Your Cheat Sheet to the 2022 General Elections

Conservatives failed to oust one sitting justice in May; they’re taking aim at another in November. Learn more in Bolts.

Abortion rights advocates hope to oust some of the five justices up for retention (a yes-or-no vote). No judge has ever lost retention in Florida. Learn more.

Six of seven justices are up for retention (a yes-or-no vote) against the backdrop of abortion: The court’s ruling protecting abortion rights was upheld by voters in August. Learn more in Bolts.

One of the most fervently anti-abortion lawmakers in Kentucky is seeking a seat on the court. Learn more.

Two justices are running for re-election, and the Democratic majority could flip (the GOP would need to win both seats). That would carry major implications for voting rights and for criminal justice.

Conservatives are targeting Justice Ingrid Gutafson on a court at the center of disputes over democracy. Learn more.

Two Democratic justices face re-election, one against a candidate who is echoing election deniers. Learn more.

Republicans would flip the court by winning one of the two seats on the ballot, with major consequences for redistricting and civil rights.

Democrats could flip the court as the GOP is defending three seats, but the GOP could also secure enough votes to bless its gerrymanders. Learn more.

Democrats have candidates against five GOP justices across two high courts, but they struggle statewide. (The primary had action too.) Learn more.

GOP election denier Mark Finchem, who still wants to decertify the last presidential race, hopes to take over election administration in this critical swing state. Learn more.

Democrat Jena Griswold is seeking a second term against Republican Pam Anderson. A prominent election denier lost in the GOP primary. Learn more.

Republican Dominic Rapini, the former board chair of a group that promoted conspiracies about 2020, faces Democratic lawmaker Stephanie Thomas. Learn more.

GOP incumbent Brad Raffensperger, who rebuffed Trump and later supported new voting restrictions, faces Democrat Bee Nguyen. Learn more.

Republican Diego Morales rode the Big Lie to oust a GOP incumbent, and now faces Democrat Destiny Wells. Learn more.

In the race between a GOP incumbent and a Democratic county auditor, recent voter restrictions adopted by the state have been a major faultline. Learn more in Bolts.

Democratic incumbent Jocelyn Benson faces Kristina Karamo, an avowed election denier who is endorsed by Trump and wants to upend the elections system. (Learn more in Bolts.)

Democratic incumbent Steve Simon faces Kim Crockett, who has embraced Trump’s lies about 2020. (Learn more.)

One of the chief organizers of a nationwide slate of election deniers is Jim Marchant, the GOP nominee in Nevada. He faces Democrat Cisco Aguilar. Learn more.

GOP nominee Audrey Trujillo has embraced the Big Lie in challenging Democratic incumbent Maggie Toulouse Oliver. Learn more.

A GOP incumbent who has grown increasingly confident echoing false claims of fraud is running for re-election. Learn more.

The identity of the next secretary of state will be decided by the winner of the governor’s race. The GOP nominee in that race,  election denier Doug Mastriano, says this is a priority for him. Learn more in Bolts.

The GOP is shut out of the runoff in an office it had not lost since 1964, with a Democrat and an independent facing off. Learn more.

The office does not oversee election administration, but Republicans want to change that if they win it. Learn more.

GOP nominee Abraham Hamadeh is part of the slate of election deniers running in Arizona, with Trump’s support. Democratic nominee Kris Mayes wants to stop prosecutors from criminalizing abortion.

Roy Bonta was a major target of the right over his support for criminal justice reform, but he showed strength in the June primary.

Democrat Phil Weiser is seeking a second term against prosecutor John Kellner, who has campaigned on rising crime.

Democrat Kathy Jennings, who heads the state’s prosecutor offices and unveiled a slate of criminal justice reforms while in office, is up for re-election.

GOP incumbent Ashley Moody faces Aramis Ayala, the former Orlando prosecutor who clashed with state Republicans over her opposition to the death penalty.

Republican Chris Carr seeks re-election against Democrat Jen Jordan, who wishes to curtail enforcement of abortion bans.

Raúl Labrador, a far-right Republican who was a vocal member of the Freedom Caucus, ousted the GOP incumbent and now faces Democrat Tom Arkoosh.

Tom Miller is the nation’s longest-serving attorney general, but it’s grown harder for a Democrat to win in Iowa. Republican Brenna Bird is mounting attack ads featuring a transgender person.

