What to Track in November 2019?

In 2019, a lot is riding on races for governor, attorney general, DA, sheriffs, or on legislative battles. This cheat sheet (briefly) unpacks some of those stakes, with windows into more.

You can use this printer-friendly, PDF version, or access a spreadsheet.

Statewide elections

Governors

DEM-HELD
LouisianaDEM
GOP-HELD
KentuckyDEM
MississippiGOP
before election: 27 GOP, 23 Dem

Attorney General

GOP-HELD
LouisianaGOP
DEM-HELD
KentuckyGOP
MississippiGOP

Secretaries of State

DEM-HELD
KentuckyGOP
GOP-HELD
LouisianaGOP
MississippiGOP

Judicial: Pennsylvania

2 Superior Court seats
1 Dem, 1 GOP
Dems would have grabbed a majority had they swept both.

Legislatures

Trifecta Watch

Split
LouisianaSplit
VirginiaDEM
Dem-run
New JerseyDEM
GOP-run
KentuckySplit [wp-svg-icons icon=”arrow-left” wrap=”i”]
MississippiGOP

Chambers: Can Democrats Gain Control?

BEFOREAFTER
VA | House51R-49D55D-45R
VA | Senate21R-19D21D-19R

Chambers: Can GOP gain supermajority?

BEFOREAFTER
MS | Senate33R-19DYes
LA | House61R-39D-5INo
LA | Senate25R-14DYes

Chambers: Unlikely to switch control

BEFOREAFTER
MS | House75R-45D-2IGOP
NJ | Assembly54-26 DDEM
NJ | Senate [1 seat]27-13 DDEM

Noteworthy legislative seats

LA | HouseNot a sweepDKE identifies these 7 runoffs as key to a GOP House supermajority (to go along its new Senate one). GOP needs sweep.
NJ |
LD1
[wp-svg-icons icon=”arrow-right” wrap=”i”] GOPA special election to replace Dem Rep. Jeff Van Drew, the only Senate district up for grabs in 2019.
NJ | House
GOP-held
Kyle Kondik & J. Miles Coleman identify LD1, 2, 11, 16 as GOP pick-up opportunities.
NJ | House: Dem-heldKondik and Coleman identify LD8, 21, 25, and 39 as Dems.’ pick-up opportunities.
TX |
HD28
GOPDems aiming to pick-up GOP seat in special, with 2020 battle looming.
VA: HD-13DemDanica Roem (D), who had one of Dems’ most emblematic 2017 wins, seeks 2nd term.
VA: HD-50DemLee Carter (D), who made news in 2017 for winning as a socialist, seeks 2nd term.
VA: More Dem-heldAll DemOther GOP targets in VA are HD10, 72, 73, 85, 21, 68, via @ChazNuttycombe.
VA: HD-94DemThis is the district that the GOP won in a random draw in 2017.
VA: HD-28 DemThis is the district with 2017 errors as to what district some voters were assigned to.
VA: HD-30GOPGOP incumbent stuck running a write-in in a red seat after not making ballot.
VA: Dem-held seats4 flipsHD27, 40, 66, 76, 83, 84, 91, 100
VA: Dem-held seats2 flipsSD7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17

