basically shut the door on future ballot initiatives in Arizona! https://boltsmag.org/arizona-ballot-measure-would-restrict-popular-initiatives/

2024-08-13 03:09:05

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1️⃣ Remember when the Arizona Supreme Court revived a 19th century abortion ban earlier this year?
Two of the justices who participated in that decision are up for retention this fall.
https://boltsmag.org/your-state-by-state-guide-to-the-2024-supreme-court-elections/#AZ

2024-08-13 03:03:49

BFD: Arizona officials announce that an abortion rights measure, the Arizona Abortion Acess Act, *will* be on the November ballot.
It would enshrine abortion rights in the constitution.
If you care about this measure—here are 3 more related AZ elections you must know about. ⬇️

2024-08-13 03:03:49

2024-08-10 15:40:27

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2️⃣ An epidemiologist is running for mayor in California, and she is putting her public health background front and center.
Piper French profiles her as she makes the case that public health approaches can change things on homelessness & gun prevention: https://boltsmag.org/the-epidemiologist-running-for-mayor-to-bring-public-health-to-sacramento/

2024-08-10 15:38:41

Some great pieces at @BoltsMag this week I don't want you to miss!
1️⃣ Michigan's supreme court struck down a GOP maneuver to gut labor ballot initiatives—a BFD. But the 4-3 decision is also a stark reminder of the stakes of November's supreme court races. https://boltsmag.org/direct-democracy-ruling-michigan-supreme-court/

2024-08-06 14:21:44

Wild: Walz is the 1st time since 1972 (!) that a Democrat has selected a running-mate who's not a sitting member of Congress.
If you don't count 1972 (=McGovern's initial pick was a Senator who was nominated at the convention, before dropping out weeks later), it's ... 1940!

2024-08-05 17:01:29

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What also matters: This decision was 4-3, a party-line decision with the 4 Democratic justices in the majority & the 3 Republicans dissenting.
Two seats are on the ballot in November, & the court could flip.
Just a striking example of why high courts matter.

2024-08-05 16:25:56

NEW: Michigan GOP had engaged in a brazen maneuver to gut 2 citizen-led initiatives on labor.
The Michigan supreme court just struck back: Ruling increases minimum wage, set sup new paid sick leave.
And it's also a big affirmation for a right to direct democracy: https://boltsmag.org/direct-democracy-ruling-michigan-supreme-court/

2024-07-31 03:30:00

RESULT: Kari Lake wins the GOP nomination for Senate in Arizona.
She beat Sheriff Mark Lamb by an uninspired margin.
She'll face Ruben Gallego in November in the race to replace Sinema, two years after she lost a governor's race she refused to concede.

2024-07-30 04:34:46

Arizona's primaries are tomorrow! On the menu...
—Kari Lake, Abe Hamadeh, Mark Finchem, Blake Masters are back.
—Joe Arpaio too.
—Election deniers try to take over election offices.
—Lawmakers who want to hand election to Trump seek reelection.
And more! https://boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-ballot/your-guide-to-arizona-primaries-2024/

2024-07-25 19:22:31

NEW: Immigrants' rights activists in Arizona, during the Trump admin, got their blue county to pare back helping the feds patrol the border.
Now Pima County (Tucson) has a hot sheriff's race next week that will test if Dems have appetite to ramp that up: https://boltsmag.org/pima-county-sheriff-border-patrol/

2024-07-24 15:35:39

Alabama executed last week, after denying many of his final religious requests. Just like with other Muslim prisoners on death row in the past.
Lauren Gill spent Keith Galvin's final day with him, & wrote a story I can't just summarize—give it a read:
https://boltsmag.org/alabama-execution-keith-gavin-religious-requests/

2024-07-18 22:28:09

NEW: The hyper-conservative Fifth Circuit today upheld one of nation's harshest voting rights schemes. Mississippi's practice of LIFETIME disenfranchisement, born of a white supremacist 1890 convention, is here to stay—shutting down tends of thousands: https://boltsmag.org/mississippi-lifetime-voting-ban-upheld-fifth-circuit/

