Sep 1, 2026 · 20 min
Who controls America’s primaries—and why timing matters
Answering your questions on the midterms & more
The episode explains how campaign-finance rules, state-level election calendars, party strategy, and rural political weakness shape midterm contests.
- 1Leftover campaign funds face rules governing returns, future use, donations to other candidates, and controversial contributions.
- 2States, parties, and election officials—not one national authority—determine when and how primary elections take place.
- 3Late primaries, weak rural Democratic support, and unusual local races can reshape what voters see on election night.
Don't miss
The hosts’ imagined campaign for unusual local offices gives way to Tamara’s story about a fox repeatedly leaving droppings in her driveway.
The brief
Mara Liasson, Tamara Keith, and Ashley Lopez answer listener questions about what campaigns can do with leftover money, including returning funds or donating them to other candidates.
Primary elections happen on different schedules because states, state parties, and public election officials share control over dates and election structures. Late contests can leave candidates little time to unify or prepare.
The hosts examine independent candidates and the Democratic Party’s rural weakness, noting that running outside a major party can help in deeply conservative states while many Senate independents still caucus with one.
For election night, they highlight New York’s 17th District, California’s 22nd District, David Valadao’s impeachment vote, and the possibility that delayed returns create a red mirage.
The conversation ends with a comic tour of local offices—from dog catcher to planning board member and dog-poop enforcement officer—followed by a fox repeatedly using Tamara’s driveway.
Mara Liasson
Tamara Keith
Democratic Party
Massachusetts
Angie NixonListen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.