In March 2024, 412 detained immigrants had been in custody for more than a year. By March 2026, the last time ICE provided detention statistics, that number had risen to 2,220 people. Our new collaboration with The Lens Nola: boltsmag.org/louisia...

The primary calendar marches on, with runoff elections in Louisiana this Saturday, and the crowded Colorado primaries on Tuesday. What should you be watching? Our election guide has you covered: boltsmag.org/whats-o...

If you haven’t filled out our reader survey yet, there’s still time! Any input you have on what makes our work stand out, and on what we could be doing better, will help us plan for the future. Let us know before the survey closes next week. www.surveymonkey.com...]

State supreme court elections happen differently across the country. This year, 13 states are holding retention elections, which are simple up-or-down votes to keep a judge on the bench. Nineteen states are holding regular elections. boltsmag.org/your-st...

In Louisiana, which has more ICE lockups than almost any state, a crisis of prolonged detention is accelerating. Data suggests that the number of immigrants in ICE custody for more than a year has spiked five-fold since 2024. Our story with The Lens Nola: boltsmag.org/louisia...

Whittier, California, has long held its municipal elections separately from state contests, but in 2020, a state law forced it to align them, and turnout in the mayoral race spiked. But an appeals court promptly lifted the requirement. boltsmag.org/califor...

All in all, 32 states are holding supreme court elections this year, deciding over 60 seats. These courts could determine key issues including abortion access and redistricting across the country. Our new guide explores what’s at stake in each state: boltsmag.org/your-state-b...

Bolts staff writer @burness.bsky.social breaks down what you should know—and why you should care—about this week’s supreme court election in Wisconsin.

With New Jersey’s new ban on local partnerships with ICE, there are only four states governed by Democrats that still have local or state agencies with 287(g) contracts. boltsmag.org/new-jer...

In a new video, Lauren Gill explains how prosecutors in Iowa have relied on the practice of making defendants pay court fees in exchange for dismissing their charges. For a deeper dive, read her full story from last month: boltsmag.org/iowa-co...

ICE’s 287(g) program, which allows local and state law enforcement to assist the federal agency, has exploded in popularity in President Trump’s second term. A growing list of blue states has passed bans on participating in the program. boltsmag.org/marylan...

In a new video, Bolts staff writer Alex Burness shares what he found while reporting in Alaska, where American Samoan residents have faced prosecution for voting in their local elections.

Over 1,000 prosecutors are set to be elected in 2026—and our new review identifies the counties that are emerging as early hotspots. boltsmag.org/crimina...

Many sheriffs have joined ICE’s 287(g) program, which empowers their deputies to make immigration arrests. Of all the counties in the program, there are nine that opposed Donald Trump in 2024 and are electing their sheriff this year. boltsmag.org/crimina...

Six states adopted new congressional maps this year, and a few more have started the process. So where does that leave the count of the overall partisan shift? You asked, we answered: boltsmag.org/mid-dec...

After the 2025 elections, Democrats control both legislative chambers and the governorship in 16 states. The GOP holds this trifecta in 23 states, and 11 states have split governments. boltsmag.org/legisla...

Throughout 2025, Democrats gained 25 state legislative seats that were held by the GOP—21 percent of the total. Their gains were spread across six states. boltsmag.org/legisla...

Bolts reporting on the results of state legislative elections this year was featured yesterday on MS NOW @arimelber.bsky.social. Watch the full video: www.ms.now/the-beat-... And read more in our reporting: boltsmag.org/legisla...

In this week's newsletter: A look at Democrats' historic election night and what the results mean for voting rights and immigration policy in several states. Plus, a list of downballot races whose results we've been following. mailchi.mp/boltsmag/...

In total, there are 15 contested prosecutor elections taking place across the country tomorrow. boltsmag.org/2025-pr...

Under Mayor Eric Adams, NYPD leadership has pushed police to issue more civil summonses. Data on civil summonses issued by NYPD suggest that Black and Latinx communities remain disproportionately affected. boltsmag.org/under-e...

You sent us your questions about November’s elections and we answered. We respond to six reader questions, from the school board elections we are watching to what these elections could mean for next year's midterms. boltsmag.org/electio...

During his time in office, Mayor Eric Adams directed police to issue more civil summonses. In 2024 alone, New York City issued at least $2.3 million in fines through NYPD civil summonses, nearly double the previous year. boltsmag.org/under-e...

Since the start of Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell’s aggressive removal policy, city officials have seen a significant drop in the number of tent and RV encampments. Harrell’s opponent in this year’s race wants to ban most encampment sweeps. boltsmag.org/seattle...

Missouri’s referendum on minimum wage and paid sick leave last year won by a margin of 58 to 42 percent statewide. Under a proposal advanced by the GOP, it would have failed because it didn’t win more than 50 percent in every congressional district. boltsmag.org/missour...

Bolts reviewed available data from several major cities that elected their mayors in 2025 and found that turnout cratered. San Antonio’s expensive mayoral race in May dropped roughly 70 percent compared to the 2024 election. boltsmag.org/new-yor...

A group in San Diego is patrolling neighborhoods to identify potential ICE presence. They keep watch for vehicles that may belong to federal agencies, and use livestreams, radios, and social media to keep communities informed. Learn more: boltsmag.org/how-vol...

Maryland’s Republican sheriffs have rushed to join ICE's 287(g) program this year. Now, more than 1.1 million Marylanders, nearly a fifth of the state, live in 287(g) counties. Learn more: boltsmag.org/marylan...

As Maryland’s Republican sheriffs have rushed to join ICE's 287(g) program, more than 1.1 million Marylanders, nearly a fifth of the state, now live in 287(g) counties. Learn more: boltsmag.org/marylan...

Dozens of cities are electing mayors and city councilors in 2025, from New York City to Minneapolis and Seattle. Here are the elections in cities of at least 250,000 residents. boltsmag.org/2025-cr...