2024-07-08 17:27:45

NEW: Colorado’s biggest & swingiest judicial district was split in half.
With huge effects: One of CO’s largest counties is about to elect its 1st reform DA.
While a tough-on-crime figure returns in other half of the old district.
Districting meets CJ! https://boltsmag.org/prosecutors-in-colorado-arapahoe-douglas/

2024-06-24 22:01:35

It's a big election day tomorrow! Voters in Colorado, New York, and Utah have very stark ideological choices in front of them in both parties -- & I lay out many critical races for you to track in my latest guide: https://boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-ballot/your-guide-to-the-june-25-primaries/

2024-06-23 15:34:36

The CO & NY primaries are in 2 days.
The US presidential debate: in 4 days.
First round of the French elections: in 7 days.
UK elections: in 11 days.
Final round of the French elections: in 14 days.
(😱)

2024-06-23 13:46:13

DeSantis unexpectedly vetoed all arts grants passed by the Florida legislature, $32 million in total, leaving arts organizations or community theaters or arts centers scrambling at the blow: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/21/arts/ron-desantis-veto-arts-funding-florida.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&sgrp=c-cb

2024-06-12 17:54:21

NEW: New Hampshire Republicans are on the verge of adopting the harshest law in the nation when it requiring proof of citizenship to let people register to vote.
(Lots of people don't have easy access to documentation.)
Bill is now on Sununu's desk. https://boltsmag.org/new-hampshire-republicans-proof-of-citizenship-to-register-to-vote/

2024-06-06 20:12:40

NEW: A fascinating example of how policy momentum builds: A policing reform within Ann Arbor is fueling talk of change countywide.
Candidates in next month's sheriff's race are promising to also curtail traffic stops. (Remember: Sheriffs patrol too.)
https://boltsmag.org/traffic-stops-washtenaw-county-ann-arbor-michigan/

2024-06-05 14:20:37

The conservative member of a school board in California faced a recall election yesterday over the board's anti-LGBT policies.
No final call yet, but the "YES" to the recall is leading (=he'd be ousted).
Check out this young local organizer's quote: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-06-04/school-board-recall-results-in-temecula-school-system
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2024-05-31 14:53:37

NEW: Tuesday is New Jersey's *first* Dem primary without "county line" since bombshell ruling that struck it down.
The change came out of grassroots revolt against Tammy Murphy, & it's now jumpstarting democracy thru NJ.
Great read on these green shoots of democracy: https://boltsmag.org/new-jersey-primaries-county-line/

2024-05-30 21:10:07

how it looks visually, on the NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/05/30/nyregion/trump-hush-money-verdict.html
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2024-05-30 18:25:20

NEW: 5 states vote next week: New Jersey, Montana, Iowa, South Dakota, & New Mexico.
On the menu? Ideologically charged legislative races, supreme court races, Menendez Jr.'s reelect, ballot measures fueled by election deniers, & a lot more.
My guide: https://boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-ballot/your-guide-to-the-june-4-primaries/

2024-05-28 16:57:01

NEW: Republicans just nominated a hardcore election denier to lead Oregon elections.
He's a state senator who has echoed all sorts of conspiracies about 2020, & joined a lawsuit to strike down all mail voting. He wants to bring that agenda to SoS office. https://boltsmag.org/oregon-secretary-of-state-election-linthicum-read/

2024-05-25 14:37:35

bolts this week covered 2 big criminal justice reforms that became law, icymi.
let's jump in:
1️⃣ Minnesota ended prison gerrymandering.
This is the practice of counting incarcerated people where the prison is located, which skews political power. https://boltsmag.org/minnesota-ends-prison-gerrymandering/

2024-05-22 20:02:08

NEW: Minnesota has ended prison gerrymandering.
Dems have passed the reform after years of trying.
The practice of counting incarcerated people where prisons are located has long distorted power. But Minnesota is the latest in a wave of reforms. https://boltsmag.org/minnesota-ends-prison-gerrymandering/

2024-05-22 00:36:00

Democrats in Atlanta have chosen their nominee to face Mesha Mainor, a Georgia state representative who switched to the GOP last year despite representing a heavily blue district.
It'll be Bryce Berry, a 22-year old middle school teacher.

