In this week's DDHQ newsletter, a record number of U.S. House members are headed for the exits. 44 are retiring or running for another office, more than at the same point in any election cycle going back to 1974. More could depart, too, as only 5 states' filing deadlines have passed. zurl.co/Vu1Yh

Happy New Year! The DDHQ Podcast put out a special holiday edition looking back at how mid-decade redistricting interrupted the electoral career of Jeannette Rankin, the first woman ever elected to Congress. zurl.co/oh8pY

It's Tuesday, so it's Election Day — even 2 days before Xmas! South Carolina hosts 3 special elections for the state legislature. Only 1 is contested, but you can see the results here: election-night.decisiondeskh...  DDHQ covers every election, no matter where, when, or how big.

This week's newsletter: Some on the left are wish-casting that Republicans' newly-drawn congressional maps in states like Texas and Missouri will turn into "dummymanders." It's quite unlikely. zurl.co/hp3eF

ICYMI the DDHQ newsletter dug into Trump's redistricting reverse in Indiana. This marked the 1st time in 2025-26 that a GOP-controlled state voted down legislation to redraw a congressional map. Will this spell doom for future redistricting moves? zurl.co/jjSeQ

This week's DDHQ newsletter looks at Trump's redistricting reverse in Indiana. This marked the 1st time in the 2026 cycle that a GOP-controlled state voted down legislation to redraw its congressional map. But is it an aberration or a sign of things to come? zurl.co/daoQp

Everything is bigger in Texas, including the candidate filing deadline! @geoffreyskelley.com discussed the ins and outs of Texas's big races with @gbirenbaum.bsky.social from @texastribune.org, including what Jasmine Crockett's candidacy means for #TXSen. decisiondeskhq.substack.com/p/episode-9-...

In this week's newsletter, a look at candidates who might get accused of "carpetbagging" by running in states or districts that are mostly or totally new to them. This includes at least 4 former or current House members running in 2026, such as Madison Cawthorn & Chris Collins. zurl.co/J8573

In this week's DDHQ Podcast, @geoffreyskelley.com talked Tennessee with @rubashkin.bsky.social from Inside Elections! They dug into the #TN07 special election result — especially the contest's high turnout — and what it may say about next year's midterms. decisiondeskhq.substack.com/p/tennessee-...

DDHQ has a big preview of today's #TN07 special election. The GOP favored to win the Trump +22 district, but limited polling says it's close & both parties' super PACs have spent $$$. A Dem upset would rank among biggest recent special election flips. zurl.co/9KZWR

DDHQ has an in-depth preview of the special election for Tennessee's 7th District happening on Tuesday (tomorrow)! The solidly Republican seat looks competitive, so while the GOP is favored to hold onto the seat, a Democratic upset can't be written off. zurl.co/QNK00

The holiday season is here, which means 2026 is close at hand. DDHQ put together a 2026 Primary Primer covering next year's primary election calendar, which stretches from March to September. Every state. Every notable race. decisiondeskhq.substack.com/p/the-2026-p...

Maps & more maps. In this week's episode of the DDHQ Podcast, @geoffreyskelley.com & guest @baseballot.bsky.social toured the states that have redistricted their congressional maps. A big ? is Texas, where a federal judicial panel just blocked the new map. decisiondeskhq.substack.com/p/texas-redi...

2025 election review in this week's DDHQ newsletter: How Mamdani won NYC, why California's redistricting measure passed so easily & how swingy Georgia voted über blue for Public Service Commission. decisiondeskhq.substack.com/p/new-york-c...

why polls matter!

Let's talk polling in 2025. Decision Desk HQ's podcast explored why polling is important, what challenges it faces, building polling averages, and what happened in the 2025 polls with @fiftyplusone.news's Mary Radcliffe & @gelliottmorris.com. decisiondeskhq.substack.com/p/episode-6-...

