The Downballot

David Nir & David Beard
  • 4.7 (136)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
The Downballot

https://the-downballot.com/ The Downballot podcast is dedicated to the thousands of elections below the presidency, from Senate to city council. With more than 20 years of experience analyzing U.S. elections, we provide unparalleled insight into congressional, state, and local races nationwide. Tune in every Thursday morning for one-of-a-kind coverage of these key contests. www.the-downballot.com

  1. PA's Austin Davis on electing more LG's like him

    5 DAYS AGO

    PA's Austin Davis on electing more LG's like him

    Our guest this week on The Downballot podcast is Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, who tells us all about the importance of the job—and about his plans for electing more folks like him as the new chair of the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association. These number-twos hold many additional roles, whether as tie-breakers in legislatures, state election administrators, and more. Davis highlights top races in 2025 and 2026, including Arizona, which will elect its first lieutenant governor ever next year. Co-hosts David Nir and David Beard also discuss a new effort by Virginia Democrats to pass amendments enshrining abortion, same-sex marriage, and voting rights into the state constitution, illustrating how states will once again be the central battlefront for protecting democracy in the second Trump era. And they explain why new Senate appointments in Ohio and Florida could yield messy GOP primaries—and a Democratic opportunity. Get full access to The Downballot at www.the-downballot.com/subscribe

    50 min
  2. The Minnesota GOP tries to hijack a tied House

    JAN 16

    The Minnesota GOP tries to hijack a tied House

    The Minnesota House wound up evenly tied after the November elections, but Republicans say they're entitled to run the chamber and pick a speaker. We're unpacking this bizarre turn of events on this week's episode of The Downballot podcast, an ongoing saga that's seen Democrats respond by playing hardball and walking out to deny the GOP a quorum. Will the courts step in, or will they leave lawmakers to resolve the deadlock themselves? It's all unfolding as we speak. We're also talking to data journalist Derek Willis, whose work collecting detailed election results across the country is near and dear to our nerdy hearts. Willis notes that this is a particularly American problem—most other countries centralize their election data—and explains the often-painful process for gathering results, which can even involve deciphering handwritten numbers. But the efforts yield critical insights into our democracy, so if you'd like to get involved, be sure to check out the all-volunteer Open Elections. Get full access to The Downballot at www.the-downballot.com/subscribe

    55 min
  3. Watch David Nir and Aaron Rupar's live chat and Q&A

    JAN 9

    Watch David Nir and Aaron Rupar's live chat and Q&A

    David Nir, publisher of The Downballot, and Aaron Rupar, publisher of Public Notice, held their monthly live chat on Thursday to share their insights on some of the most important stories in American politics, including: * Why Donald Trump’s dangerous talk of invading Greenland and Panama shouldn’t distract us from the upcoming fights over his atrocious cabinet nominees * How Democrats should handle Trump’s deranged lies about the California wildfires, and why a bona fide progressive media is so critical * Big special election wins for Democrats in Virginia that saw them hold their one-seat majorities in the legislature—and what they might mean for 2025 and 2026 David and Aaron also took a variety of questions from those who participated live. If you missed the event, you can watch it by clicking above! You can also find a complete transcript. Tune in at 2 PM ET on the second Thursday of each month to join in the discussion and fire away with your questions! Our next event will take place on Feb. 13. You’ll need the free Substack app to participate. If you haven’t yet subscribed to The Downballot, which provides unparalleled coverage of the thousands of critical elections below the presidency, sign up below: And if you haven’t yet subscribed to Public Notice, which offers insightful and independent commentary on U.S. politics and media, click the button below: Get full access to The Downballot at www.the-downballot.com/subscribe

    58 min
  4. Dems start 2025 with big wins in Virginia

    JAN 9

    Dems start 2025 with big wins in Virginia

    The Downballot podcast is back from our break, and already we've got election results to discuss on this week's show! Democrats in Virginia started the year off right with solid wins in two special elections that allowed them to retain their narrow majorities in both houses of the state legislature while Republicans actually underperformed in a third race. And of course, North Carolina is once again top of mind as Republicans move forward with a plan to overturn the results of last year's race for the state Supreme Court—even though two recounts confirmed that Democrats won. We're also digging into the wild situation in the Minnesota House, where Democrats are threatening a walkout if Republicans refuse to accept the power-sharing deal the parties began hammering out after the chamber wound up tied following the November elections. Get full access to The Downballot at www.the-downballot.com/subscribe

