Maydidate – As flowers burst into bloom and spring takes its hold, May isn’t simply a time of new beginnings — it’s also a month where communities make choices about who should lead them. Amid cities, towns and districts, a wave of local elections and community initiatives will begin producing a fresh crop of candidates competing for your vote. But who are these hopefuls? What do they stand for? And why should you care? Welcome to the world of the Maydicate — the candidate who could begin shaping your community’s future this May.
In this guide, we dissect what’s at stake in the May elections, introduce some of the key players and explain how you can play your part in selecting the people who will represent you. Seasoned voter, first-timer — it doesn’t matter: This is your opportunity to meet your Maydidate.
Why May Elections Matter
May may not seem a huge month for the world of politics — no presidential face-offs, or national referendums — but in many places, it’s the month when many of the decisions that make the most direct difference to your day-to-day life are made. School boards, city councils, mayors, sheriffs, district attorneys, local measures are frequently decided in off-season elections like May.
These local leaders oversee budgets, make laws and prioritize what your community needs — from fixing the potholes to funding its public schools and ensuring policing is fair. In other words, your vote in May is more likely to change your life than the November ones are.
Who Are the Maydidates?
“Maydidate” is a catchy word, but it also covers a lot of ground, with people seeking all sorts of offices. Here are the kind of Maydidates you are most likely to run across:
City Council Candidates
These are your local district policymakers. They originate and vote on ordinances, shape local spending and are your direct connection to local government. This May there are open seats in many cities because of term limits, retirements or newly drawn districts.
School Board Members
Education matters — a lot. “Maydicate” school board candidates affect curriculum, spend or invest tax dollars, determine how to compensate teachers and sometimes establish school safety policy. Their choices shape the educational future of the children in your neighborhood.
Mayoral Candidates
May, in cities holding off-cycle elections, is the month new leaders step up. Mayors are voices of power in urban development, public safety, housing and climate resilience. Stay tuned for debates, endorsements, and forums to become more familiar with their platforms.
Judicial Candidates
Yes, judges can be elected, too. These Maydidates often go unnoticed, flying under the radar, but they wield enormous power in such matters as sentencing, bail determinations and the defense of civil rights. Know the records of these individuals before you vote for them.
Ballot Initiative Leaders
Sometimes you vote for an idea, not a person. Measures on housing, tax reform, climate action or police funding could be on your ballot — often because of resident-driven campaigns. In these cases the “Maydidate” is the movement.
Key Issues to Watch This May
Every jurisdiction is different, but here are some of the key factors in the May campaign elections for 2025:
- Affordable Housing: Solutions range from overhauling zoning requirements to proposals for stopgaps like rent control to further development of affordable housing.
- Public Safety: Reform Policing continues to be a focal point, including the discussion over funding, oversight and what alternatives there are to traditional policing.
- Climate Resilience: From flood prevention to green jobs, Maydidates are selling big ideas to help keep people safe amid environmental challenges.
- Overall Education Equity: With a focus on funding disparities and curriculum debates, Maydidates for school board seats in California are coming under more scrutiny.
- Healthcare Access: Candidates are focusing on mental health services, clinic expansion and emergency care, particularly in rural areas.
Getting to Know Your Maydidate
Becoming knowledgeable about local candidates can be difficult — their issues don’t always get national focus. Here’s what you need to know:
- Local Voter Guides
Nonpartisan guides comparing the candidates and the ballot measures are frequently published by nonprofits and newspapers. These are invaluable in figuring out just where each Maydidate stands.
- Candidate Forums
You’ll want to watch the town halls, the debates or the online Q&A sessions. These are opportunities for you to hear directly from Maydidates — and you can even ask your own questions.
- Campaign Sites and Social Media
Many of today’s Maydidates can be found online. Peruse their platforms, watch their videos, review their endorsements.
- Ask Around
Speak to neighbors, teachers, business owners and community leaders. They themselves are often part of the candidates or the questions on the ballot.
How to Make Your Voice Heard
It’s one thing to meet your Maydidate — another to vote for him or her. Here’s how to ensure that your voice is heard:
- Confirm your registration: Go to your state’s election website to make sure your registration is valid.
- Know Your Ballot: Sample ballots are typically available online. Review them before election day not to take anything for granted.
- Vote Early: If it’s an option where you live vote early or use absentee voting to your advantage.
- Take Others With You: Try to get friends, family members and co-workers to vote. Please share what you know about the Maydidates.
Final Thoughts
These are not the high-profile contests that draw front-page attention, but they are what build the foundation of our communities. The people running this May — your Maydidates — are teachers and neighbors and parents and lawyers and organizers and visionaries. They are not political celebrities who are in it for themselves, but average people who have stood up to be counted.
When you learn about your Maydidate and cast your vote, you are participating in shaping the policies and priorities that impact your streets, your schools, and your future. So don’t wait until November. It’s starting in May — and it’s starting with you.
