Dallas Area Rapid Transit just built a transit line extension into Plano that opened just a couple weeks ago. Yesterday, Plano City Council voted 8-0 to allow voters to choose whether or not to leave DART www.keranews.org/news/2025-11...

New working paper studying project permitting in Seattle estimates that design review as part of the development process increased review time by 4 to 5 months. Author's model estimates that design review was associated with a 3% decline in the number of units permitted.

BREAKING: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is illegally closing 13 campus buildings (including ~100 laboratories). Report coming from GESTA, the Goddard employee union

The biggest uncalled election is the SEATTLE mayoral race. Mayor Bruce Harrell leads Katie Wilson by 11,183 votes (or 8.2%), with 137K ballots counted. Why is this not over? Here's what we know. ⬇️

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell gained another point on progressive challenger Katie Wilson in today's ballot drop, which added about ~21,000 ballots. She trails by 8 points. Expected bigger counts tomorrow and Friday, which are typically more progressive-favoring. Comeback still possible.

Re-listening @waroncars.bsky.social episode "Should the Bus Be Free?" w/ @yonahfreemark.com . As one does on a Wed in early Nov. Excellent breakdown of what making buses free can achieve -and what it can't. thewaroncars.org/2025/08/12/e...

An incomplete list of cities where housing abundance was a major campaign issue & pro-housing candidates held or expanded majorities: - Bozeman, MT - Cambridge, MA - Durham, NC - Kalispell, MT - Littleton, CO - Manchester, NH - Missoula, MT - Salt Lake City, UT - Seattle, WA - Wilmington, NC 💪

I love a lot of things about Sound Transit's growing light rail system in the Seattle region, but the use of numbers to represent both lines (1 and 2) AND stations (e.g., here you see 65 and 68) is super confusing and unhelpful, IMO.

As Redfin's Chief Economist, I love to see NYC voters addressing the economic causes of high rents. Proposals 2, 3 & 4 passed last night and will fast-track affordable housing, de-risking development. With a 1% vacancy rate, the mandate is clear: build.

NEW: Zohran Mamdani barely campaigned on climate — but some say that might improve his chances of getting green policies passed. nysfocus.com/2025/11/05/z...

New York's mayor doesn't control Subway services or its infrastructure...

Charlotte area voters on Tuesday approved a transpo tax that will raise an estimated $19 billion over 30 years. Funded transit projects include: • Red Line regional rail to Davidson • Silver Line light rail from CLT Airport to Coliseum/Ovens www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politic...

Great opportunity for Dems to fulfill Trump’s promises next time they’re in power

Going to have to assemble a statistically significant sample of 1,000 voters to determine whether (a) it could be a warning sign for Trump or (b) just is a warning sign for Trump.

If the Supreme Court eliminates the tariffs—and Trump complies—the US government’s massive budget deficit, already worsened by OBBBA, is going to get even worse. US already has one of the highest government debt loads in the wealthy world (www.cato.org/blog/spendin...).

Zohran Mamdani's focus on public transportation - and on affordability in general - paid off in a big way. Lots of fascinating insights in this map (free link) www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

More than that, this argument is so dismissive of non-national governance! But states & cities are very important in terms of taxes, housing, transportation, parks, schools, policing, etc.—collectively, they are more important than the federal government. Winning local races is very important!

In NJ, in VA, in NYC, it's time to get to work. There are no permanent majorities. There are only moments of time when parties can assemble a majority of voters around a set of ideas. You have to take that moment and run as fast as you can, before the next election breaks your stride.

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has the chance to revolutionize the city’s streetscape, as other ambitious mayors did across the globe. Here’s how nyc.streetsblog.org/2025/11/05/a...

Last night’s election was big for housing ⬇️ —NIMBY NJ Gubernatorial candidate lost decisively. —Mamdani, promising to pause rent increases & develop 200k affordable units, won NYC decisively. —All pro-housing referendums in NYC passed. —Housing funding measures passed in Columbus & Denver.

Watching Mamdani's victory speech, I'm struck by his—and his campaign's—unabashed vision of the US as an immigrant society, a culture built from the ground up from diversity. It is a complete rejection and reversal of the search for a white-washed homogeneity that the political right projects.

