What Yesterday’s Elections Results Mean for Cities and City Government Across the U.S.

This article was originally posted by Planetizen. To read the rest of the article, click here.

If you can make it past rhetoric around healthcare, abortion, collective bargaining, and immigration, the November 8th election results tell a more cohesive and calming story about American’s political sentiment. Despite a widespread expressed attitude of “throw the bums out,” incumbent mayors won in every big city race on the ballot yesterday: Baltimore, Charlotte, Houston, Indianapolis, and Philadelphia. (Even interim appointed San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee won his first election to the office.)

This trend signifies an ability on the part of voters to distinguish between a diffuse notion of “government” at the state and federal levels (which scores high marks for dissatisfaction), and the kind of government that is visible on the ground in the form of local elected officials…..read more