Republican Kris Kobach, a former secretary of state and a champion of failed voting restrictions and false fraud charges, is seeking a comeback and faces Democrat Chris Mann.

Democratic incumbent Dana Nessel faces Republican Matt DePerno, with major stakes for the criminalization of abortion and of elections.

Republican Jim Schultz is challenging Keith Ellison, the progressive attorney general who drew widespread attention for his role in prosecutiing Derek Chauvin over the murder of George Floyd.

In a state where prosecutors coalesce to stop criminal justice reform, Democrats are running a DA for this open seat, and the GOP nominee is running on a law-and-order message, pinpointing homeless encampments.

Aaron Ford, one of many vulnerable Democrats in Nevada, faces Republican Sigal Chattah.

In this reddening state, Republican Dave Yost seeks a second-term against Democratic lawmaker Jeff Crossman, who has run on protecting abortion rights.

Indictments for securities fraud have loomed over GOP incumbent Ken Paxton for years but he has remained a darling of the far-right due to his efforts to police voting and target LGBTQ youth. He faces Democrat Rochelle Garza.

The office is technically held by the GOP: The Republican governor appointed Susanne Young this year to replace a Democrat who retired. But Young is not running and Democrats are favored to regain the office.

Eric Toney, a GOP DA who wants to throw the book at ordinary voters to combat purported fraud, is challenging first-term Democrat Josh Kaul.

Tom Horne, a GOP former superintendent who championed a ban on ethnic studies and is now running against bilingual education, is challenging Democratic incumbent Kathy Hoffman.

Two seats are up, and the body would flip if Democrats sweep the seats. The candidates differ starkly in their approaches to regulating utilities.

California’s only statewide election that may be competitive.

An open race has Democrats trying to retain all elected statewide offices.

One of Florida’s four Cabinet positions pits a GOP incumbent against a former Democratic lawmaker.

Florida’s only statewide office still held by Democrats is open and could flip.

A fact looming over the race: Republican nominee Burt Jones worked to overturn the 2020 election.

This open statewide seat has two lawmakers facing off.

First-term auditor Rob Sand is the only statewide Democrat under age 70. He faces a tough battle in a reddening state.

The 40-year incumbent, Democrat Michael Fitzgerald, is trying to resist the state’s jump to the right.

An appointed Democrat, Lynn Rogers, is seeking a full term in this red state.

Democrats face headwinds in all statewide races, and this race features an appointed incumbent.

An open race could help enable the state GOP regain a statewide footing.

Michele Fiore, a local politician who regularly grabs national headlines for her ultra-conservative politics, is challenging the Democratic incumbent.

This open seat features two candidates named Montoya, Laura (the Democrat) and Harry (the Republican).

The race is technically nonpartisan, but the two candidates are Democratic labor attorney Christina Stephenson and former Republican lawmaker Cheri Helt.

Democrats are running the founder of a grassroots teachers’ organization, Lisa Ellis, against Republican Ellen Weaver, an advocate for school vouchers.

This is one of Texas’s statewide offices that is open, vacated by George P. Bush.

The GOP has a hold on the governor’s office but Democrats expect to at least keep the second-in-line post.

Will the GOP retain a majority on the Public Service Commission?

Will Democrats retain the supreme court?

Will Democrats retain the supreme court?

Will the GOP retain the supreme court?

Florida
Iowa
Missouri

Four candidates formed an informal progressive slate on a platform of reducing incarceration. Learn more in Bolts.

A judge in Kentucky’s capital has drawn conservative ire and is targeted by Mitch McConnell’s PAC. Learn more in Bolts.

In red Alabama, Democrat Moshae Davidson is deploying reform themes, including signaling that she could use her discretion to refuse prosecuting abortion.

Democrat Julie Gunnigle is running on promises to not prosecute abortion and to advance reforms. GOP incumbent Rachel Mitchell gained national fame for her questioning during the Brett Kavanaugh hearings. Learn more in Bolts and The Appeal.

An open seat pits assistant DA Terry Willey against reform candidate Pamela Price. More soon.

Chesa Boudin’s recall in June triggered a special election and newly appointed DA Brooke Jenkins, who is rolling back Boudin’s reforms, faces John Hamasaki, who is aligned with progressives.

A public defender’s decision to challenge a DeSantis appointee gives the area its first contested prosecutor race in decades, with unusually large stakes not just for abortion and reform but also for preemption. Learn more in Bolts.

