David Beard

Washington, D.C.

Contributing Editor at The Downballot

Co-Host at The Downballot Podcast

This account is no longer active - Contributing editor at @downballotnews and co-host of The Downballot postcast

Articles

The definitive report on 2024

3 weeks ago | the-downballot.com | David Nir |David Beard

Current time: 0:00 / Total time: -1:01:10Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. We've been subject to endless hot takes about last year's elections, but Catalist has much more compelling answers. CEO Michael Frias joins us on this week's episode of The Downballot podcast to explore his firm's detailed new report, What Happened in 2024, that uses carefully assembled voter data to understand how things really went down.
The GOP war on direct democracy

1 month ago | the-downballot.com | David Nir |David Beard

Current time: 0:00 / Total time: -55:13Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. Republicans have been trying to make it harder for ordinary citizens to effect change at the ballot box for many years, and their latest effort has now washed ashore in the Sunshine State.
How MA AG Andrea Campbell is fighting Trump

1 month ago | the-downballot.com | David Nir |David Beard

Current time: 0:00 / Total time: -42:17Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell has an extraordinary story to tell, and she's sharing it with us on this week's edition of The Downballot podcast. Despite an early life dominated by tragedy, including the death of her twin brother while incarcerated, Campbell rose to become the state's top law enforcement official.
Another huge Dem flip

1 month ago | the-downballot.com | David Nir |David Beard

Current time: 0:00 / Total time: -49:17Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. After bursting onto the scene as the newest swing state just a few years ago, Georgia will be a top battleground in next year's midterms up and down the ballot. Joining us on this week's episode of The Downballot podcast is Charlie Bailey, the new chair of the Georgia Democratic Party, to share his insights on 2026.
Democracy prevails in North Carolina

1 month ago | the-downballot.com | David Nir |David Beard

Current time: 0:00 / Total time: -50:52Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. At long, long, long last, Republicans have abandoned their effort to overturn the election for North Carolina's Supreme Court—which took place all the way back in November. We've closely followed every twist and turn, so naturally we're exploring what it all means, both for Democrats and democracy, on this week's episode of The Downballot podcast.
Our must-have new data set is here!

2 months ago | the-downballot.com | David Nir |David Beard

Current time: 0:00 / Total time: -42:22Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. The Downballot is thrilled to announce the publication of the newest edition of our most widely used—and beloved—set of data: our calculations of the 2024 presidential election results for all 435 congressional districts. Naturally, we're talking all about it on this week's edition of our podcast, including why it's such a herculean undertaking and what the numbers tell us.
The Dem pollster who nailed Wisconsin

2 months ago | the-downballot.com | David Nir |David Beard

Current time: 0:00 / Total time: -57:40Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. Liberals won a massive victory in last week's pivotal battle for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, but the public saw precious little polling data that projected a blowout. Joining us on this week's episode of The Downballot podcast is pollster Margie Omero of GBAO, whose internal polling nailed Judge Susan Crawford's 10-point margin.
New York Dems consider playing hardball on special elections

Feb 6, 2025 | the-downballot.com | David Beard

A special election will soon be underway to succeed Republican Elise Stefanik after she’s confirmed as ambassador to the United Nations, but New York Democrats are considering delaying it from April to June—or possibly even later. On this week’s episode of The Downballot podcast, David Beard and guest host Joe Sudbay break down the implications of Empire State Democrats finding a backbone.
Food for thought for families making college decisions | MinnPost

Oct 18, 2023 | minnpost.com | David Beard |Kyle Stokes |Greta Kaul |Melody Hoffmann

Students are back at the University of Minnesota Duluth, where I teach, and I’m grateful to see last year’s new students again, to see this year’s new students for the first time and to hear from alumni recently placed in their new jobs. Meanwhile, the children in my life are considering college this fall. The brochures are flooding the mailbox, stacking up on the dining room table. If the number of brochures matters in recruiting, the University of Chicago has sent four.