Midterm Ballot: Local Races Outweigh Presidential Contests
Experts argue school boards and secretaries of state hold more power over daily life than federal positions, urging voters to check nonpartisan guides before casting ballots.
By Matthew Qureshi ·
School board members and secretaries of state hold more direct influence on daily life than most federal officials, according to America Votes executive director Daria C. Dawson. She told host JeremiahLikeTheBible on The Morning Hustle that these local positions receive the least media attention despite their impact on curriculum, phone policies, and election administration.
Dawson stated that local races carry the heaviest weight for communities. She addressed voter suppression by asking, “If your vote did not actually have value, why are they trying to suppress it?” Media personality Claudia Jordan agreed, noting that politics shapes everyday life and that voting is how communities protect their power.
Jordan cited local judicial races in Texas as examples of how biased judges and voter silencing affect specific counties. Dawson connected federal food safety inspectors to recent recalls involving beef, butter, and lettuce. The two discussed how public health issues became politicized during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jordan challenged listeners who claim they do not follow politics, stating, “When people say ‘I don’t do politics,’ I’m like, ‘Well, politics will do you.'”
Both speakers advised voters to vote early and prepare specific choices on paper, as phones are often restricted at polling sites. They recommended using nonpartisan resources like Vote 411 to understand confusing ballot measures. Anyone facing intimidation at the polls can call 1-866-OUR-VOTE.
