Getting Up To Speed on the 2024 Elections
With the nation drawing closer to Election Day, talk about the top of the ticket continues to be front of mind. The showdown between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump has mammoth implications for the future of our country — from whether or not women have the freedom to make their own healthcare decisions to whether or not we will continue on a path to a more prosperous, free, and joyful nation.
At the same time, hundreds of other races happening at the federal, state, and local levels are critical for securing American freedoms and ushering in a new wave of progress.
To help shine a light on key races and ballot initiatives happening across the country, NewDEAL has a few options to stay up to date.
NewDEAL’a award-winning podcast, An Honorable Profession, continues to release special bonus episodes weekly leading up to the election, where hosts and guests talk about key election issues with elected officials who are on the ground. We’ve already released episodes talking to:
- New Hampshire state Sen. Rebecca Perkins Kwoka about key races in her state;
- Lincoln, Nebraska, City Councilmember Tom Beckius about the state’s dueling abortion ballot initiatives;
- New Castle, Delaware, County Executive Matt Meyer, about his race for governor;
- DLCC President Heather Williams about her views on state legislative races; and
- Chester County, Pennsylvania, Commissioner Josh Maxwell about election administration in the high-profile swing state.
More bonus episodes will be released each week until Election Day. Listen to An Honorable Profession on Apple Podcasts or any other podcast platform, and watch the conversations on YouTube.
In addition, NewDEAL produced a 2024 Elections Memo detailing races at every level that could lead to dramatic changes in states and communities across America.
Here are five key highlights from that memo:
1.Key Governor Races
Democrats have a strong chance to maintain several key governor seats and the chance to flip one.
- Delaware: NewDEAL Leader New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer is widely expected to win the election and succeed Governor John Carney who is termed out after serving two terms.
- North Carolina: The Democratic nominee, Attorney General and NewDEALer Josh Stein, is looking to succeed Roy Cooper, a fellow center-left politician. The race was initially expected to be close, but Stein has held a steady lead in the polls. Republican candidate Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson faces scandal over an investigative report that found disturbing, inflammatory comments he had made online, such as “expressing support for reinstating slavery.” Cook Political Report rates the race as “Likely Dem.”
- New Hampshire: Former GOP Sen. Kelly Ayotte faces off against former Manchester Mayor and NewDEALer Joyce Craig in what Cook Political Report has listed as the only “toss-up” race in the country. Reproductive rights is shaping up to be a key issue in the race, as New Hampshire is the only state in New England without statutory protections for abortion rights in state law or in the state constitution.
2. State Legislatures to Flip
NewDEAL is focused on two states where Democrats have a strong chance to flip legislative chambers. In New Hampshire, Democrats are hoping to flip a narrow Republican majority in the state House, as well as the governor’s mansion (see above). In Arizona, Republicans hold a narrow lead in both chambers, but strong candidates could see the state flip to a full Democratic trifecta, since the governor is also a Democrat.
3. State Legislatures to Break Supermajorities
There are four states where Democrats have a strong chance to break Republican supermajorities in state legislatures: Kansas, Montana, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. In three of those states (Kansas, North Carolina, and Wisconsin), breaking the supermajorities would enable legislators to sustain the vetoes of Democratic governors.
4. Key Ballot Initiatives
While there are dozens of ballot initiatives across the nation, NewDEAL is keeping an eye on two broad categories: Abortion rights and Democracy.
Abortion: Ten states have abortion measures on the ballot this year (per Kaiser Family Foundation) that would expand or clarify abortion rights. Two ballot measures occur in Presidential battleground states (Arizona and Nevada), and five (Arizona, Nevada, Florida, Maryland, and Montana) occur in states with closely-watched Senate races.
Democracy: When it comes to democracy, there are a number of different measures for citizens to vote on. Key issues include:
- Ranked Choice Voting (RCV): Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon voters will decide on establishing RCV systems, while Alaska and Missouri have measures to repeal or ban it.
- Redistricting and Partisanship: An Ohio constitutional amendment would shift redistricting responsibilities from the state legislature to an independent, nonpartisan committee. Florida voters will weigh in on whether school board elections should be partisan going forward.
- Non-Citizen Voting: Eight states have measures to explicitly ban non-citizens from voting in federal elections, despite existing federal law.
5. NewDEAL Leaders Running for Re-Election and Higher Office
NewDEAL is proud to see nearly 100 of our members on the ballot this year. Many are running for re-election as mayors, city councilmembers, and state legislators. And two dozen current or former NewDEAL Leaders are seeking higher office, including two running for U.S. Senate (Ruben Gallego in Arizona and Angela Alsobrooks in Maryland); seven running for U.S. House seats; and three running for governor.
On Election Night, we’ll be tracking all NewDEAL Leaders and alumni running for higher offices and for re-election nationwide. At the 2024 Elections Headquarters, you can get live updates on all races featured in our 2024 Elections Memo, toggle between the tabs for results on gubernatorial and state legislative races, and view results from impactful ballot measures nationwide.