Nathaniel Rakich

Nathaniel Rakich

@baseballot.bsky.social

Managing editor @votebeat.org. Previously senior editor and senior elections analyst at FiveThirtyEight. Email, don't DM: nrakich at votebeat dot org

20.4K followers266 following3.2K posts

Nathaniel Rakich reposted

Céspedes Family BBQ
@cespedesbbq.bsky.social

UPDATE: Brandon Woodruff To Pitch Ninth Inning of World Series Game 3

MLB Trade Rumors@mlbtraderumors.bsky.social

dlvr.itBrandon Woodruff To Undergo Season-Ending Shoulder SurgeryBrandon Woodruff‘s 2026 season has come to an end, as the Brewers right-hander told CBS 58’s Darius Joseph and other reporters that he is undergoing a capsule surgery on his throwing shoulder.  The recovery timeline should keep Woodruff out of action for at least part of the 2027 season as well, but the veteran said he […]
Nathaniel Rakich
@baseballot.bsky.social

This is a pretty flimsy lawsuit, but notable that the administration is preemptively trying to challenge a Democratic win in #AKsen.

Meg Kinnard@megkinnardap.bsky.social

WASHINGTON (AP) — Trump administration sues to block Alaska Senate race certification if Republican loses, citing candidate name confusion.

Nathaniel Rakich
@baseballot.bsky.social

The incident really shows how on-edge people are about federal agents showing up at polling places. But it's also a reminder, heading into Election Day, not to leap to the worst possible conclusions.

Nathaniel Rakich reposted

James Brooks Cascade
@alaska.bsky.social

Replying to @baseballot.bsky.social

This is a particular issue in Alaska, because ballots sent from many parts of the state are not postmarked until they reach Anchorage, which may take several days or more than a week.

Nathaniel Rakich reposted

Sasha Hupka
@sashahupka.bsky.social

NEW: Arizona AG Kris Mayes is suing MCRO over its handling of the registration statuses of 25 voters falsely flagged as noncitizens by SAVE earlier this year. The 11th-hour legal battle is the latest update in a saga that stretches back to the spring. Read: www.votebeat.org/arizona/2026...

votebeat.orgThese Arizona voters were falsely flagged as noncitizens. 2 weeks before Election Day, it’s unclear if they’ll be able to vote.An investigation found that 25 Arizona voters flagged as potential noncitizens were, in fact, citizens. But a new lawsuit alleges they haven’t been reinstated to full status on the voter roll.
Nathaniel Rakich
@baseballot.bsky.social

Good overview of the Trump administration's escalation against alleged noncitizen voting in California: www.votebeat.org/national/202...

votebeat.orgTrump administration feud with California raises concerns president could try to intervene in the November election.The Trump administration and California are locked in a feud over noncitizen voters, fueling fears the White House could try to intervene in the state’s process before or after Election Day.

Nathaniel Rakich reposted

James Smyth
@jamessmyth621.bsky.social

Brewers/Rays is the 8th World Series between teams that have never won one before 1903 Americans (Red Sox)/Pirates 1905 Giants/Athletics 1906 White Sox/Cubs 1907 Cubs/Tigers 1909 Pirates/Tigers 1920 Indians/Robins (Dodgers) 1980 Phillies/Royals 2026 Brewers/Rays (good idea @mikemedvin.bsky.social)

Nathaniel Rakich
@baseballot.bsky.social

The Downballot is such an invaluable resource, and is well worth the cup of coffee I pay for it each month!

The Downballot@the-downballot.com

Today is The Downballot's 23rd anniversary, so we're celebrating with a special 23% off sale! Unlock premium content and awesome perks 𝙥𝙡𝙪𝙨 support our unique work at a steep discount off our normal rates. Click below to take advantage—the offer is good for just one week!

the-downballot.comTake 23% off to celebrate The Downballot’s 23rd anniversary!Twenty-three years is a long time in any human lifetime.

