Downballot Counts
61 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago -Downballot Counts is a podcast from Bloomberg Government about U.S. House and Senate elections and the fight for control of Congress. We explore how politics influence congressional races and pinpoint the most competitive races to watch. Downballot Counts also features interviews with lawmakers, journalists, and other campaign players. Host: Greg Giroux
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Episodes
US House 'Competitive for the Decade' Under New Maps
November 28, 2022 21:25 - 22 minutesDemocrats lost control of the House Nov. 8 but exceeded expectations under new congressional maps that ensure the House will be in play for the rest of the decade, according to the party's top redistricting strategist. "There were a sufficient number of competitive seats on the board because of fair maps and the House is now going to be competitive for the decade," Kelly Burton, the president of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, said on Bloomberg Government's "Downballot Counts...
Your Complete Guide to Election Night—and Beyond
November 07, 2022 19:19 - 17 minutesElection Day is finally here! With so many competitive races, and control of the House and Senate up for grabs, there will be a lot to watch on Tuesday and the days that follow. To help you know what to focus on, and when, Bloomberg Government’s Emily Wilkins, Greg Giroux and Zach C. Cohen used the latest Downballot Counts to walk through each hour of polls closing (based on when the latest polls close in the state) and what races can tell us about the direction of the night. From the East Co...
Women on the Ballot: Still Underrepresented But Looking to Gain
October 24, 2022 20:56 - 21 minutesWomen are still underrepresented in major political office after steady but slow gains: they account for just 28% of members of Congress and 18% of governors, the highest representation so far in history. How female candidates fare in the Nov. 8 election will depend in part on how well incumbents perform. Kelly Dittmar, a political scientist and scholar at the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, spoke about this with Bloomberg Government's Emily Wilkins and Greg Giro...
The 12 Races to Watch in 12 Minutes — With an Airhorn
October 11, 2022 18:53 - 16 minutesBloomberg Government's Emily Wilkins and Greg Giroux could talk about congressional campaigns all day. But as you likely have other things to do, the latest episode of Downballot Counts features the program's first lightning speed round. Greg and Emily highlight 12 interesting races to watch in 12 minutes. They're not necessarily the most competitive races — although some of them are — but each has a unique aspect that will tell us more about voters, trends and the direction of the country. W...
What TV Can Tell Us About the Battle for Congress
September 26, 2022 19:03 - 18 minutesYou can learn a lot about how a campaign is shaking out by looking at what the candidates are saying in their TV ads. Heading into this fall's midterm elections, Republicans are emphasizing inflation and the President's unpopularity, while Democrats want to talk about abortion rights and dispel any hint of the "Defund the Police" movement. On this episode of Downballot Counts, hosts Greg Giroux and Emily Wilkins talk about why the parties are zeroing in on these particular messages, and about...
Despite Momentum Shift, House Is GOP's For the Taking
September 09, 2022 20:08 - 18 minutesMuch has been made about the seeming shift in momentum toward Democrats as we head into the midterm elections this fall. But the University of Virginia's J. Miles Coleman, an editor of the widely read Sabato's Crystal Ball newsletter, says Republicans are still in good position to pick up at least a dozen seats in the House and take back control of the lower chamber. Coleman talks with Bloomberg Government's Greg Giroux and Emily Wilkins about why this is and why the Senate is essentially a c...
Democrats Gain Confidence, But It May Not Last
July 27, 2022 18:41 - 21 minutesIf midterms are supposed to be bad for the party in the White House, why are Democrats gaining confidence ahead of this November's elections? Surprisingly large fundraising hauls are one reason. Weaker than expected Republican Senate nominees are another. And a third reason is that the President's dismal approval ratings don't seem to be hurting downballot candidates as much as one might expect, according to Nathan Gonzales, editor and publisher of the nonpartisan newsletter Inside Elections....
Midterms Could Scuttle Both Trump and Biden's 2024 Plans
June 13, 2022 19:40 - 19 minutesWe're now in the thick of congressional primary season, and it's still looking like Democrats will struggle to hold onto the House in November, and maybe also to the Senate. But beyond the makeup of next year's Congress, this year's elections may also determine whether former President Trump's can regain the White House--and whether current President Biden will even stand for reelection. Downballot Counts hosts Kyle Trygstad and Greg Giroux breakdown what we've learned so far from this spring...
