Author: Lara Bonatesta

  • Democratic socialist Katie Wilson elected mayor of Seattle as progressives win downballot races

    Posted on

    With nearly 280,000 ballots counted as of Nov. 13, Katie Wilson has been declared the winner of the election for mayor of Seattle, defeating incumbent Bruce Harrell 50.2%-49.5%. Seattle has roughly 505,000 registered voters.  Although Seattle’s mayoral elections are officially nonpartisan, both candidates were Democrats. This race was one of several 2025 mayoral contests that…

  • Wisconsin becomes the 21st state to adopt a K-12 cellphone ban in 2025

    Posted on

    Welcome to the Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Wisconsin becomes the 21st state to adopt a K-12 cellphone ban in 2025 A version of this story appeared in Hall Pass, Ballotpedia’s newsletter dedicated to school board politics and education policy on…

  • Dorean Taylor defeats incumbent Julia Spilsbury in Nov. 4 Mesa, Arizona City Council recall election

    Posted on

    An election to recall District 2 City Councilwoman Julie Spilsbury took place on November 4, 2025, in Mesa, Arizona. Dorean Taylor defeated Spilsbury 52.8%-47.2%, according to the unofficial election results as of 8 p.m. MST on Nov. 4. The recall effort began on Jan. 30, 2025, when Mesa resident JoAnne Robbins filed a recall petition.…

  • Voters in California, Maine, and Texas to decide ballot measures on elections and voting policy on Nov. 4

    Posted on

    Welcome to the Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Voters in California, Maine, and Texas to decide ballot measures on elections and voting policy on Nov. 4 Ballotpedia will cover 24 statewide and 188 local ballot measures on Nov. 4. While they…

  • A look at mayoral elections happening on Nov. 4

    Posted on

    Welcome to the Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2025 Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: A look at mayoral elections happening on Nov. 4  There are less than two weeks to go until Election Day, and Ballotpedia will cover more than 10,000 elections on Nov. 4. To help…

  • California Proposition 50 ranks as the seventh most expensive ballot measure in state history, with $139.9 million raised

    Posted on

    Welcome to the Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: California Proposition 50 ranks as the seventh most expensive ballot measure in state history, with $139.9 million raised  California Proposition 50 ranks as the seventh most expensive ballot measure in the state’s history,…

  • Sixteen candidates running for Texas' 18th Congressional District on Nov. 4

    Posted on

    Sixteen candidates are running in the special general election for Texas' 18th Congressional District on November 4, 2025. Candidates from all parties are running in the election, and if no one wins an outright majority, the top two candidates will advance to a runoff. The winner of this election will be the fourth person to…

  • A look at state executive election competitiveness in 2025

    Posted on

    Ballotpedia's 2025 study of competitiveness in state executive official elections found that 50% of incumbents (4 incumbents across 8 seats) did not seek re-election, leaving those seats open. An average of 41.7% of state executive seats were open in odd-year elections from 2011-2023. An average of 58.3% state executive incumbents sought re-election in odd years…

  • California voters will decide on a ballot measure to allow public financing of campaigns in Nov. 2026

    Posted on

    Welcome to the Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: California voters will decide on a ballot measure to allow public financing of campaigns in Nov. 2026 On Oct. 2, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed Senate Bill 42 (SB 42) to put…

  • Premium tax credits, work requirements, and rescission disputes are at the center of the government shutdown

    Posted on

    Welcome to the Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Premium tax credits, work requirements, and rescission disputes are at the center of the government shutdown The federal government shut down at midnight on Oct. 1 after Congress did not pass a continuing…