state politics

In asking voters to rank candidates in order of preference, Maine becomes the first U.S. state to adopt a system also used in Australia, Ireland, several other countries, and a handful of U.S. cities.

In odd-numbered years, Election Day is a hodgepodge of races. But in an era when all politics is national, these low-profile elections have a lot to say about the direction of the country.

At stake is control of the Washington state Senate, where the GOP holds a one-seat majority. It's currently the only Republican-held legislative chamber on the West Coast.

A political scientist says it's a bad sign for democracy when voters aren't presented with at least two options in a race. And the problem tends to get worse the further down ballot a race is.

It's a challenge for officials at all levels of government, including a state lawmaker in Utah who recently had to talk it out with someone he blocked.

Joe Straus, the influential Texas House Speaker, was viewed as a pragmatic moderate who blocked a so-called 'bathroom bill' from passing during this year's legislative session.

Feinstein's reputation as a bipartisan bridge builder may work against her with some California Democrats who are eager for a more confrontational approach to the Trump Administration.

North Carolina lawmakers have approved new legislative district maps to replace one thrown out by the courts for being illegal racial gerrymanders. But many critics say the new maps are just as bad.