Disinformation in Spanish Language Media Is Overlooked (Podcast)
May 02, 2022 19:50 - 19 minutesDisinformation and its impact on elections has been a hot topic for years now. But despite this, little attention has been paid to how this plays out in Spanish-language media. On today's episode of Downballot Counts, hosts Kyle Trygstad and Greg Giroux speak with Bloomberg Government reporter Maria Curi about where Spanish-language disinformation is coming from and what effect it's having on the Latino vote. Maria explains why falsehoods spread longer and faster in the Spanish-speaking commu...
Downballot Democrats Need Biden to Rebound
December 20, 2021 14:58 - 29 minutesWith the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, rising inflation, and the resurgence of Covid-19, 2021 was a difficult year for President Biden to say the least. This could seriously imperil Democrats' chances in next year's midterm elections if the President can't turn his fortunes around before November. On this episode of Downballot Counts, hosts Greg Giroux and Kyle Trygstad talk about why Democrats had a disappointing year and what next year could bring. They also talk with Kelly Burton, ...
The Redistricting Trench Warfare Fights Have Begun
October 04, 2021 18:15 - 21 minutesOn this episode of Bloomberg Government's Downballot Counts, hosts Kyle Trygstad and Greg Giroux talk with a Republican redistricting consultant about the decennial battle between the two parties over the shape of the country's congressional districts.
Senate Races Far From Settled With Many Crowded Primaries
August 06, 2021 19:03 - 27 minutesOn today's episode of Bloomberg Government's podcast, Downballot Counts, hosts Kyle Trygstad and Greg Giroux interview Jessica Taylor, a senior author of the 50th edition of the revered Almanac of American Politics. Taylor talks about being the first woman to hold this post and also analyzes the small number Senate races that could determine who controls Washington after next year.
Working Hard to Get Working Moms into Office
July 19, 2021 18:14 - 21 minutesIn 2018, Liuba Grechen Shirley made waves when she successfully petitioned the Federal Election Commission to allow her to use campaign funds to pay for child care. The Long Island Democrat ultimately lost her race against then-Congressman Peter T. King, but now her full-time job is to make it easier for mothers to get elected across the country. Shirley founded the Vote Mama Foundation and she speaks with podcast hosts Greg Giroux and Kyle Trygstad about the many obstacles that prevent worki...
A Centrist's Plan to Save the Democratic Party
June 21, 2021 18:14 - 22 minutesLast year's elections didn't go quite as well as Democrats had hoped, and one group of centrists in the party just issued a report looking at why. On this episode of Downballot Counts, hosts Kyle Trygstad and Greg Giroux speak with Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) about how he thinks his party should avoid losing its slim House majority next year. Also, Greg breaks down exactly what ranked-choice voting is and why it seems to be catching on. Have feedback on this episode of Downballot Counts? Gi...
Redistricting to Pit Incumbent Against Incumbent in the House
May 10, 2021 18:35 - 22 minutesOn this episode of Downballot Counts, Kyle and Greg look at the political ramifications of redistricting and reapportionment, which will merge some congressional districts and force incumbents to battle each other to stay in power. Also, we hear from Tom Lopach, the CEO of the nonprofit nonpartisan Voter Participation Center, about recent legislation in the states to restrict voting access.
Wave of Senate Retirements Test GOP Luck in 2022
March 17, 2021 19:45 - 15 minutesNearly half a dozen Republicans Senators will not be seeking reelection next year, with more retirement announcements potentially on the way. On this episode of Downballot Counts, hosts Kyle Trygstad and Greg Giroux look at whether this is a good or bad thing for the Grand Old Party. And we also feature a special St. Patrick's Day-themed political trivia question. Erin go Bragh!
Senate Retirements Means 2022 Cycle Will Be Extra Spicy
February 02, 2021 16:09 - 12 minutesWe're just a few months in to the 2022 election cycle and the dynamics at play are already starting to look fascinating. Democrats have two special election winners running for full terms in the Senate, while Republicans are dealing with at least three open Senate seats--and possibly more. Downballot Counts hosts Kyle Trygstad and Greg Giroux break down what we know so far and talk about why, at this moment, neither party appears to have the upper hand.
