County executive

Long Island's four U.S. House incumbents — Republicans Nick LaLota and Andrew Garbarino, and Democrats Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen — each sought reelection as national forecasters predicted a potential Democratic wave that could flip House control. Early returns showed Suozzi and Gillen leading, with Garbarino ahead in his race; LaLota's contest had no reported results yet.

Challengers included Chris Gallant against LaLota, Patrick Halpin against Garbarino, Mike LiPetri in a Suozzi rematch, and Jeanine Driscoll against Gillen. Analysts noted Nassau County GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman's candidacy could boost Republican turnout in Gillen's and Suozzi's districts, complicating the broader anti-Trump "change election" narrative driving Democratic hopes nationally.

Cuyahoga County, Ohio, voters are on track to approve three charter amendments: Issues 12, 13, and 14. Issue 13, the most closely watched, resolves a long-running dispute between the county law department and the prosecutor's office by giving the law director primary authority over contracts, labor negotiations, and public records, while the prosecutor retains litigation duties. The change follows a 2025 state attorney general opinion finding the offices could no longer informally divide responsibilities. Issue 12 would require County Council approval before Executive Chris Ronayne removes board appointees, while Issue 14 would split Charter Review Commission appointments between the executive and council. Early returns show all three measures leading comfortably.

Jackson County, Missouri voters went to the polls Tuesday to pick a new county executive, choosing between Democrat Stacy Lake and Republican Alan Rohlfing. The office has been in turmoil: interim executive Phil LeVota was federally indicted in a bribery scheme after the August primary, following the earlier recall of former executive Frank White over a botched tax assessment process. All nine seats on the Jackson County Legislature were also on the ballot, along with a ballot measure to renew the COMBAT quarter-cent sales tax funding anti-crime and drug treatment programs. Missouri voters statewide also weighed in on legislative races, two U.S. House contests, and judicial retention questions.

Santa Clara County rejected a DOJ demand for data on 902 voters it suspects are noncitizens and to set aside their ballots, calling it unlawful and infeasible before Election Day; San Mateo and Contra Costa counties raised similar objections, noting the DOJ letters carry no court order. The dispute escalated after a federal judge and a 9th Circuit panel both rejected a related Trump administration effort to block roughly 20,000 California ballots statewide, calling the claims about noncitizen voters not credible and the intervention unconstitutional. The DOJ has appealed again. Gov. Newsom says California is deploying election attorneys to monitor DOJ observers at polling sites.

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, speaking for county executives statewide, has pressed Gov. Kathy Hochul to follow through on repealing New York's 2000-era sales tax exemption for internet data centers, calling it outdated for today's hyperscale facilities. McMahon, who heads the New York State County Executives' Association, wants the repeal included in Hochul's upcoming state budget proposal, arguing developers should negotiate incentives locally rather than claim exemptions automatically. Niagara County officials have said a major local data center claims the exemption, costing the county millions. Separately, Onondaga County has hired consultant CPL to study data centers' local impacts, with results expected by mid-2027, as officials weigh a proposed project in Lysander.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to move forward with a 3.5% local tax on recreational marijuana sales, the highest rate permitted under Virginia law. State rules allow localities to set a cannabis retail tax rate between 1% and 3.5%, and the board did not consider a lower figure. The local levy would apply on top of standard state and local sales taxes and Virginia's state marijuana tax, which starts at 6% and rises to 8% after July 1, 2029.

A draft tax ordinance is expected in spring 2027, followed by a public hearing, with projected revenue to be included in the county's FY28 budget plan. The county is also working on zoning rules to determine where dispensaries can operate. The moves come as Virginia prepares to launch retail cannabis sales on July 1, 2027, with licenses expected in early 2027. Future state tax revenue is slated for addiction treatment, education, health care, and communities disproportionately affected by past drug enforcement.