Elections 2020

This page provides an overview of major elections related to transportation in the U.S., that occurred on November 3, 2020. Major referenda for transportation for voters to approve and major mayoral and gubernatorial races are detailed. Note: The tables are easier to visualize on desktop/tablet.

Check out whatsontheballot.com for a whole variety of other key local races around the country. For a full accounting of all transportation measures, see CFTE.

Local referenda on transportation

Location and referendumDetailsResult
Austin, TX Project Connect$7.5 b property tax plan, including new light rail lines, a downtown tunnel, BRT, and park and rides. Won with 58% (Biden won 71% in Travis County).Yes
Denver, CO Climate change sales tax (2A)0.25% (1/4¢) sales tax will fund climate-focused initiatives, including potential transit investments. Won with 63% (Biden won 79.6%).Yes
Fairfax, VA WMATA bond$160 m in bonds to support local funding for WMATA, DC’s Metro. Won with 67.7% (Biden won 70.4%).Yes
Gwinnett Co., GA Transit sales tax1% sales tax would fund $12 b in transit expansion in suburban Atlanta over 30 years, including MARTA extension and BRT. Failed with 49.9% (Biden won 58.4%).No
Portland Metro, OR Get Moving 2020 (Measure 26-218)$5 b plan funded through payroll tax, includes Southwest light rail line, BRT along many corridors, road upgrades. Failed with 42.2% (Biden won 79.2% in Multnomah County).No
San Antonio, TX Transit sales taxWould redirect 0.125% (1/8¢) sales tax to VIA transit to improve bus service (initial funds for COVID response). Won with 68% (Biden won 58.3% in Bexar County).Yes
San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara CA Measure RR: Caltrain0.125% (1/8¢) sales tax to fund Caltrain services and improvements (2/3 majority needed to pass). Won with 69% overall; 74.4% in SF; 70.8% in SM; 66.1% in SC (Biden won 85.3% in SF; 77.9% in SM; 72.7% in SC). Yes
Seattle, WA STBD Ballot Measure0.1% sales tax increased to 0.15% for 6 years to fund Transportation Benefit District, roughly $39 m/year. Won with 80.4% (Biden won 75.5% in King County).Yes
Sonoma, CA Go Sonoma sales tax renewal (DD)Would fund $10 m annually in roads improvements; $6 m for bus service; $3 m for bikeways. Won with 71.3% (Biden won 74.7%).Yes

Statewide referenda on transportation

StateReferendumDetailsResult
ARSales Tax ContinuationWould extend current 0.5% sales tax for transportation.Yes
CAProp. 22: App-based driversWould exempt companies like Uber & Lyft from providing drivers benefits by classifying them as “independent contractors.” Would reverse state law AB 5.Yes
MEQuestion 2Would authorize $105 m in GO bonds for transportation.Yes (in July)

Gubernatorial races

StateDemocratRepublicanKey transport differences on platformsResult
DEJohn Carney (inc)Julianne MurrayCarney
INWoody MyersEric Holcomb (inc)Holcomb: “Record road investments.”Holcomb
MONicole GallowayMike Parson (inc)Galloway: Prioritize TOD.Parson
MTMike CooneyGreg GianforteGianforte
NHDan FeltesChris Sununu (inc)Feltes: Prioritize clean, electrified transit + intercity rail. Sununu: Invest in roads and bridges.Sununu
NCRoy Cooper (inc)Dan ForestCooper
NDShelley LenzDoug Burgum (inc)Burgum
UTChris PetersonSpencer CoxPeterson: Sustainable transport solutions.Cox
VTDavid ZuckermanPhil Scott (inc)Zuckerman: Encourage alternatives to single-use vehicles, like bikes, buses, trains.Scott
WAJay Inslee (inc)Loren CulpInslee: Clean infra.; Culp: PPPs for infra.Inslee
WVBen SalangoJim Justice (inc)Salango: Upgrade roads year-round; Justice: Roads maintenance and construction.Justice

Mayoral races

LocationMajor candidatesKey transport differences on platformsResult
Baltimore, MDBrandon Scott (D); Shannon Wright (R)Scott: Bike and bus lane network and bus lanes, reduce parking minimums; Wright: “Crumbling infrastructure.Scott
El Paso, TXDee Margo (R, inc); Veronica Carbajal; Carlos Gallinar; Oscar LeeserMargo: No info.; Carbajal: Improve transit options, pilot free transit; Gallinar: “Invest In Regional Transportation Infrastructure,” improve transit options and bike options; Leeser: No info.Runoff: Leeser v Margo
Honolulu, HIKeith Amemiya; Rick BlangiardiAmemiya: Complete streets, full completion of rail project, TOD; Blangiardi: Will not raise property taxes for completion of rail project.Blangiardi
Miami-Dade Co., FLSteve Bovo (R); Daniella Levine Cava (D)Bovo: Against toll increases, promoting TOD, supports PPPs, wants bus improvements; Cava: Modernize infrastructure, improve buses, bus/bike lanes, transit expansion, TOD.Cava
Phoenix, AZKate Gallego (D, inc); Merissa Hamilton (R); Tim Seay (I)Gallego: “Champion for public transit;” Hamilton: No info.; Seay: “Improve the roads… and public transportation.”Gallego
Portland, ORTed Wheeler (D, inc); Sarah Iannarone (DSA)Wheeler: No info. Iannarone: Fare-free transit; transit-only lanes; subsidies for e-bikes.Wheeler
Salt Lake Co., UTJenny Wilson (D, inc); Michael Cundick (G); Trent Staggs (R)Wilson: Walkability, transit access; Cundick: Expanded transit; Staggs: More bus routes so it is universally available, smart growth.Wilson
San Diego, CABarbara Bry; Todd GloriaBry: City should upgrade infra., opposes city’s transit plan, which would “destroy neighborhoods,” opposed reductions in min. parking requirements, against AB5 (see CA Prop. 22 above); Gloria: Plans city Mobility Department, supports bike and bus lanes, plus transit signal priority.Gloria
Winston-Salem, NCAllen Joines (D, inc); Kris McCann (R)Joines: Supported fare-free transit; McCann: No info.Joines

Potential 2021 or later transportation-related elections