Democrats Have Senate Now Thanks to Turnout in Georgia
January 11, 2021 18:59 - 13 minutesDownballot Counts hosts Kyle Trygstad and Greg Giroux break down the results from last week's Georgia Senate runoff elections. They say Democrats were victorious because turnout in these contests far exceeded anything previously seen in a runoff so soon after a general election.
Georgia Runoffs With Stratospheric Stakes Grip the Nation
January 04, 2021 18:37 - 17 minutesBloomberg Government's Emily Wilkins is in Georgia covering tomorrow's all-important Senate runoff elections. She talks with hosts Kyle Trygstad and Greg Giroux about how we got here, the similarities between Democrats' and Republicans' closing messages, and the challenges of holding campaign rallies during a pandemic.
Introducing: Black Lawyers Speak
November 27, 2020 18:32 - 2 minutesDespite decades of work to educate more Black lawyers, the percentage of Black associates and partners in firms across the U.S. remain very low, and well below those of other professional careers. Big Law firms across the board are ramping up social justice efforts as the nation engages in a renewed dialogue on race and equality. But some have accused firms of using minorities as “diversity props” to impress clients and misrepresent their inclusiveness to potential employees. So what are law ...
Thin Margins to Make Life Difficult for Political Leaders
November 23, 2020 18:59 - 16 minutesRegardless of the final outcomes of the still-uncalled House races or the two upcoming Senate runoffs in Georgia, it's clear both chambers of Congress will have razor-thin partisan margins next year. On the latest episode of Downballot Counts, hosts Kyle Trygstad and Greg Giroux talk about what this will mean for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and whoever it is that will become Senate Majority Leader in the new Congress.
Political Future Becoming Clearer Despite Uncalled Races
November 16, 2020 19:07 - 18 minutesIt's Nov. 16, and there are still a handful of uncalled House races. But it's becoming more clear, now that a few weeks have passed since the elections, that partisan margins in both houses of Congress will be razor thin. On this episode of Downballot Counts, hosts Kyle Trygstad and Greg Giroux discuss where there are still undecided races and why Democrats underperformed in this year's Congressional elections.
'Something Has to Be Wrong,' Democratic Pollster Says
November 09, 2020 21:01 - 21 minutesContrary to popular belief, the results of last week's elections weren't as far off from final polling projections as they initially appeared. But the discrepancy was large enough that it indicates a fundamental flaw in the way polling is conducted, according to Democratic pollster Jefrey Pollock with the firm Global Strategy Group. On this post-election episode of Downballot Counts, we speak with Pollock about his industry's painful soul-searching and about what this election says about wher...
On Election Eve, a 'Pre-Mortem' Analyzing This Year's Races
November 02, 2020 19:11 - 16 minutesWe're about 36 hours or so before polls close and election results start to come in. But it's not too soon to start analyzing what this historic election cycle has meant. On this episode of Downballot Counts, Kyle Trygstad and Greg Giroux talk about the forces that shaped 2020's congressional races and about which races they'll be paying close attention to tomorrow night.
Tracking the Candidates in the Election's Final Days
October 26, 2020 19:23 - 19 minutesYou can tell a lot about the shape of an election by tracking where candidates are spending their time in the race's final days. That's according to Nathan L. Gonzales, a political prognosticator and publisher of the Inside Elections newsletter. We speak with Nathan about how this election cycle has turned out and about what one can glean from watching the movements of the President, Vice President, and other senior administration officials in the coming days.
GOP Faces Wide-Open Senate Map in Final Weeks
October 19, 2020 17:41 - 21 minutesWe're two weeks from election day and roughly a dozen GOP-held Senate seats are competitive, according to the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. Hosts Greg Giroux and Kyle Trygstad speak with the Report's Senate editor Jessica Taylor about how we got here and whether Republicans' hopes for holding on to the Senate really are as dim as they seem.
Lindsey Graham's Opponent Touts Stratospheric Fundraising Totals
October 13, 2020 18:53 - 22 minutesRecent fundraising disclosures confirmed what polling numbers have hinted at: South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham is in the fight of his life. On this week's episode of Downballot Counts, we talk about how Graham's Democratic opponent, Jamie Harrison, shattered fundraising records during the third quarter of this year.
