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Ashley Lopez

Political Correspondent

Ashley Lopez is a political correspondent for NPR based in Austin, Texas. She joined NPR in May 2022. Prior to NPR, Lopez spent more than six years as a health care and politics reporter for KUT, Austin's public radio station. Before that, she was a political reporter for NPR Member stations in Florida and Kentucky. Lopez is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and grew up in Miami, Florida.

Story Archive

Tuesday

Politics

More than 50 million people have already voted. Some trends are emerging

More than 50 million people have already cast ballots in this year’s election. So what can this early voting data tell us -- if anything?

Republicans and early vote

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What early voting can — and cannot — tell us about the election

Signs direct voters to a ballot drop-off location Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Washington Park in Denver. David Zalubowski/AP hide caption

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David Zalubowski/AP

The NPR Politics Podcast

What early voting can — and cannot — tell us about the election

The world is too complex to divine who will win this year's presidential election from the early-voting tea leaves, but there are still important lessons we can learn from the data about how the system has changed since 2020.

What early voting can — and cannot — tell us about the election

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Friday

Monday

People wait in line to cast ballots during early voting at a polling station in Black Mountain, North Carolina, on Friday.

People wait in line to cast ballots during early voting at a polling station in Black Mountain, North Carolina, on Friday. Allison Joyce/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Allison Joyce/AFP via Getty Images

2024 Election

The race is so close. Here's what happens if there's a 269-269 Electoral College tie

It’s very unlikely — but theoretically possible — that the presidential election ends with an Electoral College tie. If it did come to pass, here's how the next president would be determined.

Wednesday

Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen holds a news conference in Lincoln, Neb., on Nov. 4, 2020. The Nebraska Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a ruling that countered the Republican Evnen's directive on voting rights for formerly incarcerated felons.

Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen holds a news conference in Lincoln, Neb., on Nov. 4, 2020. The Nebraska Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a ruling that countered the Republican Evnen's directive on voting rights for formerly incarcerated felons. Nati Harnik/AP hide caption

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Nati Harnik/AP

2024 Election

Nebraska Supreme Court clears the way for people with felony convictions to vote

Nebraska’s highest court ruled against top state officials as it upheld a law providing felons with a path to register to vote after completing their sentences.

Friday

Thursday

Will changing how we cast ballots reduce toxic partisanship? We're about to find out.

In this Sept. 23, 2020, file photo, a summary of Ballot Question 2 on the Nov. 3 Massachusetts election ballot known as a "Ranked Choice Voting" law is displayed in Marlborough, Mass., in a handbook provided to voters by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Bill Sikes/AP hide caption

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Bill Sikes/AP

The NPR Politics Podcast

Will changing how we cast ballots reduce toxic partisanship? We're about to find out.

Voters in a record number of states, including the battlegrounds of Arizona and Nevada, are set to decide this fall whether to enact far-reaching changes to how their elections are run.

Will changing how we cast ballots reduce toxic partisanship? We're about to find out.

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Wednesday

Friday

Politics Roundup: Latino voters could be key in Pennsylvania, Nevada

A sign is displayed at the "Latino Americans for Trump" office in Reading, Pa., Sunday, June 16. Political candidates are taking notice of Reading's economic and political power. Franco Ordoñez/AP hide caption

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Franco Ordoñez/AP

The NPR Politics Podcast

Politics Roundup: Latino voters could be key in Pennsylvania, Nevada

Folks with Puerto Rican heritage represent a small but vital part of the electorate in Pennsylvania, where a little bit of outreach money could make difference with Latino residents across the state who have historically been somewhat unlikely to vote. And in Nevada, Latino workers make up more than half of the culinary union, which has a hyper-organized voter mobilization effort.

Politics Roundup: Latino voters could be key in Pennsylvania, Nevada

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Thursday

Rafael Collazo, executive director of the UnidosUS Action Fund and Action PAC, says

Rafael Collazo, executive director of the UnidosUS Action Fund and Action PAC, says "it's clear the Latino vote of Pennsylvania is going to determine who wins this election." Kriston Jae Bethel for NPR hide caption

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Kriston Jae Bethel for NPR

2024 Election

Pennsylvania's Latinos could be key to deciding who wins the presidency

The Latino vote could be decisive in this year’s election. The largely Puerto Rican population in Pennsylvania has deep ties to Democrats, making efforts to engage those communities key for the party.

Latinos in Pennsylvania could be key to deciding who wins the presidency

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Wednesday

Tuesday

Voters wait in line at a Las Vegas polling place on Nov. 8, 2022. Voters in Nevada — and several other states — may enact big changes to their election systems.

Voters wait in line at a Las Vegas polling place on Nov. 8, 2022. Voters in Nevada — and several other states — may enact big changes to their election systems. Ronda Churchill/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Ronda Churchill/AFP via Getty Images

2024 Election

Voters in several states could upend how their elections are run

Voters in a record number of states — including the battlegrounds of Arizona and Nevada — are set to decide this fall whether to enact far-reaching changes to how their elections are run.

Election changes ballot measures

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Tuesday

Tuesday

A conversation about how demographic changes could impact the 2024 election

Quarters, nickels, dimes and pennies are held a bowl Thursday, March 31, 2022, in Tigard, Ore. Jenny Kane/AP hide caption

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Jenny Kane/AP

The NPR Politics Podcast

A conversation about how demographic changes could impact the 2024 election

There are fewer white people without college degrees, more Latino potential voters in key states and a rise in Asian American voters in Nevada. We have a detailed conversation about what that could mean as presidential election voting gets underway this week.

A conversation about how demographic changes could impact the 2024 election

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Wednesday

Supporters of restoring Florida felons' voting rights march to an early voting precinct on Oct. 24, 2020, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Supporters of restoring Florida felons' voting rights march to an early voting precinct on Oct. 24, 2020, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Marta Lavandier/AP hide caption

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Marta Lavandier/AP

2024 Election

Florida felons could get a bit more clarity on their voting rights with a new proposal

Florida election officials say they're working to “streamline” a process for formerly incarcerated people to figure out whether they're eligible to vote. It's something advocates have long asked for.

Florida felon voter restoration

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Friday

Politics

Uncommitted delegates at DNC were denied a speaking slot to address Gaza conditions

While Vice President Harris called the suffering in Gaza "heartbreaking," activists say they were hoping a Palestinian American would have also been allowed to speak at the convention.

Uncommitted delegates at DNC were denied a speaking slot to address Gaza conditions

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From left: Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Reverend Al Sharpton, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren.

From left: Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Reverend Al Sharpton, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren. Chip Somodevilla, Saul Loeb/Getty Images hide caption

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Chip Somodevilla, Saul Loeb/Getty Images

2024 Election

WATCH: DNC Night 4 speeches from Harris, Whitmer, Sharpton, Kinzinger and more

Gun violence, race, climate change and, of course, Donald Trump were themes of the night that culminated in Kamala Harris accepting the Democratic Party's nomination for president.

Thursday

Sen.-elect Mark Kelly prepares to speak at an election night event in Tucson, Ariz. Kelly is set to be sworn in on Wednesday.

Sen.-elect Mark Kelly prepares to speak at an election night event in Tucson, Ariz. Kelly is set to be sworn in on Wednesday. Ross D. Franklin/AP hide caption

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Ross D. Franklin/AP

2024 Election

Sen. Mark Kelly warns of America’s international standing if Trump is reelected

He criticized Trump’s past remarks on Russia. In particular, he went after Trump’s reluctance to hold Russia accountable for their invasion of Ukraine — as well as his lack of commitment to NATO.

Amy Resner, former prosecutor and friend of Vice President Kamala Harris, left, speaks as Karrie Delaney, director of federal affairs at the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, listens at the DNC.

Amy Resner, former prosecutor and friend of Vice President Kamala Harris, left, speaks as Karrie Delaney, director of federal affairs at the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, listens at the DNC. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

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J. Scott Applewhite/AP

2024 Election

Kamala Harris’ former colleagues highlight her past as a prosecutor

During her bid for the Democratic nomination, Harris shied away from her past as prosecutor. Years later, her campaign is fully embracing her past as a prosecutor in San Francisco.

Tuesday

Kamala Harris embraces her prosecutor past in campaign against Trump

Kamala Harris, then San Francisco District Attorney, poses for a portrait in San Francisco, June 18, 2004. Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP hide caption

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Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP

The NPR Politics Podcast

Kamala Harris embraces her prosecutor past in campaign against Trump

Vice President Kamala Harris is using her record as a prosecutor to her advantage in the campaign against former president Donald Trump. So far, it appears to be working. That's a big contrast from her 2020 Democratic presidential primary bid. But this is a different race and the politics of crime have changed, too.

Kamala Harris embraces her prosecutor past in campaign against Trump

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Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gives a keynote speech during the Bitcoin 2024 conference on July 26 in Nashville, Tenn.

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gives a keynote speech during the Bitcoin 2024 conference on July 26 in Nashville, Tenn. Jon Cherry/Getty Images hide caption

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Jon Cherry/Getty Images

2024 Election

In his quest for ballot access, RFK Jr. hits a roadblock in New York

A New York judged ruled against independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., saying his petition did not use a legitimate address. The campaign blasted the ruling and pledged to appeal.

Wednesday

Saturday

Vice President Harris, who's set to be Democrats' presidential nominee, delivers remarks during an event on Wednesday in Houston.

Vice President Harris, who's set to be Democrats' presidential nominee, delivers remarks during an event on Wednesday in Houston. Brandon Bell/Getty Images hide caption

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Brandon Bell/Getty Images

2024 Election

Latino support for Biden was lagging. Harris gives Democrats a chance to win some back

Polls had shown President Biden lagging his 2020 levels with Latino voters. Now Biden is out, and Vice President Harris offers Democrats an opportunity to rally Latinos back to their side.

Latino support for Biden was lagging. Harris gives Democrats a chance to win some back

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