Mary Sheffield will become the first woman elected mayor of Detroit, CNN projects. Follow live updates. https://cnn.it/4oRiL7z

Katie Wilson is behind in the initial count for Seattle mayor, at 46%, versus incumbent Bruce Harrell, at 53%. Final results will take many more days to determine, however.

BREAKING: Colorado voters approved a ballot measure that would raise state income taxes on higher-earning households to fund free meals for all public school students. Follow AP for live updates.

Seattle results starting 17 minutes from now

First-round Minneapolis mayoral results *finally* released (they use RCV, so we are going to have to wait for final results): —Frey: 42% —Fateh: 32% —Davis: 14% —Hampton: 10%

Charlotte's transport referendum has won. 1% sales tax increase is expected to generate $19 billion/20 years, funding: —Transit (40%): Red Line commuter rail, Silver Line light rail, Gold Line extension, Blue Line extension —Road projects (40%) —Bus improvements, creating frequent bus network (20%)

JUST IN: Democrats have swept the 3 supreme court elections in Pennsylvania. They beat back a concerted GOP effort to erase their majority; instead, they'll keep a 5-2 edge on this very important court.

These results keep going up—widespread support in New York City for housing reforms. Now: #2 with 58% #3 with 57% #4 with 58%

In Jersey City, it's a tight race, but James Solomon is currently leading former NJ governor Jim McGreevey.

(Almost) everyone wants New York City to finally have a single digital map

The conclusion of one of the most remarkable series of events in US political history, I'd say.

Where are we on housing policy this election evening? —NIMBY NJ Gubernatorial candidate loses decisively. —Mamdani, promising to pause rent increase & develop 200k affordable units, wins NYC decisively. —All pro-housing referendums in NYC likely passed. —Housing funding passed in Columbus & Denver.

If you want to know more about New York City's new mayor's plans for housing policy, check out my thread:

An update on Columbus' bond issues: all look headed for passage, having gained support after the initial results.

An update on this referendum for a Charlotte transportation sales tax: With 63% of precincts reporting, it's leading with 53.9% of the vote.

With 53% of scanners reporting, these numbers for the housing ballot questions are holding up: #2 at 56% #3 at 55% #4 at 56%

Results for Denver ballot issue 2E: $60 million for housing and shelters, up with 63% of the vote.

Initial results for NYC housing ballot referenda: #2 Fast Track Affordable Housing: up with 55% #3 Simplify Review of Modest Housing and Infrastructure Projects: up with 55% #4 Establish an Affordable Housing Appeals Board: up with 55%

Initial results in NYC: Mamdani up 52% to 40% for Cuomo

Highest turnout since the 1960s!

Just with early vote reporting, Charlotte's transportation sales tax referendum is currently up 55–45%. But I caution this is just the early vote!

What we know so far, 8:30pm —Democrats flip VA-Gov & VA-LG. —Also means Dems take VA trifecta. —Dems in good shape to win NJ-Gov. —Dems appear to flip 2 statewide offices in Georgia. —JD Vance's half-brother loses in Cincinnati. —Last GOPer in Orlando council gone. —PA: Dem justices up big so far.

BREAKING: Democrat Aftab Pureval wins Cincinnati mayoral election over Cory Bowman, half-brother of Vice President JD Vance. Follow AP for live updates.

In Columbus, OH, initial results show all of the city's bond issues leading with 60–70% of the vote. The neighborhood development bond issue would provide $500 million for neighborhood development and affordable housing.

Happy election day! Vote! Key races I'll be tracking: —Gubernatorial races in NJ & VA —Mayoral races in NYC, Jersey City, Minneapolis, & Seattle —Housing funding in Knoxville, Denver, Columbus, OK City —Housing propositions in NYC —Transport funding in Charlotte Many more key races @boltsmag.org ⏬

What are the stakes for housing if Mamdani is elected mayor? My round up 🧵 1—Rent stabilization. Mamdani wants to freeze rent levels on 1 m rental units subject to stabilization. Mayor has appointment power over the rent guidelines board, but changes may take until 2027, depending on Adams: