Economic development

Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn is one of 15 candidates running for Tennessee governor, and among the top four per polling, alongside David Hatley, Jerri Green, and Lauren Pinkston. Blackburn's platform centers on economic development, public safety, education, and cutting government spending, including support for a "Tennessee DOGE" effort to reduce the budget, though she has not committed to eliminating the state's grocery sales tax.

She backs expanding school vouchers statewide, leaving data center siting decisions to local governments, and supports capital punishment, including reinstating the electric chair. Blackburn has declined debate invitations from opponents, instead emphasizing door-to-door campaigning. A Senate ethics inquiry into her office was resolved, she said, without findings of misconduct. Democratic rival Jerri Green, by contrast, has centered her campaign on affordability, eliminating the grocery tax, and expanding health care access.

Evanston's City Council appointed 4th Ward Ald. Jonathan Nieuwsma as acting mayor following Daniel Biss' resignation, as Biss is heavily favored to win Illinois' 9th Congressional District seat in the Nov. 3 election. Council members chose Nieuwsma in a 5-4 vote that followed several failed attempts to nominate other aldermen, most of whom declined consideration. Nieuwsma, who has served as alderman since 2021, is not among the six candidates running in the Feb. 23 mayoral primary and plans to remain 4th Ward alderman after that race concludes. He will serve as acting mayor until April 2027, when voters elect someone to complete Biss' term, which runs through May 2029.

Missouri's 5th Congressional District, anchored in the Kansas City metro, will use the 2022 map rather than the 2025 redistricting plan for the November 2026 election, after the state Supreme Court ruled on the matter following legal challenges. The district, traditionally Democratic-leaning, pits longtime incumbent Rep. Emanuel Cleaver against Republican state Sen. Rick Brattin, who sued over primary disruptions caused by the map dispute, and Libertarian Randy Langkraehr. Cleaver, in office since 2005, has won previous races by wide margins, while Brattin is campaigning as a Trump ally focused on border security and spending cuts. The redistricting fight had aimed to dilute Kansas City's Democratic base across neighboring districts.

Incumbent Republican Steven Snell and Democratic challenger Heather Jefts are competing for Williamson County judge, a role overseeing county operations, budget, emergency response and policy. Snell, appointed in March 2025 after Bill Gravell left for the Trump administration, points to his record managing growth as a former school superintendent and favors the proposed justice complex site near Georgetown for its operational advantages. Jefts, a former Cedar Park council member, calls for more public input, opposes the justice complex's current location over proximity to schools and neighborhoods, and wants faster progress on a county medical examiner's office, including hiring a chief examiner immediately. Snell cites accreditation needs and a possible regional partnership with Travis County. Early voting runs Oct. 19–30; Election Day is Nov. 3.

Republican Zac Haines and Democrat Cara Jacob, both political newcomers, are competing to represent Ohio Senate District 7, covering all of Warren County and part of Hamilton County, in the Nov. 3 election. The seat is open because incumbent Sen. Steve Wilson is term-limited. Haines, of Symmes Township, is CEO of a Blue Ash marketing agency; Jacob, of Montgomery, is a neurologist and professor at the University of Cincinnati.

The candidates diverge sharply on key issues. Haines favors continued income tax cuts, property tax relief tied to homeownership tenure or age, and lighter business regulation, including on data centers, which he wants governed by stronger transparency and accountability rules. Jacob opposes recent state tax cuts she says favored corporations, including the stadium subsidy for the Cleveland Browns, and calls for a property tax "circuit breaker," expanded homestead exemptions, and an end to tax exemptions for data centers. On housing, Haines emphasizes boosting supply through deregulation, while Jacob backs wage growth, limits on bulk housing purchases by investors, and expanded childcare access. Both say the state should better fund local schools and services.

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page is not seeking reelection, setting up a race between County Assessor Jake Zimmerman, a Democrat, and County Councilman Dennis Hancock, a Republican. Both candidates have pointedly framed the contest as civil and governance-focused, a contrast to recent county political fights.

The race unfolds amid projected county budget deficits of $40 million to $60 million, with Page's proposed nearly $930 million operating budget including a roughly 7% spending cut. Zimmerman argues the deeper problem is administrative dysfunction between county leadership and the council, while Hancock blames poor fiscal management rather than genuine crisis. The two diverge on economic development and regional cooperation: Zimmerman favors strict clean-energy mandates for data centers and exploring shared services like 911 dispatch, while Hancock wants to streamline permitting to match neighboring counties. A Hancock win would return Republicans to the county executive post for the first time since Gene McNary left office roughly 37 years ago.

A delegation of Spartanburg County, South Carolina officials traveled to Loudoun County, Virginia — home to the nation's highest concentration of data centers — to study how that region regulates the industry. The group, which included County Council members Monier Abusaft and Paul Abbott, County Administrator Cole Alverson, assistant administrator Kevin Stiens, Planning Director Todd Okolichany and OneSpartanburg representatives, toured facilities and met with local supervisors, economic development officials, an Amazon data center representative and a state delegate between October 4 and 6.

Loudoun County currently has 233 data center buildings completed or under construction, totaling 56.5 million square feet. Discussions covered land use, water and energy demands, noise, air quality and community impact. Abbott said local officials did not "sugarcoat" residents' concerns and emphasized the importance of proper siting near neighborhoods.

The trip comes as Spartanburg County faces criticism over tax incentives used to attract the NorthMark and Valara data center project, which includes a 457-megawatt natural gas power plant near residential areas, raising concerns about emissions and health effects.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and Republican state Sen. Christine Drazan met in Medford for their second debate of the governor's race, a wide-ranging hourlong discussion on affordability, schools, homelessness and economic development. The event, hosted by KOBI5, was less combative than their first encounter but surfaced sharp policy divides, especially on taxes.

Kotek stopped short of committing to tax code changes but said she'd pursue "tweaks" to keep Oregon competitive, pointing to a business-focused Prosperity Council she convened this year. Drazan pledged to cut taxes and repeal Oregon's estate tax, criticizing Kotek for a string of new levies passed during her first term. Both candidates addressed business retention following Dutch Bros' planned move from Grants Pass to Arizona, SNAP benefit changes tied to federal policy shifts, and Oregon's struggling K-12 schools, with Kotek defending incremental reforms and Drazan calling for vouchers and bigger changes. The candidates agreed on opposing a sales tax and favoring a pause on new data centers.

Polling shows the race is extremely tight, with Drazan holding a narrow, statistically insignificant lead over Kotek among likely voters.