DDHQ's Monday newsletter delved into the results in Virginia and New Jersey with 10 maps, charts & tables. Read it here: decisiondeskhq.substack.com/p/virginia-a...

DDHQ's newsletter explores Virginia & New Jersey's elections in 10 charts, maps & tables. In both, Democrats won double-digit victories for governor, took/kept control of state government, and won their largest state legislative majorities in recent times. decisiondeskhq.substack.com/p/virginia-a...

Our new podcast has the DDHQ team's first reactions to the 2025 election results. It was such a good night for Democrats that Jay Jones, the damaged Dem attorney general nominee in Virginia, won VA by about the same margin as Kamala Harris did in 2024. zurl.co/UWubQ

The 2025 election is in the books! In our post-election podcast, the DDHQ team offers its first reactions to the results, including Zohran Mamdani's win in New York, which was driven by unusually large turnout among younger voters. decisiondeskhq.substack.com/p/2025-elect...

31 states. 20,000+ elections. 2025 may be an "off year" election, but there is A LOT being decided by voters tomorrow. DDHQ's election preview extravaganza dives into the most notable contests across the country.

The DDHQ Podcast talked #NYCMayor with @michaellangenyc.bsky.social. With Mamdani holding a double-digit lead over Cuomo, the question for Election Day may not so much be who wins or loses, but whether Mamdani can break 50% & win something like a mandate. decisiondeskhq.substack.com/p/new-york-c...

Dr. Ian Malcolm famously said in Jurassic Park that “life, uh, finds a way.” Amid the national clash over redrawing congressional maps, Virginia Democrats are trying to prove that “redistricting, uh, finds a way.” DDHQ's newsletter digs into the Virginia situation. zurl.co/51JrN

In our weekly Substack newsletter, @geoffreyskelley.com digs into the sequence of events necessary for Virginia Democrats to redistrict their state's congressional map in time for the 2026 election. It's not impossible, but there are MANY steps. decisiondeskhq.substack.com/p/virginia-r...

Abigail Spanberger's #VAGOV campaign says this is what the polling is like in an SMS fundraising message: This is what @decisiondeskhq.bsky.social says the polling is like: But fundraising requires a narrative, I guess.

This week's DDHQ Podcast features a close look at #NJGov with the great Steve Kornacki. Steve joined @geoffreyskelley.com for a map-rich discussion of how recent trends could influence the New Jersey race between Mikie Sherrill (D) & Jack Ciattarelli (R). decisiondeskhq.substack.com/p/new-jersey...

ICYMI DDHQ pubbed a rich #NJGov preview in our Substack newsletter, The Bellwether. A highly-competitive race may depend on how well the GOP can build on Trump's 2024 gains in NJ. zurl.co/nOpE7 You can get our FREE newsletter, podcast & polling memo in your inbox by signing up here: zurl.co/t7aT4

We put together some great maps and charts of New Jersey's vote as part of our preview of the 2025 #NJGov race. Check them out here! zurl.co/r9vdM And you can sign up for our newsletter here: zurl.co/umsE2#NJGov Thanks for reading!

We're about 2 weeks out from Election Day, so @geoffreyskelley.com has a preview of #NJGov in our newsletter. Mikie Sherrill (D) is favored but Jack Ciattarelli (R) has a path if he can meld his strengths with Trump's 2024 improvement in the Garden State. zurl.co/EkYue

In DDHQ's latest pod, @geoffreyskelley.com & @kkondik.bsky.social talked about Virginia's 2025 races. In the high-profile attorney general's race, incumbent Jason Miyares (R) has directly pitched Spanberger #vagov voters to not back Jay Jones (D) after his texting scandal. zurl.co/wr9oo

DDHQ's latest podcast digs into Virginia's volatile Attorney General race and what's happening in #VAGov. Chief Elections Analyst @geoffreyvs was joined by @kkondik, Managing Editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball at the UVA @Center4Politics. Watch/listen now! zurl.co/WrxTm