2024-05-21 22:07:10

Polls are closing in an hour in Georgia, and Oregon is coming up later in the night (plus Idaho). So I hope you're ready for a big election night.
A supreme court race. DA elections. Legislative primaries. A secession vote.
All I'm watching: https://boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-ballot/your-guide-to-the-may-21-elections/

2024-05-20 22:41:43

Big election tomorrow: Oregon's secretary of state.
Election offices often get covered if there’s an election denier. But how they’re run in blue states matters: How proactively does a state register ppl? How easy is it to vote by mail? in jail? in prison?
Those are stakes here: https://boltsmag.org/democracy-in-oregon-secretary-of-state-race-manning-read/

2024-05-20 17:01:51

Jaw-dropper in Montana: the AP is reporting that the Republican attorney general admitted on recording that he recruited a challenger in the primary so he could raise more money and skirt campaign finance rules. https://apnews.com/article/montana-attorney-general-campaign-finance-primary-opponent-54b427bb9f71d51adadcf76ca244c8c6

2024-05-19 21:43:33

There’s a ballot measure on the Arizona this fall, put there by the GOP, that’d nearly kill popular initiatives there.
Talk about retaliation: Initiatives used there for minimum wage hike, end gerrymandering, abortion rights, campaign finance reqs https://boltsmag.org/arizona-ballot-measure-would-restrict-popular-initiatives/

2024-05-19 17:22:02

Are you ready for TUESDAY's elections?
Weekend is always a perfect time to read up on what's in store... namely:
— a swing state supreme court race
—House districts that'll matter in the fall
—the DA & judge overseeing Trump's Atlanta case
my guide: https://boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-ballot/your-guide-to-the-may-21-elections/

2024-05-17 16:50:31

NEW: Arizona organizers are working hard to put an abortion rights measure on November's ballot.
The GOP has made a move too: They've put a separate referendum on the ballot.
It'd basically shut the door on future ballot initiatives in Arizona. https://boltsmag.org/arizona-ballot-measure-would-restrict-popular-initiatives/

2024-05-16 16:59:04

NEW: Next week may be the busiest Election Day since Super Tuesday.
We have a Supreme Court race, DA races, statewide battles, a special election, and fights to shape the next Congress.
My cheat sheet dives into what you should watch. https://boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-ballot/your-guide-to-the-may-21-elections/

2024-05-14 05:24:57

It's Tuesday, so it must be Election Day!
—#MDSen & its tens of millions self-funding
—a Jan. 6-er wants to join Congress
—dynasties galore in West Virginia
—education wars in Nebraska
—Anchorage battle with big fault line
& a lot more! Our cheat sheet: https://boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-ballot/elections-to-watch-may-7-and-14-indiana-nebraska-west-virginia/

2024-05-12 16:06:42

ICYMI, I looked at all 33 states that have supreme court races in 2024.
These are bodies that greatly shape civil & voting rights, abortion, and a lot more — making it critical to know who's on the ballot, & what it means.
Everything you need to know: https://boltsmag.org/your-state-by-state-guide-to-the-2024-supreme-court-elections/

2024-05-10 16:52:29

Disability groups in California are demanding the right for voters with disabilities to file electronic ballots. That right exists in 12 states, but advocates stress, lack of such options undermines the right to a secret ballot.
NEW: https://boltsmag.org/california-electronic-voting-disability-rights/

2024-05-09 17:31:23

"INTUITIVELY"
An absurd quote from the Speaker. Conservatives have poured in resources into investigations into this, only to repeatedly fail since they're making it up. So now Johnson says we "intuitively" know "that a lot of illegals are voting in federal elections." https://politico.com/live-updates/2024/05/08/congress/johnsons-new-voting-push-ballot-conservatives-house-00156817
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2024-05-08 02:03:58

JUST IN: Three GOP county commissioners in Michigan's Delta County were just recalled. One lost to a Democrat; 2 lost to indies.
Recalls were motivated by the firing of a county administrator, as well as incumbents' opposition to DEI, according to: https://www.miningjournal.net/news/2024/05/22230-residents-eligible-to-vote-in-recall-election/