Democratic incumbent Ryan Mears is clashing with the local police union. Mears faces Republican Cyndi Carrasco, who has criticized his decision to refuse prosecution of marijuana cases.

Reformer Kimberly Graham won the Democratic primary in Iowa’s most populous county, and is favored in the general; she has pledged to not prosecute abortion. Learn more in Bolts.

A civil rights attorney is vying to take over the reform torch and is challenging a longtime tough-on-crime DA. Learn more in Bolts.

The winner will replace a retiring incumbent who has been a chief critic of the Bay State’s progressive reforms.

The county’s first prosecutor race since George Floyd’s murder features major contrasts on reform and policing. More soon.

Incumbent Don Kleine switched to the GOP two years ago, after the Democratic Party accused him of furthering white supremacy for not bringing charges against the man who killed James Scurlock, a Black protester. He now faces reform-minded Democrat Dave Pantos.

GOP incumbent Pat Condon faces Adam Morfeld, a Democrat who founded the progressive organization Civic Nebraska.

In a very rare contested prosecutor race in this state, a longtime GOP incumbent faces Nicholas Sarwark, chair of the national Libertarian Party from 2014 to 2020.

Incumbent Jim O’Neill, a fervent Trump supporter who narrowly lost a bid for statewide office in 2020, faces retired judge Denise Hartsfield in a blue-leaning county.

In this open race, a conservative fire-breather faces a Democratic former prosecutor. More soon.

Democratic incumbent John Creuzot faces a rematch against former Republican DA Faith Johnson. Meanwhile, the local jail has remained in crisis mode and reforms have been limited. Learn more in Bolts.

In this fast-growing county, a Democratic defense attorney calls it a “blessing” he has never been a prosecutor and promises progressive reforms. Learn more in Bolts.

A punitive DA’s retirement has sparked an open contest amid the Texas GOP’s latest efforts to criminalize abortion and trans youth. Learn more in Bolts.

The open prosecutor race has come down to Leesa Manion, running as a cautious reformer, and Jim Ferrell, who wishes to roll back recent reforms.

Incumbent Larry Haskell, who has used his authority to gut criminal justice reforms, HuffPost reports, is running for re-election.

In an office plagued by scandals, incumbent Alex Villanueva faces Robert Luna; a long history of failed reform efforts haunts the race. Learn more in Bolts.

This election is unfolding against the backdrop of a string of deaths in the local jail; the candidate most intent on reform lost in June. Learn more in Bolts.

A special election has escalated into tensions and negative attacks.

Chuck Jenins, a longtime Republican sheriff with ties to the far-right and draconian anti-immigrant policies, is running for re-election. Learn more in Bolts.

This is the only county in all of New England participating in ICE’s 287(g) program to assist with immigration enforcement. This race could end that. Learn more in Bolts.

Sheriff Thomas Hodgson has drawn years of protests over the conditions in his jail and his handling of immigrant detainees. More soon.

The incumbent retired after pleading guilty to a DUI, leaving an open race for an office that’s been under local scrutiny for its relationship with ICE.

A GOP challenger wants this border county to have a tighter relationship with ICE and immigration enforcement than under the Democratic incumbent. Learn more.

North Carolina’s most populous county fired its GOP sheriff who closely collaborated with ICE in 2018. Now he is mounting a comeback. Learn more in Bolts.

Sheriff Terry Johnson, a Republican long notorious for anti-immigrant practices and for shutting down a protest in 2020, faces his first challenge in more than a decade.

Far-right Sheriff Bob Songer, who rejected COVID-19 restrictions in the name of his oath to the “Supreme Judge of the Universe,” which he says ties his function to Christianity, faces a tough re-election bid.

Democrat Kalvin Barrett, who is favored to win re-election in this blue county, has pledged to not investigate abortion cases.

Congressmember Karen Bass faces businessman Robert Caruso, who has run to the right of the field and came in second in the June primary.

A candidate wants to use this opaque office to bring more visibility to the city budget and the size of public funds that go to the police. Learn more in Bolts.

The election for an office that handles low-level offenses is a test for local reform politics, as one of the two candidates has grabbed the progressive mantle.

After Eunisses Hernandez’s election in June, progressives hope to expand their clout via Erin Darling in the 11th district and Hugo Soto-Martinez in the 13th. The latter faces incumbent Mitch O’Farrell, in an election with major fault lines over policing and homelessness.

This mayoral race has become a proxy battle between the owners of the San Francisco 49ers and of the Miami Dolphins, clashing over the future of development.

Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar, of U.S. House races fame, faces Republican John McCann to lead the second most populous city in the San Diego region.

An ideologically broad array of 10 candidates is running for mayor, in a race that will be decided by ranked-choice voting.

The growth of housing developments has exacerbated disagreements in a race that veered personal over campaign tactics.

This open race is exposing disagreements over policing and abortion.

Republican Linda Gorton is running for a second term against Democrat David Kloiber.

Republicans went with a party-switching lawmaker to challenge the Democratic incumbent leading the state’s most populous county.

Southern Jersey is shifting red, and the GOP could flip the county government if it wins both commissioner seats on the ballot.

This is the same situation as in neighboring Cumberland: GOP could flip the commission if it wins both seats on the ballot.

Mary-Ann Baldwin is running for re-election against fellow Democrats DaQuanta Copeland and Terrance Ruth, who criticizes Baldwin for her ties to developers.

Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty, a progressive known for her vocal criticisms of policing, faces Rene Gonzalez, who is pressing for more police and prosecution and a tougher approach toward people experiencing homelessness.

Housing and homelessness are also issues dominating the race to take over the county that contains Portland.

Six candidates are running to lead the Texas capital in an open race.

Six candidates are running to lead Texas’ capital city in an open race where policing and housing are predictably major issues.

The only Republican on the county commissioners court, J. J. Koch, faces Democrat Andrew Sommerman. The election, which may push the Dallas GOP to a nadir, is a proxy battle over criminal justice reform.

At age 27, Lina Hidalgo became a national progessive star after taking over the nation’s third largest county in 2018. She now faces a tough re-election battle.

In the nationally-watched race to lead a county of more than 2 million, Tim O’Hare clinched the GOP nomination by railing against “diversity and inclusion” programs. He faces Deborah Peoples, a progressive Democrat who fell short in the Fort Worth mayoral race in 2020.

This county has been the site of a long legal and political battle over Navajo representation; the 2022 midterms will again determine whether the board has a Navajo-majority.

Muriel Bowser is favored to secure a rare third term.

Three council members, plus other candidates, are vying for two seats, with the major face-off occurring between incumbent Kenyan McDuffie and progressive candidate Elissa Silverman.

Several election deniers lost GOP primaries to take over local systems in June, but Bolts reported that the GOP nominee for clerk in Adams County is echoing false conspiracies.

In a blue-leaning county, Democratic incumbent Nancy Nilsen is challenged by Republican Victore Ironcroft, who just this fall was protesting a local drag show.

The GOP nominee to take over the local elections system is echoing false conspiracies about the 2020 election.

In HD16, far-right GOP nominee Trevor Lee has a history of homophobia, and faces a write-in bid from Steve Handy, the GOP lawmaker he ousted at a convention.

Senate: SD3, SD5, SD19, SD25 (GOP needs three of four).
Assembly: AD33, AD45, AD51, AD54, AD64, AD71, AD73, AD74, AD84, AD94.

The elections for school boards in Chandler and in Mesa feature far-right candidates focused on LGBTQ kids and discussions of race, as well as candidates who have come out of the Red for Ed activism on behalf of teachers.

Roughly 2,500 seats are up in California alone, and conservatives are hoping to move the boards rightward. CalMatters spotlights races for:

—the Chino Valley School Board in San Bernardino County
—the San Juan Unified School District Board in Sacramento County
—the Tustin Unified School District in Orange County

Governor Ron DeSantis has pushed for a conservative takeover of school boards and endorsed a large slate of candidates, many of whom won on Aug. 23. But some moved to a runoff:

—Hendry: Stephanie Busin vs. Joe Whitehead
—Indian River: Jacqueline Rosario vs. Cynthia Gibbs
—Lee: Sam Fisher vs. Kathy Fanny
—Manatee: Cindy Spray vs. Hard Byrd
—Pasco: Al Hernandez vs. James Washington
—Volusia: Jamie Haynes vs. Al Bouie
(DeSantis-backed candidates listed first in each race.)

In Broward County, conservative activist Brenda Fam is up against Steven Julian.

Of four candidates endorsed by a conservative group organized against “critical race theory,” only one moved into a November runoff, in District 3.

Five conservatives are running to take over the Round Rock Independent School Board, amid flaring tensions around censorship and diversity.

The board of education has sparked some of the city’s only competitive fall elections, DCist reports.