Rephonic
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Abortion Rights
Lauren Arthur
Direct Democracy
David Trone
French Elections
New Jersey
Virginia
Donald Trump
Democratic Party
Alabama State House Election
Florida Supreme Court
Arizona Supreme Court
Pennsylvania
Maryland
Angela Alsobrooks
Alaska
West Virginia
UK Elections
Mark Hugo Lopez
Montana

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

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Artwork for The Downballot

Latest Episodes

There are 36 races for governor in 2026, and many are shaping up to be highly competitive. On this week’s episode of The Downballot podcast, co-hosts David Nir and David Beard run through 10 of the most interesting races for governor across the count... more

Democrats flipped not one but two districts in special elections on Tuesday night, and they managed it in Florida, of all places. On this week’s episode of The Downballot podcast, co-hosts David Nir and David Beard discuss how Democrats pulled off th... more

Illinois’ high-profile, high-dollar primaries are finally in the rearview, and oh man have the hot takes come fast and furious. On this week’s episode of The Downballot podcast, co-hosts David Nir and David Beard dial down the temperature to understa... more

On Tuesday night in New Hampshire, Democrats won yet another Republican seat in a special election—marking their 10th flip of Donald Trump’s second term. On this week’s episode of The Downballot podcast, we unpack that race, then dive into a ton of o... more

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Recent Guests

Torey Dolan
Assistant Professor of Law, University of Wisconsin Law School
University of Wisconsin Law School
Episode: The big takeaways from the Illinois primaries
Mark Poloncarz
Erie County Executive; founder of Boosting Future Leaders Onward
Erie County, BFLO
Episode: Texas' blockbuster primary night
Chris Melody Fields Figueredo
Executive Director of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center
Ballot Initiative Strategy Center
Episode: Primary season is here!
Geoffrey Skelley
Chief Elections Analyst at Decision Desk HQ
Decision Desk HQ
Episode: The Twin Cities' fierce response to ICE—at the ballot box
Sharice Davids
U.S. Representative from Kansas
U.S. House of Representatives
Episode: Alaska Democrats land the best Senate recruit of the cycle
Nathaniel Rakich
Managing editor of Votebeat
Votebeat
Episode: Alaska Democrats land the best Senate recruit of the cycle
Richard von Glahn
Executive Director of People Not Politicians Missouri
People Not Politicians
Episode: Georgia GOP panics after huge Dem flip
Lou Jacobson
Chief author of The Almanac of American Politics and senior columnist at Sabato's Crystal Ball
The Almanac of American Politics
Episode: GOP in disarray after Tennessee special
Patrick Brown
Partner at Novel Messaging and veteran operative
Novel Messaging
Episode: Shock TX ruling dashes GOP gerrymander

Hosts

David Beard
Co-host and contributor with extensive coverage of down-ballot elections.
David Nir
Co-host and publisher focusing on election analysis and strategy.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 179 ratings
  • G. Elliot Morris ….

    What a great show! David N. Your conversation and questions with Mr. Morris was so fun and greatly informative. I’m not a numbers geek but you and Mr. Morris made the figures relevant and interesting.

    Thanks.💙

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    IoB.
    United States2 months ago
  • I rely on The Downballot

    As a donor advisor, I follow races across the country at all levels of the ballot. I rely on The Downballot’s data and analysis every week and I use their terrific tools like the fundraising charts to give informed advice to my clients.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AlPolSV
    United States2 months ago
  • The Hispanic vote

    As always great breakdown dear David’s. I’m guessing that the Hispanic voters would be more motivated by the terrifying ICE raids on their communities first and affordability somewhere down their list.

    Great show.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    IoB.
    United States5 months ago
  • Generally ok

    I listened weekly for the past few years. Great to have a local election news source.

    However, they consistently call centrist, establishment Dems “progressives.” In their definition, “progressivism” is simply stale identity politics peddled by Hilary Clinton & co.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    DanDüma
    United States9 months ago
  • Generally ok

    I listened weekly for the past few years. Great to have a local election news source.

    However, they consistently call centrist, establishment Dems “progressives.” In their definition, “progressivism” is simply stale identity politics peddled by Hilary Clinton & co.

    At the same time, they’ve mum noticeably mum in covering competitive left-wing candidates (e.g. Zohran Mamdani) that focus on economic populism.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    DanDüma
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Data-driven and accessible for politics nerds and casual listeners alike
Consistently praised for turning complex election data into actionable insights
Some critics feel the show leans too centrist or partisan in labeling candidates as 'progressive'
Listeners appreciate coverage of down-ballot races often overlooked by other outlets
Strong guests and hosts who bring depth without losing clarity

Top Politics Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The big takeaways from the Illinois primaries
Q: What are the big takeaways from the Illinois primaries, and how should listeners interpret the results given the field size and spending?
The hosts emphasize that multi-candidate primaries can produce winners without majority support, so it's essential to avoid over-interpreting polling or early money advantages. Real outcomes depend on late-stage information, local dynamics, and voters' independent research. They also stress that Stratton's win shows merit beyond wealth, and Krishnamurthy's loss underscores how advertising cannot guarantee victory in broad-state races.
Texas' blockbuster primary night
Q: Where can listeners learn more about Boosting Future Leaders Onward and follow you online?
Listeners can visit boostingleaders.com and follow Boosting Future Leaders Onward on all major social platforms for updates and target lists.
Primary season is here!
Q: What does the life cycle of a progressive ballot measure look like?
It starts with incubation involving the formation of coalitions and policy development, followed by qualification where signatures are collected, and then a campaign phase leading up to the election. Post-election, implementation is crucial to ensure voter-approved measures are enacted properly.
The Twin Cities' fierce response to ICE—at the ballot box
Q: What do you think are some key primaries or events that are really key to shaping how November 2026 might turn out?
Geoffrey Skelley discusses Texas and Maine's pivotal Senate primaries.
Alaska Democrats land the best Senate recruit of the cycle
Q: How do you see the 2026 elections shaping up for Kansas Democrats?
Davids notes the increasing strength of Democrats in Kansas, facilitated by grassroots organization and community engagement.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Downballot

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

A data-forward show that centers on elections below the presidency, with a steady focus on state, local, and down-ballot contests. It combines rigorous analysis of polling, voting trends, redistricting, and ballot measures with in-depth conversations from election experts, campaign strategists, and policymakers. Listeners get practical takeaways on how local races ripple upward and what to watch in upcoming cycles, making it useful for professionals in politics, media, and public affairs who want a clearer picture of the broader electoral landscape. A standout is the consistent emphasis on actionable insights for down-ballot success, backed by data-driven storytelling and a steady stream of high-profile guests."

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How many listeners does The Downballot get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Downballot?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Downballot:

1. The Josh Marshall Podcast
2. The Focus Group Podcast
3. Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts
4. Strict Scrutiny
5. GD POLITICS

How many episodes of The Downballot are there?

The Downballot launched 4 years ago and published 208 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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Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on The Downballot?

Recent guests on The Downballot include:

1. Torey Dolan
2. Mark Poloncarz
3. Chris Melody Fields Figueredo
4. Geoffrey Skelley
5. Sharice Davids
6. Nathaniel Rakich
7. Richard von Glahn
8. Lou Jacobson

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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