2024-05-07 17:47:57

Bolts is trying something new: We're soliciting YOUR questions! Elections law expert Josh Douglas has a new book coming out on how SCOTUS keeps undermining voting rights, what it's doing, and how it's all coming to a head.
And he's agreed to answer some of your questions.
If you want to know anything on that topic... ask away! https://boltsmag.org/ask-bolts/

2024-05-04 17:59:14

Here's a status update on abortion rights initiatives:
—On the ballot for sure: FL, MD
—Organizers have gathered *or* submitted more than enough signatures (but not final): AZ, MO, SD
—Some other states to watch: AR, CO, MT, NE, NV

2024-05-03 14:35:21

in West Virginia's congressional primaries in 10 days, there's at least:
—a Michael Flynn-backed conspiracist
—a former lawmaker who participated in Jan. 6
—multiple incumbents who voted to overturn the 2020 election
https://boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-ballot/elections-to-watch-may-7-and-14-indiana-nebraska-west-virginia/

2024-05-01 17:02:38

A community program in Chicago has been supporting people on pretrial release, to improve their odds of success.
Now Illinois has ended cash bail, & there are efforts to scale up these programs statewide -- & to connect people to critical services.
Fascinating new read: https://boltsmag.org/illinois-pretrial-success-act/

2024-04-25 01:04:54

Arizona is indicting 11 people who served as fake Trump electors in the 2020 election, as well as Giuliani and others. https://apnews.com/article/arizona-fake-electors-charges-2020-election-9da5a7e58814ed55ceea1ca55401af85

2024-04-24 02:08:46

Summer Lee, the 1st Squad member to face a contested primary this year, prevailed in PA12.
AP just called it as Lee leads easily, with margin likely to continue growing.
She faced Bhavini Patel, who took issue with Lee's left-wing politics and criticism of Israel, and had support from conservative mega donor Jeffrey Yass.

2024-04-23 21:13:52

The nation's 4th biggest county, Maricopa, is now hit by an abortion ban alongside the rest of Arizona.
I talked to the Democratic candidate for prosecutor. She said she wouldn't prosecute an abortion case.
"It’s not my business,” she told me.
More:
https://boltsmag.org/arizona-abortion-ban-county-prosecutor-elections/

2024-04-17 18:56:46

Democrats are contesting all legislative districts in Idaho for the first time in 30 years & hope they can make some gains by running against the far-right's agenda: https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/17/idaho-democrats-comeback-00152346

2024-04-12 17:58:52

JUST IN: DeSantis signed a new law today that guts oversight of police in Florida.
Florida already has remarkably weak police oversight boards to start with; this strips them of the little authority they do have, and bans strengthening them.
Our piece from a few weeks back: https://boltsmag.org/florida-weaken-civilian-police-oversight-bodies/

2024-04-04 01:06:16

Today I published a state-by-state guide to all of 2024's state supreme court races.
Abortion, voting rights, & other civil rights issues keep coming down to who voters put on bench... & they're electing 82 judges this year.
No excuse to not know! https://boltsmag.org/your-state-by-state-guide-to-the-2024-supreme-court-elections/

2024-04-03 15:22:22

I decided to look at all 33 states with supreme court elections this year.
Why? Recent events show how they're greatly shaping civil & voting rights, abortion access, and a lot more. It's critical to pay attention.
Here's everything you need to know: https://boltsmag.org/your-state-by-state-guide-to-the-2024-supreme-court-elections/

2024-03-30 16:46:33

Just four days under Wisconsin votes for a pair of ballot measures, endorsed by Trump & the state GOP, to change election laws in the state.
With likely low turnout & not a lot of noise around the measures, opponents have their work cut out for them. https://boltsmag.org/wisconsin-question-2-ballot-measure-election-administration/

2024-03-27 17:28:24

Alabama just adopted a new law last week that criminalizes assisting people with absentee voting.
Voting rights groups are scrambling to respond and fight back, worried how it'll affect their activities.
NEW: https://boltsmag.org/alabama-law-absentee-voting-law/

2024-03-26 19:23:45

Wisconsin is just a week away from a referendum, placed by the GOP on a low-turnout day, that'd affect election administration in the run-up to November.
do you know about it? because local elections officials want you to! https://boltsmag.org/wisconsin-question-2-ballot-measure-election-administration/
https://assets.journa.host/media_attachments/files/112/163/619/605/329/968/original/887ae48b254f418d.jpg