Nathaniel Rakich reposted

Jessica Huseman
@jessicahuseman.bsky.social

We're 17 days out. Are you a reporter worried you don't have the sourcing to answer highly technical voting questions? Let @votebeat.org give you ours FOR FREE. 125 experts on cybersecurity, law, extremism, and election administration and more are waiting for you. www.electionexpertdesk.com

electionexpertdesk.comElection Expert Desk - Votebeat Election Expert DeskElection stories move fast. Election law is technical. Local procedures vary widely. And the loudest voices about voting systems are not always the people who understand them. Votebeat’s Expert Desk i...

Nathaniel Rakich reposted

Ariel Edwards-Levy
@aedwardslevy.bsky.social

Good morning Bluesky! This feels like a good time to re-up my primer to getting the most out of midterm election polling, as well as my advice that the correct answer to "can we trust the polls" is "trust them to do what"? Understand the limitations, also the uses. www.cnn.com/2026/09/09/p...

cnn.comAn onslaught of midterm polling is coming. Here’s how to sort through it | CNN PoliticsIf read carefully, high-quality polls can still tell you a lot about how this year’s midterms are shaping up – and keeping a few simple questions in mind can help you sort through the overwhelming and...
Nathaniel Rakich
@baseballot.bsky.social

Breaking: More than 100 suspicious letters were sent to state election officials and other election-adjacent people (including a pollster) across the country. www.votebeat.org/national/202...

votebeat.orgMore than 100 suspicious letters sent to election officials weeks before 2026 midtermsElection officials nationwide are confirming they were sent suspicious letters, some of which contained an “unknown substance,” at a time when officials are increasingly subject to physical threats.
Nathaniel Rakich
@baseballot.bsky.social

A shocking thing to do to a sitting congresswoman.

Phil Lewis@phillewis.bsky.social

WSJ: 'The Trump administration’s investigation into Rep. Ilhan Omar is aimed at building a case to strip her of her U.S. citizenship and ultimately deport her, according to U.S. officials and other people familiar with the probe'

wsj.comIlhan Omar Investigation Aims to Build Case for Stripping Her CitizenshipAuthorities have subpoenaed members of the Democratic congresswoman’s family as part of a broader look at their immigration paperwork.
Nathaniel Rakich
@baseballot.bsky.social

Notable: The feds are telling CA not to send mail ballots to these people they claim are not citizens, and to segregate ballots that come in from these voters. That could be a preview of a post-election legal challenge to get those ballots excluded. www.reuters.com/world/us-jus...

reuters.comEXCLUSIVE: US Justice Department threatens California over alleged noncitizen voters, letters showThe US Justice Department on Tuesday gave California officials 48 hours to review a list of alleged noncitizen voters or face ‌legal action, according to two letters reviewed by Reuters, part of an un...
Nathaniel Rakich
@baseballot.bsky.social

Nearly 6,000 South Dakota voters are what's known as "federal-only," meaning they can't vote in state races, because they haven't complied with a new law requiring them to prove their citizenship. southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/10/13/s...

southdakotasearchlight.comSouth Dakota’s federal-only voter list grows to nearly 6,000, surprising some who are on it • South Dakota SearchlightThe number of South Dakotans restricted to voting only in federal races has nearly quadrupled to 5,735 since May, driven by two recent laws.
Nathaniel Rakich
@baseballot.bsky.social

A characteristically thorough overview of this year's secretary of state (and a few bonus) elections!

Bolts@boltsmag.org

NEW in Bolts: The midterms will usher in a new cast of characters to oversee the next presidential race. They’ll decide how to answer Trump’s orders and how to shape mail voting and registration. Explore our state breakdown:

boltsmag.orgThese 35 States Are Deciding Who’ll Run Their Elections - BoltsThe midterms will usher in a new cast of characters to oversee the next presidential race. They’ll decide how to answer Trump’s orders and how to shape mail voting and registration.