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Democratic Party
Donald Trump
Republican Party
North Carolina
Gerrymandering
Virginia
Redistricting
Abortion Rights
Texas
California
Voting Rights Act
Florida
2024 Elections
Wisconsin Supreme Court
Special Elections
Arizona
North Carolina Supreme Court
Downballot Awards
Elon Musk
Zoran Mamdani

The Downballot podcast is dedicated to the thousands of elections below the presidency, from Senate to city council. With more than 20 years of experience analyzing U.S. elections, we provide unparalleled insight into congressional, state, and local races nationwide. Tune in every Thursday morning for one-of-a-kind coverage of these key contests. www.the-downballot.com

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes228Founded5 years ago
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PoliticsGovernmentNews

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Artwork for The Downballot

Latest Episodes

Election Day is still almost two months off, but Republicans have already begun making once-touted recruits walk the plank. On this week’s episode of The Downballot podcast, co-hosts David Nir and David Beard explain why the decision by GOP power pla... more

We’ve all been bombarded with those histrionic text messages making over-the-top requests for donations, but they’re more than just annoying—there are hidden victims of these hyper-aggressive fundraising practices.

On this week’s episode of The Down... more

Runoffs were the big story this week, with close races in South Carolina, Oklahoma, and Georgia. On this week’s episode of The Downballot podcast, co-host David Beard and guest host Kari Chisholm discuss how two Trump-endorsed candidates—Darline Grah... more

Democrat Brandon Dukes won the last special election before November and became the 31st Democrat to flip a legislative seat since the beginning of 2025—compared to zero for Republicans. On this week’s episode of The Downballot podcast, co-host David... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Cindy Holscher
Democratic State Senator, Democratic nominee for governor of Kansas
Kansas Legislature / Campaign
Episode: Democrats claim another big special election victory
Chelsey Wininger
Executive Director of the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State
Democratic Association of Secretaries of State
Episode: The pro-pipe bomb Republican running for secretary of state
Curtis Hertel
Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party
Michigan Democratic Party
Episode: El-Sayed vs. Stevens tops major primary night
Scott Colom
District Attorney, Mississippi 16th Judicial District; Democratic Senate nominee
Mississippi politics / The Downballot
Episode: How Democrats can make Mississippi competitive
Joe Sudbay
Frequent guest host, Mainer with deep ties to Maine politics
Frequent guest of The Downballot
Episode: The Graham Platner debacle
David Daley
Senior fellow at FairVote; author of Ratfucked and Anti-Democratic
FairVote
Episode: SCOTUS' war on voting rights
Michael Gianaris
New York State Senator
New York State Senate
Episode: Nancy Mace's spectacular crashout
Peter Hubbard
Member of Georgia Public Service Commission
Georgia Public Service Commission
Episode: Tuesday's massive primary night
Aaron Ford
Nevada Attorney General
Nevada State Government
Episode: Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford previews his race for governor

Hosts

David Beard
Host of The Downballot; longtime analysis of US elections and down-ballot dynamics.
David Nir
Co-host and presenter focusing on data-driven election analysis and policy context.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 191 ratings
  • Fantasy Senate….

    Seats! You two cracked me up. What a great show. My one comment about your pick in Minnesota “. Tafoya” to flip to a Republican The way ICE has brutalized the state. I cannot even begin to imagine anyone in that state voting republican.

    All your other picks are spot on. 🩵

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    IoB.
    United States12 days ago
  • Appreciate the breadth and detail

    Please find some alternative ways of saying Democrats or their candidates “understand the assignment”. Thanks for the show!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    jdjdms
    United Statesa month ago
  • Maine explained.

    Finally. A fulsome explanation of the Platner debacle. And from a Maine resident. Thank you for sorting all the players out for us. Always informative, always helpful.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    IoB.
    United States2 months ago
  • Educational!

    To the Davids, I wanted you to know that I had a baking get together with a number of high school students and for entertainment I played them your podcast. The episode about Nancy Mace, primaries and NYC. Everyone loved your show.

    The students were really interested. Thank you! 💙

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    IoB.
    United States3 months ago
  • A must listen to politics podcast every week!!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    slatersli@hotmail.com
    4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Insightful, accessible deep dives into down-ballot races.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#237
Taiwan/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Democrats claim another big special election victory
Q: How did you get involved in politics and end up serving in the Kansas Legislature?
Holscher describes being inspired by the Brownback tax cuts and the impact on schools, recounting personal experiences in her daughter's question about teachers working a second job, which motivated her to run and ultimately win, building a long-term grassroots organizational structure that grew from a few Democrats to many across the state.
How Democrats can make Mississippi competitive
Q: Scott, before we let you go, where can listeners find your campaign online, on social media, and how can they get involved?
Fans can visit scottcolom.com, sign up to volunteer, contribute, and follow him on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Blue Sky to stay updated and get involved in the campaign.
Nancy Mace's spectacular crashout
Q: What went wrong with the prior redistricting commission, and why is this reform seen as necessary?
The prior commission was effectively deadlocked five-to-five, with legislators unable to compel action; a genuine reform would empower the legislature when the commission fails to produce a plan, preventing stalemate and maintaining the ability to redraw districts.
Nancy Mace's spectacular crashout
Q: Can you explain how New York could change redistricting mid-term and what the timeline looks like?
The amendment would need to pass two successive legislatures and then a statewide referendum, which means it could appear on the ballot in November 2027 if the process moves smoothly, with the actual map redraw for 2028 once approved.
Tuesday's massive primary night
Q: Peter, before we let you go, what should people know about your upcoming race for reelection and where can they find out more about your campaign?
He explains his Georgia PSC role, his energy-focused platform, and provides the campaign website peterforgeorgia.com as the hub for information and ways to get involved.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Downballot

What is The Downballot about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A data-driven political analysis show focused on elections below the presidential level, with a steady cadence of weekly deep dives into state, local, and down-ballot races. Episodes routinely dissect primary results, redistricting, voting rights, and election administration, often featuring expert guests and long-form interviews with party officials, watchdog groups, and policy advocates. The tone blends rigorous data, clear storytelling, and practical takeaways for campaigns, civic organizations, and media covering US elections. A few episodes break format with live recordings or focused spotlights on pivotal races, underscoring its usefulness for listeners who want actionable insights into how down-ballot dynamics shape the broader elect... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Downballot?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Downballot:

1. The Odd Years
2. Pod Save America
3. Strict Scrutiny
4. Defending Democracy with Marc Elias
5. The Ezra Klein Show

How many episodes of The Downballot are there?

The Downballot launched 5 years ago and published 228 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Downballot?

Recent guests on The Downballot include:

1. Cindy Holscher
2. Chelsey Wininger
3. Curtis Hertel
4. Scott Colom
5. Joe Sudbay
6. David Daley
7. Michael Gianaris
8. Peter Hubbard

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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