    30 min
  5. The Second Annual Downballot Awards

    12/19/2024

    The Second Annual Downballot Awards

    We are delighted to wrap up the year with our presentation of the Second Annual Downballot Awards! We honor both the highlights and the lowlights of a wild election cycle. Who will take home the prize for Most Embarrassing Use of AI? Least Impactful Revenge Tour? Most Humiliating Fall from Grace? But it's not just razzies: Tune in to learn who won Most Impressive Overperformance, the Iron Bladder Award, and the top accolade, Best Campaign! The most important honor, though, goes to you, our listeners, for your steadfast support all year long. We could not do this without you. We are truly grateful. As promised, here's a link to the winner of our Best Ad and Worst Ad awards. And if you'd like to contribute to our end-of-year fundraiser on ActBlue, just click here. Thank you! Get full access to The Downballot at www.the-downballot.com/subscribe

    37 min
  6. The NC GOP's rancid new power grab

    12/12/2024

    The NC GOP's rancid new power grab

    It's been a good news/bad news week for Democrats and democracy in North Carolina, so we're diving deep into the muck to explain it all on this week's episode of The Downballot podcast. A second recount upheld Democrat Allison Riggs' victory in the ultra-close race for the state Supreme Court, and officials threw out challenges from her Republican opponent seeking to invalidate some 60,000 ballots. But the GOP also overrode Gov. Roy Cooper's veto to pass an obscene power grab that's as breathtaking as it is blatant. Just one example: They're moving the board of elections from the governor to the state auditor. Why? Simply because Democrats won the former office last month while Republicans won the latter. The rest of the bill is even more atrocious. Co-hosts David Beard and David Nir will tell you all about it. Get full access to The Downballot at www.the-downballot.com/subscribe

    29 min
  7. How EMILYs List's candidates won in a tough year

    12/05/2024

    How EMILYs List's candidates won in a tough year

    The last unresolved House race of 2024 is finally in the books, giving Democrats a victory that will narrow the GOP's already precarious margin even further. On this week's episode of The Downballot podcast, co-hosts David Nir and David Beard explore the ramifications of Republicans' tiny majority, which will either result in gridlock or further dependence on Democratic votes. The Davids also discuss Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan's decision to abandon the Democratic Party and run for governor as an independent—though it might not prove to be a catastrophe for Democrats.Joining us for our deep dive this week is Jessica Mackler, president of EMILYs List, a political mainstay that's been devoted to electing pro-choice Democratic women for nearly 40 years. Mackler highlights endorsees who overperformed to win tough races, like Michigan's Elissa Slotkin, while noting that vocal support for abortion rights is only one part of a winning campaign. She also looks toward upcoming races EMILYs is focused on and shares some thoughts on top-shelf candidates who could run again after falling just short in 2024. Get full access to The Downballot at www.the-downballot.com/subscribe

    49 min
  8. A come-from-behind shocker in North Carolina

    11/21/2024

    A come-from-behind shocker in North Carolina

    In a stunning turn of events almost two weeks after Election Day, Democrat Allison Riggs surged to a narrow lead in her bid for a full term on the North Carolina Supreme Court after trailing by as many as 10,000 votes. David Nir and David Beard discuss this dramatic turnaround on this week's episode of The Downballot podcast—but caution that legal challenges before a far-right judiciary await. Please consider supporting The Downballot with a paid subscription today. The Davids also talk to one of their favorite congressional reporters, Abby Livingston of Puck News, who shares her views on the gap between Donald Trump and the rest of the GOP ticket in this year's elections. Was it a special "Trump sauce" or candidate quality that saw them diverge? The answer might be both! Livingston also pulls back the curtain on the anonymous Democratic "bedwetters" who constantly fret to reporters, explaining that most are at least one step removed from any actual campaigns. Get full access to The Downballot at www.the-downballot.com/subscribe

    47 min
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4.7
out of 5
136 Ratings

About

https://the-downballot.com/ The Downballot podcast is dedicated to the thousands of elections below the presidency, from Senate to city council. With more than 20 years of experience analyzing U.S. elections, we provide unparalleled insight into congressional, state, and local races nationwide. Tune in every Thursday morning for one-of-a-kind coverage of these key contests. www.the-downballot.com

Information

  • Creator
    David Nir & David Beard
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    152
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Downballot, LLC
  • Show Website
    The Downballot

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