What to track in the 2021 primaries and special elections? A week-by-week guide
Governors and lawmakers, judges and mayors, and powerful county officials like prosecutors and sheriff are on the 2021 ballot. Here’s what I’m watching as the elections unfold, with particular attention to races where I can identify some ideological contrasts.
By Daniel Nichanian: As in past years, this is my personal effort to chronicle the stakes of elections up and down the ballot. You can follow me on Twitter @Taniel for more! And use the navigation functions above to revisit past cycles, such as 2020.
May 4: It’s Ohio’s turn
| Cincinnati mayor | First round of the mayoral election, with 6 candidates taking various positions on urgent policing and housing matters. Preview. | Pureval and Mann |
| Cincinnati: Issue 3 | A ballot initiative, supported by affordable housing activists & opposed by the mayor, for $50 million investment in affordable housing fund. | NO |
April 24 & May 1: congressional specials
| Louisiana’s 2nd District | Special election to replace Cedric Richmond. Runoff is a face-off between 2 Dems: Richmond-endorsed Troy Carter vs. Karen Carter Peterson, backed by some prominent progressives. Preview. | Carter |
| TX’s 6th CD | First round of a special election: top 2 candidates move to a runoff. Will one party be shut out? Will Trump-endorsed candidate move on? Preview. | Wright vs. Ellzey: all-R |
May 1: Texas local elections
| Austin | Referendum could recriminalize homelessness. | YES |
| Fort Worth | Mayoral race to replace the outgoing GOP mayor. Only first round. | Parker (R) vs Peoples (D) |
| Lubbock | Referendum on an ordinance banning abortion in city limits. Context | YES |
| San Antonio | Mayoral election; policing activists say no candidate is pushing enough change. | Nirenberg |
| San Antonio | Referendum would weaken police union. Preview. | NO |
April 6: There’s a statewide election in Wisconsin, and mayoral elections take center-stage
Statewide
| Wisconsin | The state will elect its superintendent of education, in runoff between progressive Jill Underly (backed by labor unions) and Deborah Kerr (backed by Scott Walker & charter school advocates). Context. Also here on DeVos’s involvement. | Underly |
Judges
| WI | Two Court of Appeals elections, in red-leaning distrits: Conservatives boost Shelley Grogan & Gregory Gilll to strengthen power in state courts. | Grill & Grogan |
Referendum
| St Louis | Whether to renew the earnings tax for 5 years. Context. | YES |
Legislatures
| CA: AD79 | Open Dem seat. Assemblymember Weber’s appointment as SoS opened up this Dem seat to a crowded special; will go to a runoff if no one gets 50%. | Dem |
| MO: HD45 | Open Dem-seat. Dems favored to hold this Boone Co.-area seat in a special. | DEM |
| OK: SD22 | Open GOP seat. A special election will fill the seat of GOP Stephanie Bice, who was elected to the House in 2020. | GOP |
| WI: SD13, AD89 | Open GOP seats. The GOP is defending two red seats, one in each chamber. | GOP |
Mayors and city councils
| Anchorage, AK | Mayor: An anti-homeless movement is trying to take over the city. Preview. | Bronson, Dunbar (likely) |
| Jackson, MS | Mayor: Chokwe Lumumba seeks a new term in Dem primary. His progressive promises had drawn national attention. Context. | Lumumba |
| Omaha, NE | Mayor: One of the bigger cities with a GOP mayor. The first round will determine who moves to the runoff. Preview of the stakes for policing and criminal justice. | RUNOFF: Stothert vs. Neary |
| St. Louis, MO | Mayor: The two most progressive candidates in the first round moved to the runoff, but contrasts remain between T. Jones (who’s generally staked more progressive stances) and C. Spencer. On policing, issues like cash bail & sex work on the table. | Jones |
| St. Louis | City council: Progressives are trying to take over the local board by flipping key council seats. Preview. | Progs. gain at least 3 |
Also keep an eye on
| School board elections in Missouri, with debates centered on equity | ||
| A vast slew of municipal elections in suburban Cook County (around Chicago), profiled here | ||
| 6 city coucil elections in Colorado Springs: See this series on each |