The Downballot

South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace’s political career imploded in astonishing fashion on Tuesday night when she finished fifth in the GOP primary for governor—one of the most notable results that co-hosts David Nir and David Beard recap on this week’s episode of The Downballot podcast. There’s also Lindsey Graham, who needed $15 million in outside help to survive a race against a guy who advocated for “medical cocaine,” plus several important uncalled races in Maine, where ranked-choice tabulations will determine the winners next week.

State Sen. Mike Gianaris also explains how New York Democrats are moving to counteract the GOP’s new turbocharged gerrymanders. Gianaris tells us why the state’s redistricting system, which was designed to prop up Republicans, is so broken, and how a new constitutional amendment would allow Democrats to enact a new congressional map before 2028. But, he cautions, the vote on that amendment—likely in November of next year—will be a difficult and expensive battle.

The biggest primary night of the year unfolded on Tuesday—and it’s still not over. On this week’s episode of The Downballot podcast, co-hosts David Nir and David Beard recap all the top action and update listeners on where things stand in key contests that remain uncalled. On the docket is California’s race for governor, where Republicans are now looking at a possible lockout, as well as major battles in Iowa, Montana, and South Dakota, plus a whole ton of House races.

The Davids also speak with Georgia Democrat Peter Hubbard, who won a spot on the state’s Public Service Commission in a shocking landslide last year. Hubbard explains why races like his have become so salient, particularly as Americans face soaring utility bills and unwelcome data center construction. And with Democrats in position to take a majority on the PSC this fall, he tells us how the commission could achieve a “win-win-win” for Georgians by promoting renewable energy.

Nevada is set to host one of the most competitive governor’s races in the country this fall as Attorney General Aaron Ford takes on incumbent Republican Joe Lombardo. On this week’s episode of The Downballot podcast, co-host David Beard and guest host Joe Sudbay talk to Ford about how he got into politics, how Trump and Lombardo have made life hard for Nevada families, and how he’s going to work to bring costs down as governor.

This week has also seen plenty of primary action, highlighted by President Trump’s revenge tour against Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy and Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie—and with Texas Sen. John Cornyn up next. We discuss how these defeats of Republican incumbents will make Congress even harder to govern, and also highlight some other key primary results in Pennsylvania and Georgia.

The news on the redistricting front remains grim for anyone who believes in democracy and minority voting rights. On this week’s episode of The Downballot podcast, co-hosts David Nir and David Beard survey the latest damage, which includes new Republican maps tearing apart majority-Black districts in Alabama, Louisiana, and Tennessee. Democrats’ efforts to fight back were also dealt a devastating blow in Virginia, where the state Supreme Court invalidated plans for a new map that a majority of voters supported.

But there are many people working hard to safeguard democracy, including our guest, Andrea Hailey, the CEO of Vote.org. Hailey explains how her organization, the largest nonpartisan group in the country dedicated to boosting voter participation, helps voters throughout the entire process, from registration through Election Day. She also tells us about Vote.org’s efforts to fight attempts to make voting harder in states like Arkansas and reveals her favorite states that make the process as smooth as possible.

With the demise of the Voting Rights Act, Republicans are racing like mad to dismantle Black districts across the South. On this week’s episode of The Downballot podcast, co-hosts David Nir and David Beard recap all the latest developments, including Donald Trump’s successful ouster of Indiana Republicans who opposed his drive to gerrymander their state, plus GOP efforts to impose new maps in Alabama, Louisiana, and Tennessee just six months before Election Day.

And just how did we get here? Kevin Morris, a senior research fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice, tells us all about the history of the Supreme Court’s efforts to undermine voting rights, from Reconstruction through the Roberts court. Since 2013, SCOTUS has repeatedly chipped away at the VRA, with Callais serving as the final blow. Morris warns that the gravest effects are likely to be felt at the state and local level, which have yet to receive the attention they deserve.

Wednesday was one of the darkest days ever for American democracy, as the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act while pretending it was doing no such thing. But on this week’s episode of The Downballot podcast, co-hosts David Nir and David Beard explain how Democrats can fight back, both by drawing new maps of their own and laying the groundwork for major SCOTUS reforms.

The Davids also talk with Eugene DePasquale, the chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, about why he’s bullish on the midterms. DePasquale tells us about much-improved Democratic fortunes in voter registration and highlights four critical congressional races in the Keystone State. He also explains how Democrats can retake full control of state government in November for the first time since the early 1990s.

Democrats kicked Eric Swalwell to the curb lightning-quick, and it’s a very good thing he’s gone. On this week’s episode of The Downballot podcast, co-hosts David Nir and David Beard discuss the brave women who came forward to accuse Swalwell of sexual assault and wound up ending his political career. We also assess the fallout from his departure—and how it differs so starkly compared to the way Republicans dealt with a miscreant of their own, Tony Gonzales.

The Davids then talk with Maryam Jazini, the senior director of litigation at Common Cause, about the Justice Department’s efforts to wrest confidential vote data from nearly every state. Jazini explains why the DOJ’s crusade is such a dangerous component of Donald Trump’s hopes of asserting federal control over our elections. But groups like Common Cause are fighting back—and winning in court.

P.S. The Downballot podcast is taking next week off, but to attend the live recording of the Strength In Numbers podcast with Nir and G. Elliott Morris on April 23 in Washington, DC, please RSVP here!

It was a massive blowout for progressives up and down the ticket in Wisconsin on Tuesday night, capped by a rout in the race for the Supreme Court that saw liberals expand their hard-won majority. On this week’s episode of The Downballot podcast, co-host David Beard and guest host Joe Sudbay break down all of the top contests, as well as the special election for Marjorie Taylor Greene’s old seat, which saw another massive Democratic overperformance.

Beard then talks with G. Elliott Morris from Strength in Numbers about his new report on Donald Trump’s job approval broken down by congressional district, which shows Trump underwater in a huge number of Republican seats. Elliott explains how he produced this unique data set and tells us where Trump has lost the most ground—and with which groups of voters.

There are 36 races for governor in 2026, and many are shaping up to be highly competitive. On this week’s episode of The Downballot podcast, co-hosts David Nir and David Beard run through 10 of the most interesting races for governor across the country. They explain how the blue-leaning environment could help Democrats compete in red states and how ranked-choice voting systems could affect races in both Alaska and Maine.

The Davids also preview the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, a contest in which liberal candidate Chris Taylor looks like the decided favorite over her conservative rival, Maria Lazar. They discuss Democrats’ current structural advantage in races like these during the Trump era and consider the possibility of a dominant 6-1 progressive majority in 2027.

Democrats flipped not one but two districts in special elections on Tuesday night, and they managed it in Florida, of all places. On this week’s episode of The Downballot podcast, co-hosts David Nir and David Beard discuss how Democrats pulled off this most unlikely of feats in a state where their hopes have so often gone to die in recent years—and why Republicans should be particularly worried.

We’re also diving deep into Maryland politics with Baltimore Sun reporter Tinashe Chingarande, who explains why the Democrats’ hope of opening a new front in the redistricting wars ran aground in the Old Line State. But Senate President Bill Ferguson, the man who shut down any hopes of a remap, faces an unusual primary challenge that could end his long dominance over the legislature. Plus, the jam-packed race to succeed Steny Hoyer!