2024-03-21 19:56:36

NEW: The GOP has put an extremely under-radar measure on Wisconsin's ballot on April 2, in two weeks. Voting groups in the state are warning the language is so vague it may chill their ability to get involved & fill in gaps. https://boltsmag.org/wisconsin-question-2-ballot-measure-election-administration/

2024-03-17 17:03:54

If you want to catch up this weekend on the elections coming up this week: jump into my guide to the 20 elections to watch on Tuesday, largely in IL & OH.
Ohio's Senate race, ofc, but that's just the tip; plenty else for Congress, prosecutor, judge:
https://boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-ballot/elections-to-watch-march-19-2024/

2024-03-14 19:45:21

Chicago is notoriously plagued by wrongful convictions, police misconduct, & related issues.
The prosecutor's office has said they're confronting all this... but Shawn Mulcahy documents a sea of dysfunction in lead-up to next week's prosecutor race: https://boltsmag.org/cook-county-chicago-wrongful-conviction-unit/

2024-03-14 19:45:21

2024-03-10 20:44:44

Portugal was voting today, and exit polls show the center-right finishing narrowly ahead of the governing center-left, but failing to get a majority and would have to form a minority government. Importantly, the far-right surges to historic high by roughly doubling its result from the last election.

2024-03-09 23:27:48

things Louisiana just did, all within days:
—speed up executions
—expand qualified immunity
—end mechanisms to release people from prison
—move all 17-year olds into adult courts & detention
—jail people for technical violations of prob
and more...:
https://boltsmag.org/louisiana-special-session-crime-jail-population-sheriffs/

2024-03-06 06:22:21

Elon Musk endorsed the challenger to Austin's progressive DA. He emailed Tesla staff to go out to vote in the race today.
The DA, José Garza, just won by a 2 to 1 margin. boltsmag.org/houston-aust... https://boltsmag.org/houston-austin-da-elections/

2024-03-02 20:37:12

Before the pres race, well, the busiest primary day of the year is coming up in just THREE days.
25% of House primaries will be taken care of in one day.
Plus critical races for DA, supreme courts, legislature, & more. Weekend is time to prepare: https://boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-ballot/elections-to-watch-march-5-2024/

2024-02-29 19:43:59

NEW in bolts: A swath of GOP attorneys general are weaponizing their role in the ballot measure process to keep blocking initiatives over abortion, redistricting, or voting rights -- often delaying it for a long time even if they end up losing in court.
All over: https://boltsmag.org/attorneys-general-stall-ballot-measures/

2024-02-27 16:57:17

Many state supreme races, including for chief justice in Alabama... a post you've heard much about in last weeks.
School board races ft. anti-LGBT candidates.
Multiple battles over policing.
CA's first open Senate race in decades.
And it's just March! My new guide to SUPER TUESDAY: https://boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-ballot/elections-to-watch-march-5-2024/

2024-02-19 15:19:19

JUST IN: Governor Tony Evers signed new legislative maps for Wisconsin.
Maps give Dems a new shot at winning majorities in WI, undo GOP's hyper-gerrymander.
They were proposed by Evers after state supreme court struck down the gerrymander. GOP passed them last week to avoid court coming back in.

2024-02-14 05:09:06

JUST IN: The ballot initiative to raise the minimum wage to $20.29 is ahead by 15% in the first batch of results in Renton, WA.
This (for large employers, $18.29 for smaller employers) would be one of the highest rates in the nation

2024-02-14 03:15:03

What's happened tonight so far:
→ Dems flipped NY03, George Santos' congressional seat.
→ Dems also secured the majority in the Pennsylvania House, defending a legislative seat.
Not over! We're also watching a big minimum wage vote on the West Coast. https://boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-ballot/february-2024/

2024-02-07 18:15:17

A new poll finds that 70% of Minnesotans approve of the state's decision last year to make school lunches free: https://minnesotareformer.com/briefs/free-school-meals-overwhelmingly-popular-with-voters-survey-finds/

