Author: Lara Bonatesta

  • Democratic socialist Chris Rabb won the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District on May 19

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    Christopher Rabb defeated Sharif Street, Ala Stanford, and Shaun Griffith in the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District on May 19, 2026. Incumbent Dwight Evans did not run for re-election. Rabb, Stanford, and Street led in media attention, campaign fundraising, and endorsements. No Republicans ran in the district. Local media outlets framed the race…

  • A closer look at state-level voting rights acts

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, May 20, 2026, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: A closer look at state-level voting rights acts  Since Congress passed the 1965 Voting Rights Act (VRA), prohibiting racial discrimination in voting nationwide, 10 states have passed state-level voting rights acts. The provisions…

  • Louisville, Kentucky is holding its first nonpartisan primaries for electing mayor and Metro Council on May 19

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    On May 19, Louisville, Kentucky, is holding nonpartisan primary elections for mayor and Metro Council for the first time. The top two vote getters in each race will advance to the general election on Nov. 3, 2026. In 2024, the Kentucky General Assembly approved House Bill 388, making multiple changes to local government elections and…

  • Record number of candidates running for the Georgia General Assembly in 2026

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    Image of the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta, Georgia.

    There are 538 candidates running for the Georgia General Assembly this year. This is the most candidates running since 2010. An average of 429 candidates ran each year between 2010 and 2024. According to WABE’s Mark Niesse, “With legislators running for higher office, longtime lawmakers retiring, and many challenges to incumbents, the Georgia General Assembly…

  • Most incumbents running for re-election and the fewest incumbents contested in the primaries for Pennsylvania’s General Assembly since 2010

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    There are 416 candidates running in the primaries for the Pennsylvania General Assembly on May 19. Of those, there are 218 incumbents, the most since 2010, running for re-election this year. Twenty-one incumbents (9.6%) are contested. This ties with 2024 for the fewest contested incumbents since 2010. Pennsylvania is one of 11 states with a…

  • California ballot initiative proposed for 2028 to repeal the top-two primary system

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    Welcome to the Thursday, May 14, 2026, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: California ballot initiative proposed for 2028 to repeal the top-two primary system On May 8, Steve Maviglio, a Democratic political consultant and strategist known for his work on California ballot measure campaigns, filed…

  • Nebraska has the fewest candidates running for its single state legislative chamber since 2010

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    There are 57 candidates running for Nebraska’s unicameral Legislature this year, the fewest since 2010, when there were 51. This marks a departure from the last two times Nebraska held state legislative elections, which had the most and second-most candidates running since 2010. Seventy-three candidates ran in 2024, and 66 candidates ran in 2022. According…

  • Idaho initiative campaigns submit signatures for measures on abortion and medical marijuana

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, May 6, 2026, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Idaho initiative campaigns submit signatures for measures on abortion and medical marijuana   On May 1, supporters of two Idaho initiatives that would add a right to reproductive freedom to state law and…

  • Four candidates are running in the May 19 Democratic primary for Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District

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    Shaun Griffith, Christopher Rabb, Ala Stanford, and Sharif Street are running in the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District on May 19, 2026. Incumbent Dwight Evans is not running for re-election. Rabb, Stanford, and Street led in media attention, campaign fundraising, and endorsements. There are no Republicans running in the district. Local media outlets…

  • A look at the notable Republican primaries for U.S. Senate happening in May

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    There are eight states holding primaries for U.S. Senate this month. Additionally, on May 5, Ohio is holding a primary for the special election to fill the rest of the six-year term that Vice President J.D. Vance (R) was elected to in 2022.  Eight Democratic primaries and eight Republican primaries are contested this month. Republicans…