Carolinas, Both of Them, Have 2020's Tightest Senate Races (Podcast)
October 05, 2020 18:38 - 16 minutesPolitical handicappers long predicted that North Carolina's Senate race would be one of the closest of the 2020 election cycle. But almost no one could have foreseen that its neighbor, South Carolina, would also see a Senate race turn into a dead heat. On today's Downballot Counts, hosts Kyle Trygstad and Greg Giroux examine the difficult reelection campaigns of Republicans Senators Thom Tillis and Lindsey Graham, and also breakdown a campaign ad playing right now in Colorado.
'Wind Is Not at Our Backs,' GOP Pollster Says
September 28, 2020 19:12 - 16 minutesWith five weeks to go before the election, polling data is looking pretty grim for Republicans up and down the ballot. Today we hear from Glen Bolger, a major Republican pollster and founder of the firm Public Opinion Strategies, on what his party needs to do to turn this trend around or at least mitigate it heading into Election Day.
Biden in Stronger Position than Hillary Was, Dem Pollster Says
September 21, 2020 18:14 - 18 minutesOn this episode of Downballot Counts, we speak with Joe Biden's top pollster. He says comparisons between current polls and those from four years ago indicate there are fewer undecided voters now than there were back then.
Election Begins Final Act With Democrats at Center Stage
September 14, 2020 18:42 - 16 minutesPrimary season is all but over and now Democrats and Republicans face off against each other in earnest. Hosts Greg Giroux and Kyle Trygstad break down the state of play with less than two months to go and they explain why Democrats are in a favorable position heading into the home stretch.
All Eyes on Massachusetts as Incumbents Fight to Survive
August 31, 2020 19:10 - 22 minutesThe Bay State is the center of the political universe this week, with several primary elections there that may unseat incumbents with decades of experience in Congress. We speak with Mary Anne Marsh, a Democratic consultant in Massachusetts, about what's at stake in tomorrow's primaries and about who is likely to come out on top.
GOP Needs Ticket Splitters, Ex-Lawmaker Says
August 24, 2020 18:22 - 17 minutesTo avoid a blowout in this November's elections, Republicans will need to revive the nearly extinct tradition of ticket splitting, former GOP congressman Tom Davis says. That's because many GOP candidates are running in swing states that Democratic nominee Joe Biden is expected to win. On this episode of Downballot Counts, hosts Kyle Trygstad and Greg Giroux speak with the former Virginia lawmaker about why ticket splitting is such a rarity these days and about why he thinks some threatened G...
With Biden Way Up in Polls, "Coattails" Come Into Play
August 17, 2020 18:06 - 15 minutesThe campaign season shifts into a new phase with the political conventions starting this week. And despite running against an incumbent president, Joe Biden has a very strong lead, according to a recent cluster of polls. Hosts Kyle Trygstad and Greg Giroux look at whether Biden could have a so-called "coattail effect" and about who to watch during this week's Democratic convention.
Rebroadcast: Quentin James on Black Political Power
August 10, 2020 20:12 - 14 minutesQuentin James, the founder and president of The Collective PAC, discusses his organization’s effort to elect more black candidates to federal, state and local offices. He also talks about the generational change taking place among black political leaders. (Note: This interview originally aired on the June 29 episode of Downballot Counts.)
Incumbents Dropping Like Flies With Possibly More to Come
July 27, 2020 19:01 - 15 minutesPrimary season is far from over, but we’ve already seen an above-average number of incumbent congressmen fail to win their party’s nomination. We may see more in the coming weeks, with two members of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s so-called “Squad” facing strong intra-party challengers, and a member of the Kennedy family dynasty going after a sitting Senator. Hosts Kyle Trygstad and Greg Giroux break down the dynamics at play here and also look at the primary for an open Senate seat in Kansas, wh...
Virtual Fundraising Outperforming Expectations in Covid Era
July 20, 2020 20:24 - 16 minutesBloomberg Government politics reporter Emily Wilkins discusses second-quarter fundraising reports and how Democrats’ benefit from significant fundraising advantages in the House and Senate races.
Jeff Sessions Squares Off Against Trump Favorite in Alabama
July 13, 2020 18:39 - 15 minutesFormer Attorney General Jeff Sessions is fighting for his political life in this week's Alabama GOP primary runoff. Hosts Greg Giroux and Kyle Trygstad breakdown this race along with other primaries in Texas and Maine.