2024-02-07 16:40:44

NEW: An election law professor was frustrated watching Pennsylvania's 2020 election from the sidelines. So he ran in one of the state's largest counties.
Now, he chairs the board of elections & wants to stop thousands of mail ballots from getting tossed: https://boltsmag.org/mobile-ballot-curing-in-pennsylvania/

2024-02-04 17:09:12

Here's an election that's getting almost no attention but that's now a month away: Alex Villanueva, the former sheriff of Los Angeles who was ousted in 2022, is now trying a political comeback in county government on March 5. https://boltsmag.org/los-angeles-county-board-of-supervisors-alex-villanueva-jail-deaths/

2024-01-30 00:21:56

Did you know that 25% of Black adults are barred from being in a jury in New Jersey… for life?
Here’s why, and what some in the state are proposing to change that. A big bill to watch in coming months: https://boltsmag.org/new-jersey-juries-service-people-with-criminal-convictions/

2023-12-10 04:26:28

Houston just elected John Whitmire, a longtime TX senator, as mayor.
Whitmire, a Dem, was an architect of Texas' prison boom in 1990s. He helped stall criminal justice reforms passed by the GOP House in the Senate, and ran on ramping up policing. Context: https://boltsmag.org/houston-mayors-race-2023-runoff/

2023-11-30 20:41:43

BREAKING: Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer just signed landmark voting rights legislation:
It's the first law in the nation that will automatically register people as they're released from prison!
Learn more: https://boltsmag.org/michigan-automatic-voter-registration-prison/

2023-11-16 22:26:48

BREAKING: Massachusetts has just adopted a new law today to make phone calls from prison and jails free.
In fact, it'd also wipe charges for other forms of communication between incarcerated ppl & their loved ones.
Bolts previewed bill here: https://boltsmag.org/massachusetts-prison-jail-phone-calls/

2023-11-14 18:27:52

Ohioans just legalized weed last week. You heard about that part!
But the GOP is already signaling all the precise ways it'll roll back this measure, which isn't a constitutional amendment. Including using it to boost jails.
NEW in bolts: https://boltsmag.org/ohio-voters-issue-2-legalized-marijuana-equity-provisions-expungement/

2023-11-11 00:57:30

Did you catch this? Two sheriffs who've joined national far-right networks lost reelection Tuesday.
One in Snohomish County, WA. Context: https://boltsmag.org/snohomish-sheriff-election-2023/
Another in Culpeper County, VA. Context: https://boltsmag.org/culpeper-virginia-sheriff/
Both have wild backgrounds. Check out stories!

2023-11-04 21:24:47

if you're on probation in a place that bans abortion, you probably won't be able to travel out of state — unless you ask for permissions to officers that they're unlikely to grant it for something that'd involve breaking local law.
a post-Dobbs reality that’s a factor In Ohio’s Tuesday vote: https://boltsmag.org/ohio-abortion-amendment-issue-1-probation-parole/

2023-11-01 17:13:29

It's a big day for @npub1lsf…z7mv: From today thru Dec. 31st, the NewsMatch program matches any gift you make to support our journalism!
That means: Any donation you make will be tripled.
And if you start a new monthly donation, your monthly sum is matched *times 24*!
Yup, that's right: If you create a $5 monthly membership today, you're automatically unlocking $120 from NewsMatch to us. That's a big deal!
You can go a long way boosting our work here: https://boltsmag.org/donate

2023-10-23 01:09:40

A Virginia sheriff was asking people for cash or campaign donations... in exchange for making them 'auxiliary' sheriff deputies, with the right to carry sheriff-issued firearms.
Now he’s under indictment… but running for re-election in 3 weeks. ICYMI: https://boltsmag.org/culpeper-virginia-sheriff/

2023-10-22 16:17:21

If you live in Seattle.... did you know an election denier is trying to become chief election administrator in your county? An underdog, but noteworthy there'll be no partisan affiliation marked on the ballot, so the incumbent can't just rely on party ID. https://boltsmag.org/a-pair-of-election-deniers-are-running-to-take-over-election-offices-in-washington/

2023-10-21 15:49:13

It's Saturday: that's the perfect time to explore my guide to what's on the ballot in 17 days (!) & why you should care!
KY & VA get most of the attention, but chances are there's critical stuff in your backyard: governors, school boards, measures, judges, mayors, DAs...
Here are more than 160 items across 28 states: https://boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-ballot/2023-general-election/