Local Elections

Prosecutors

CA:
San Francisco
BoudinChesa Boudin running decarceral campaign; Suzy Loftus became DA in Oct..
NY
Dutchess
GOPDA Grady (R) seeks 9th term. Defended punitive policies; Dem backs pretrial reforms.
NY
Queens
DemMelinda Katz got the Dem nod (vs Caban); faces a GOP opponent who wants “law & order”
NY
Monroe
GOPGOP President-elect of DAASNY, resisted pretrial reforms, challenged.
NY
Ulster
DemAn assistant DA (R) vs. a former public defender (Dem). Preview
PA: AlleghenyDemLongtime DA with punitive record won Dem primary; now faces public defender (Ind.).
PA:
Delaware
DemInc. GOPer vs a Dem. with promises to reform, end private jail
PA:
Lancaster
GOPCrystle (D) is only PA candidate to commit to not treat overdoses as homicides. Vs. Adams (R)
VA:
Albemarle
DemHingeley (D), longtime PD, against incumbent (R), on decarceral message.
VA:
Arlington
DemP. Dehghani-Tafti ousted inc. on reform message in primary; sole candidate on ballot.
VA: ChesterfieldGOPScott Miles (D) won 2018 special on reform message; GOP opponent wants to roll back.
VA:
Fairfax
DemS. Descano (D) ousted incumbent on reform message in primary; GOP-endorsed rival warns against reform. Preview
VA:
Loudoun
DemOpen race; Dem nominee attacked for work as defense lawyer. Q&A.
VA:
PWC
DemIn big NoVa county, candidates running to replace a 51-year incumbent with stakes for reform.
VirginiaOne lost3 prosecutors who sued McAuliffe over voting rights face opponents.
Explore 2019 prosecutorial elections

Sheriffs

LA: East Baton Rouge
GOP
LA’s biggest parish. Jail has string of unreported deaths. And GOP sheriff in ICE’s 287g; Dems say they’ll quit
LA: AscensionInc.Sheriff defends long detention of Latinx U.S. citizen against ACLU lawsuit. Challenger critical.
LA: St. TammanyInc.Parish has lucrative ICE contract. GOP challenger to GOP sheriff wants to review, cut jail population.
NJ: MonmouthGOPICE-friendly GOP sheriff in a red county. Preview.
MS: LeFloreLongtime sheriff (R. Banks) part of Curtis Flowers case, up for reelection.
PA: ChesterDemTrump-championing GOP sheriff retires; replaced with Dem
VA: LoudounGOPSheriff taking donations from the private healthcare provider in jail he oversees
VA: PWCGOPCounty tight with ICE. GOP inc. vs. Dem challenger, who wants to roll back ties.
VA: WarrenGOPDem nominee runs on using sheriff powers for decarceral purposes.
WA: SnohomishGOPGOP challenger wants more arrests.
Explore 2019 sheriff elections

County executives or county board chairs

NY: Erie CountyDemGOP trying to wrestle back control.
NY: Monroe CountyDem [wp-svg-icons icon=”arrow-left” wrap=”i”]
NY: Onondaga CountyGOPDems. have never won this position.
NY: Suffolk CountyDemDemocrat seeking re-election
VA: Prince William Co.Dem [wp-svg-icons icon=”arrow-left” wrap=”i”]GOP Corey Stewart, famous for his far-right statewide runs, is retiring.

Municipal or city council elections

CO: Aurora mayorCoffmanFormer GOP Rep. Mike Coffman running against other Rs and local NAACP head.
TX: Houston mayorTurnerTurner running for re-election; challengers’ false claims about crime at issue.
NC: Charlotte mayorLylesincumbent Vi Lyles (D) faces David Michael (R) in the mayoral race in North Carolina’s largest city
NC: Charlotte councilGOPWill recent trends accentuate: can Dems win District 6 Charlotte for 1st time?
PA: Philly council1 WFP2 WFP candidates aim to win minority-party seats (over GOP); Kendra Brooks endorsed by Warren.
WA: Seattle councilSawant won; Scott lostKshama Sawant (inc.) & Shaun Scott running on socialist ID.
KS: Olathe councilBacon & MickelsonOlathe may pass an LGBT non-discrim. ordinance. To oppose it a conservative group is pushing for John Bacon (AL) & Adam Mickelson (Ward 2).
NY: Oyster Bay Town Supervisor, NassauSaladinoJoe Saladino, who allegedly refused to sell a house to a black buyer, seeks re-election.
Other municipalities, like Des Moines (IA), Tuscon (AZ), Indianapolis (IN), Raleigh & Durham (NC), Wichita (KS), Spokane (WA) also hold municipal races.