Is this where we debate Galen, whether the Virginia Governor's race is more important

than the New York City and my oral race?

I mean, it's not really a debate where I need to know the answer.

We'll let the listener chat.

Hello and welcome to the 538 Politics Podcast.

I'm Galen Druke.

The year after a presidential election is generally the slowest period when it comes to elections.

The midterms are still more than a year away and the presidential primaries won't really

get going until the midterms have passed.

That, however, does not mean that there are no elections.

Folks, there are always elections.

This year there are gubernatorial and state legislative elections in Virginia and New

Jersey and a very likely, almost certain, recall election for governor in California.

There are also mayoral elections in more than two dozen major cities as well as special

elections for a handful of vacant US house seats.

Those elections are going to give us some insight into how the national political environment

has changed since Biden took office.

The primaries in those races will also help clarify which factions of the parties are

electorally the strongest.

And in the mayoral elections, issues of policing that came to the fore last summer will be on

the ballot.

So here with me to preview elections to watch in 2021 are political reporter Alex Samuels.

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