2023-10-20 15:06:10

NEW: a MAGA sheriff is running for election in 3 weeks in Virginia, with ties to countless far-right groups & a rabidly anti-immigration agenda.
But now there's more: He's running while under federal indictment for bribery & fraud.
https://boltsmag.org/culpeper-virginia-sheriff/

2023-10-19 20:51:43

BREAKING: ACLU of Virginia says that, with just 19 days to go before VA votes, people *still* haven't been reinstated to voter rolls, even after Youngkin has admitted an illegal purge: https://acluva.org/en/news/aclu-va-demands-vsp-and-va-elect-reinstate-voting-rights-virginians
@alxburness burness just reported on VA's failure to fix: https://boltsmag.org/virginia-erroneous-voter-purge/

2023-10-17 04:49:03

Poland has finished counting ballots, & it confirms the unexpectedly clear victory of the opposition coalition over the ruling nationalists: https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/poland-election-coaliiton-1.6997607
Turnout was a record high, especially among women, after campaign where abortion bans were a major issue.

2023-09-20 01:06:00

Big election result tonight: Democrats FLIP a state House seat in New Hampshire.
Why is this big? It puts Dems just 1 seat away from tying the GOP in chamber; & they're very likely to get that seat in another special in 7 weeks. Today's was the big one. https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/9/19/2194297/-Democrats-flip-key-New-Hampshire-seat-putting-them-inches-from-erasing-GOP-s-majority

2023-09-17 00:54:01

- reply

But 3 reasons you should still watch Louisiana!
1. measure on banning private grants to help election admin https://boltsmag.org/louisiana-elections-funding-amendment-1-ballot-measure
2. this sheriff race in a deadly jail county https://boltsmag.org/east-baton-rouge-parish-jail
3. and of course, an extremely important Gov race https://boltsmag.org/jeff-landry-governor-race-new-orleans-policing

2023-09-17 00:27:11

I just figured out that Democrats have filed no candidate in the majority of state House *and* state Senate districts in Louisiana.
This means the GOP is already assured of keeping both chambers of the Louisiana legislature this fall before any vote has been cast.

2023-09-17 00:27:11

2023-09-06 17:13:46

NEW: West Virginia just adopted a law that now requires that, for an incarcerated person to receive care, the head of WV's prison system must greenlight it as necessary.
This is happening in a state with already-dismal care. Here's what it could mean: https://boltsmag.org/west-virginia-jails-and-prisons-health-care/

2023-09-03 03:56:58

The Texas attorney general pressured his staff to help a friend under investigation. Then he fired the whistleblowers. Then he asked taxpayers to pay the settlement. All while his friend gave his mistress a job in Austin so they could see each other. 🤯 https://boltsmag.org/ken-paxton-faces-trial-texas-senate/

2023-08-30 19:02:32

NEW: A red-leaning county in Iowa yesterday ousted an election denier who was county's chief elections office.
Dems won 2:1, a big turnaround from Trump's 17% win here. And note Dems collected thousands of signatures to force a special election here: https://boltsmag.org/iowa-warren-county-auditor-ousted-election-denier/

2023-08-17 17:54:18

.@npub1lu4…wlw8 reports on what a state court's ruling on a right to live in a livable climate could mean for the country, important stuff: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/montana-youths-climate-lawsuit-win-blueprint-nationwide-1234807924/

2023-08-17 04:43:56

Arkansas in 2020 defeated a measure very similar to Ohio’s Issue 1.
So the GOP put it on ballot again in 2022. It lost again.
So the GOP just shoved the same changes thru a regular law, now in court.
That’s the war on direct democracy right now. https://boltsmag.org/direct-democracy-roundtable-ohio-arkansas-idaho/

2023-08-04 17:04:15

NEWS: Massachusetts this week passed legislation that will make phone calls from prison and jails free.
In fact, it'd also wipe charges for other forms of communication between incarcerated folks & their loved ones.
Big win for a growing movement: https://boltsmag.org/massachusetts-prison-jail-phone-calls/