Election 2018
In Purple Texas, the Last Conservative City Falls
Despite a narrow defeat to Ted Cruz in the midterms, Beto O’Rourke conquered the state’s last major conservative urban area, and helped Democrats statewide.
Nationwide, Transportation Measures Rolled to Victory
High voter turnout meant lots of wins for transit- and transportation-related ballot measures on Tuesday.
On Ballot Measures, a Progressive Sweep
Across the U.S., progressive causes won big in ballot initiative results, from minimum wage hikes, to felon re-enfranchisement, to a corporate tax for homelessness.
Socialism Will Continue to Rise Regardless of Election Results
Even if the 2018 midterm elections seemingly produce a blue wave, non-traditional candidates will continue to rise as Bernie Sanders has injected socialism into national discourse.
The Midterm Election Is a Referendum on the Social Safety Net
Whether Democrats gain the House or the Senate or neither, the 116th Congress will decide the fate of public spending on America’s most vulnerable families.
Mapping Where Americans Don't Vote
“The United States of Apathy” showcases the dramatic effect of low voter turnout in U.S. elections.
The Strangest Form of White Flight
The wealthy residents of Eagle's Landing voted Tuesday on whether to secede from the metro Atlanta city of Stockbridge, just after a black mayor and an all-black city council took office.
The 2010 Midterm Wave Rewrote America’s Political Geography. Will 2018 Do It Again?
In 2010, Republicans established a new normal by dominating rural areas. Now, CityLab’s analysis shows it’s the suburbs that are up for grabs.
Where Immigration Enforcement Is on the Local Ballot
In Florida, New York, North Carolina, and Maryland, sheriffs’ and other local races have become referenda on local cooperation with ICE.
Can Voters End Gerrymandering When Politicians Won’t?
On Election Day, voters in Michigan, Utah, Missouri, and Colorado will decide if independent commissions—not lawmakers—should draw their states’ political districts.
From Portland: A Tax to Fund Equity in Tackling Climate Change
The Portland, Oregon, Clean Energy Community Benefits Initiative on the ballot Tuesday is a model for other cities to address inequity and climate change.
In These Outlier Congressional Districts, Density Doesn’t Equal Democrats
Across the U.S., denser districts in Congress tend to be more Democratic, and sparser ones more Republican. But there are a few exceptions with their own personalities, from Staten Island to Bernie Sanders land.
California Ballots Get Creative on Homelessness and Affordable Housing
California state and city ballot measures offer a variety of strategies for improving access to affordable housing, and shrinking the homeless population.
The Tech Companies Spending to Oppose (and Support) San Francisco’s Homelessness Tax
Almost $7 million is bankrolling a fight over whether businesses should pay for the city’s homeless crisis.
How the Suburbs Will Swing the Midterm Election
Close congressional races this November will likely hinge on the moods of suburban voters, a new CityLab analysis finds.
Can Banning Privatization Keep Water Cheap, Safe, and Flowing?
Baltimore voters are deciding whether to ban privatization of the water utility. But without the infusion of private investment, can cities continue to afford providing safe, inexpensive water?
Is This Experiment in Digital Democracy Too Crazy to Work?
A startup called Voatz wants to build an unhackable way to vote over the internet. What could possibly go wrong?
The Women Candidates Shocking the Competition
Access to money is often the greatest hurdle for non-establishment candidates. But local female politicians say the excitement of a non-traditional candidate is not only motivating voters, but in some cases, opening pockets.
Cities Take Aim at the Spiraling Costs of Local Elections
Big money is flooding into elections on the local level. Cities like Denver, Baltimore, and Portland, Oregon, are some of the ones pushing back.