Quentin James on Black Political Power
June 29, 2020 18:14 - 23 minutesQuentin James, the founder and president of The Collective PAC, discusses his organization’s effort to elect more black candidates to federal, state and local offices. He also talks about what it would mean for Joe Biden to choose a black woman as his running mate.
Tuesday Is Make-Or-Break for Several Longtime Incumbents
June 22, 2020 17:47 - 19 minutesAustin Chambers, president of the Republican State Leadership Committee, joins the latest episode of Downballot Counts to discuss the GOP's heightened focus on state legislative races this year. And Hosts Greg Giroux and Kyle Trygstad talk about Tuesday's primaries, with several longtime incumbents struggling to win their own party's nomination.
Georgia Voting Mess, GOP Women, and More Mailbag Questions
June 15, 2020 18:16 - 17 minutesHosts Kyle Trygstad and Greg Giroux take questions on the Georgia primaries, whether we'll have more or fewer Republican woman holding office this time next year, and the campaign impact of “Defund The Police” in Downballot Counts' inaugural mailbag episode.
Jessica Post on Ultra-High Stakes of Statehouse Races (Podcast)
June 08, 2020 17:12 - 24 minutesThis is the first time in 20 years that a presidential election will be held in the same year as the decennial census, which means that whichever party wins in statehouses this November will have a huge advantage in redrawing legislative districts. Jessica Post, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, talks with hosts Greg Giroux and Kyle Trygstad about her efforts to win state legislative races and set the party up well for the next round of redistricting.
Tuesday's Primary May Be Steve King's Last Stand
June 01, 2020 19:41 - 19 minutesTuesday marks the start of a big month in congressional primaries. Hosts Kyle Trygstad and Greg Giroux highlight the top primaries to watch, including open-seat contests that will all but decide the next House member and the most challenging nomination fight of Rep. Steve King’s (R-Iowa) career.
Kelly Dittmar on a Sustained Surge in Female Candidates
May 18, 2020 19:42 - 21 minutesA record number of women ran for the House in 2018, but that record has already been broken just two years later. Kelly Dittmar of the Center for American Women and Politics has been tracking the data and explains why Democrats are still fielding far more female candidates than Republicans. Hosts: Greg Giroux and Kyle Trygstad. Producers: David Schultz and Josh Block.
Paul Mitchell on a House Seat in California That Could Flip
May 11, 2020 18:58 - 25 minutesPaul Mitchell, the Sacramento-based vice president of Political Data, Inc., discusses the highly competitive special election in California’s 25th District, north of Los Angeles, and how to read the early ballot returns he’s been tracking. Hosts: Greg Giroux and Kyle Trygstad. Producers: David Schultz and Josh Block. View this episode's ad of the week here.
GOP Faces Strong Headwinds Six Months to Election Day
May 04, 2020 18:39 - 18 minutesWith the elections six months away, hosts Kyle Trygstad and Greg Giroux discuss how the coronavirus pandemic and Trump's re-election prospects affect who will win the majorities in the House and Senate. Producers: David Schultz and Josh Block.
How to Make a Good Political Ad From a Distance
April 27, 2020 18:31 - 22 minutesBloomberg Government’s Emily Wilkins discusses how the lack of retail campaigning thanks to stay-at-home orders has made TV ads more important than ever, despite the fact that they're now becoming more complicated than ever to produce.
Nathan Gonzales on Democrats' Colossal Cash Advantage
April 20, 2020 18:51 - 23 minutesFirst quarter fundraising numbers just came in and they show that vulnerable House Democrats raked in far more than their Republican challengers. Inside Elections’ Nathan Gonzales discusses these numbers and the state of play for control of Congress after more than a month of social distancing. Hosts: Kyle Trygstad and Greg Giroux Producers: David Schultz and Josh Block Watch this episode's featured political ad here.
Autumn Airwaves Already Filling Up With Campaign Ads
April 13, 2020 20:12 - 15 minutesHosts Kyle Trygstad and Greg Giroux highlight the states where the four main congressional super PACs recently reserved TV time for the weeks leading up to the general election. Producer: David Schultz. Watch the campaign ad featured in this episode here.
Wisconsin Takes Center Stage, For Now and Later
April 08, 2020 00:31 - 18 minutesWisconsin's head-spinning state primary dynamics, a discussion of this campaign ad airing in Kentucky and later, Senate races talk with Bloomberg Government reporter Nancy Ognanovich.