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Voters reject most big tax overhauls, with a few notable exceptions

Voters fill out ballots for the midterm election at the Millwood Field House on Tuesday in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma voters rejected measure that would have capped annual increases in property taxes, one of a number of tax-related measures that were on the ballot in multiple states. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice) Despite the blue wave that swept the nation on Tuesday, voters were more cautious about making sweeping changes to their taxes. Most states with tax policy on the ballot saw voters reject large-scale change, though some passed smaller changes or reined in officials’ ability to make changes. “Even though there are big political shifts on the federal level, people are generally feeling the same about taxes as they always have,” said Janelle Fritts, senior policy analyst at the Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan analysis and research organization. One of the biggest examples: California ’s much-discussed billionaire wealth tax looked likely to fail, with a ‘no’ vote of more t...
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Straight-ticket ballots reach 70% of all Alabama votes; Democrats increase share

Campaign signs line the driveway to the entrance of a polling place on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, in Millbrook, Alabama. The Alabama Secretary of State's Office Thursday said more than 70% of ballots cast on Tuesday were straight ticket. (Ralph Chapoco/Alabama Reflector) (Getty images) More than 70% of Alabama voters cast straight-ticket party ballots on Tuesday, a record that also featured a higher percentage of those votes going to Democrats. The Secretary of State’s Office published a news release Thursday that said almost 1.2 million of the nearly 1.7 million votes were straight ticket. Of those, about 645,000, 54%, voted straight-party ticket for Republican candidates. Almost 550,000, about 46%, went to Democrats. GET THE MORNING HEADLINES. SUBSCRIBE In 2022, about 947,000 of the 1.4 million votes cast that year (66.5%) were str...
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Commentary: The GOP gerrymander didn’t work. And it hurt Tommy Tuberville.

U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, leaves the lectern after speaking to an Alabama Senate committee on May 7, 2026 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. The Alabama Legislature this spring redrew the 2nd Congressional District, represented by Figures, to favor a Republican. Figures won re-election to the seat on Tuesday. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama Legislature could try to redraw Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District again. If Republicans are unhappy with Shomari Figures’ decisive victory Tuesday , they can change the borders. The U.S. Supreme Court said this spring that the Legislature can do anything it wants with congressional districts. So long as they’re “political gerrymanders,” of course. Don’t explicitly say you’re trying to mute the voice of Black voters. Just blurt “Democrats,” and you’ll be fine. So have at it. Draw more of Elmore County (73% white) in and more of Montgomery County (59% Black) out. ...
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Alabama Democrats flip four legislative seats in 2026 midterms

Construction of the new Alabama Statehouse as seen on July 29, 2026, in Montgomery, Alabama. Legislators are expected to occupy the new building in time to verify November's election results. Alabama Democrats flipped four legislative seats on Tuesday, and one race between a conservative independent and an incumbent Republican is too close to call. (Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector) Alabama Democrats flipped four legislative seats in Tuesday’s midterm elections, while a Senate race in northeast Alabama between a conservative independent and a Republican incumbent was too close to call on Wednesday.  Although Republicans maintain control of all constitutional offices and a supermajority in both chambers, the flips came amid a major shift toward the Democratic Party . Ballots cast for Democratic candidates increased in all 67 counties on Tuesday, according to election data, and represented one of the best nights for legislative Democrats in decades. The party focused most of its effo...
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Doug Jones concedes in closest Alabama gubernatorial race since 2002

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Doug Jones speaks to 200 supporters at an Election Night gathering in Birmingham, Alabama on Nov. 3, 2026. Jones conceded the Alabama gubernatorial race on Wednesday in what became the closest contest for the office since 2002. (Andi Rice for Alabama Reflector) Democratic gubernatorial nominee Doug Jones Wednesday conceded in Alabama’s gubernatorial race in what became the closest contest for that office since 2002.  In a statement Wednesday afternoon, Jones repeated that the objective of his campaign was not to win but to make gains across the state for Democrats. Democrats flipped four legislative districts in Madison and Shelby counties, and U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Montgomery, successfully fought a GOP attempt to gerrymander his district. “While we came up short in this election, we accomplished so much together that I believe will bode well for Alabama in the future,” Jones said.  ...
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Republicans hold on to Alabama state offices, but by reduced margins

A roll of "I voted" circular stickers. Republicans won most of the statewide offices during Tuesday's election, but Democratic nominees narrowed the voting gap from previous elections. (Getty) Alabama Republicans won most statewide office contests Tuesday, though their margins were smaller than four years ago. Former Republican Party Chair John Wahl won the Lieutenant Governor’s race after he received 911,304 votes, about 54.3% of the electorate, according to unofficial results from the Alabama Secretary of State’s office. Former Rep. Phillip Ensler, D-Montgomery, garnered 765,203, about 45.6% of the total vote. Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth, a Republican, is term-limited and could not seek re-election; Ainworth won 83% of the vote in his campaign for a second term in 2022. GET THE MORNING HEADLINES. SUBSCRIBE A message was sent...
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Tommy Tuberville wins Alabama governor’s race; Doug Jones does not concede

Alabama Republican gubernatorial nominee Tommy Tuberville speaks to supporters after declaring victory during an election night watch party at The Hotel at Auburn University on Nov. 3, 2026. Democratic gubernatorial nominee Doug Jones did not immediately concede the contest. (Larry Robinson for Alabama Reflector) AUBURN — Republican U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville declared victory Tuesday in the race for Alabama governor, but Democrat Doug Jones did not concede in what appeared to be the closest gubernatorial contest in Alabama in 24 years. The declaration from Alabama’s senior U.S. senator came hours before The Associated Press called the race for Tuberville at 12:36 a.m. early Wednesday. As of 12:43 a.m., Tuberville had 872,445 votes (52.1 %) in unofficial returns, according to The Associated Press . Jones had 703,000 (47.9%) .  Tuberville, however, declared victory to a crowd of more than 400 supporters in Auburn late Tuesday evening, when fewer than 70% of the ballots had been ...
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