Category Archives: political parties

“Cash, claims of illegality already flying in Michigan’s Senate race”

January 1, 2020, 3:15 pmcampaign finance, political partiesJustin Levitt

Here come the allegations of unlawful coordination. And with it, your reminder that, as Dan Tokaji and Renata Strause explained years ago, in assessing the legality of campaign coordination, there’s often a “gap between the line the law draws… Continue reading

Partisan gerrymandering and the 2010s

December 30, 2019, 1:00 pmpolitical parties, redistrictingJustin Levitt

And for David Daley, one of the biggest stories of the decade-in-review is partisan gerrymandering.

I’m shocked – shocked – to find that gambling is going on in here.

December 30, 2019, 1:00 pmpolitical parties, redistrictingJustin Levitt

A few stories about incumbent government officials weighing the merits of redistricting reform, finding reason to put up the strongest resistance coincidentally right when they unilaterally control the partisan levers of power. In Virginia, it’s Democrats; in Idaho,… Continue reading

“Gerrymandering is alive and well. The coming battle will be bigger than ever.”

December 30, 2019, 12:59 pmpolitical parties, redistrictingJustin Levitt

And Jane Timm at NBC News previews the 2020 redistricting cycle these partisan fights are about.

Today’s Must-Read: “Fear and Loyalty: How Donald Trump Took Over the Republican Party”

December 23, 2019, 10:07 ampolitical parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

Remarkable look in the NYT at the transformation of the Republican Party.

“Constitutional Law and the Presidential Nomination Process”

December 16, 2019, 10:50 ampolitical parties, primariesRick Hasen

Richard Briffault has posted this draft on SSRN (forthcoming, The Best Candidate: Presidential Nomination in Polarized Times (Eugene D. Mazo and Michael R. Dimino, eds., Cambridge Univ. Press 2020)). Here is the abstract: The Constitution says nothing about the presidential… Continue reading

“Why Almost Nobody Will Defend the Iowa Caucuses”

November 14, 2019, 7:34 ampolitical parties, primariesRick Hasen

NYT: In Iowa, fretting about the caucuses is a quadrennial tradition among Democratic and Republican officials alike. But at a time when leading Democrats have made the fight for ballot access, voting rights and diverse representation core principles, their marquee… Continue reading

Eleventh Circuit Rejects Claims from Sanders’ Supporters of DNC Bias in 2016

October 29, 2019, 4:25 pmpolitical parties, primariesRick Hasen

An unsurprising ruling.

“Hawaii and Kansas to Use Ranked Choice Voting Ballots in 2020 Primaries”

October 11, 2019, 2:51 pmalternative voting systems, political parties, primariesRick Hasen

FairVote reports.

“California’s Trump tax return law raises fears of Republican lockout”

August 14, 2019, 7:26 amballot access, political parties, primariesRick Hasen

Politico: California’s new law requiring candidates’ tax returns may be aimed at Donald Trump, but its most consequential effects would likely be felt downballot if it survives a legal challenge.For Republicans who already face a steep climb to blunt… Continue reading

The Coming Constitutional Challenge to CA Requirement that Presidential (and Gubernatorial) Candidates Provide Tax Returns to Appear on the Primary Ballot: What’s Likely to Happen and When?

July 30, 2019, 1:37 pmballot access, political parties, primariesRick Hasen

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bill requiring Presidential candidates (as well as gubernatorial candidates) to supply their tax returns if they want appear on the primary ballot. There is no question the Trump campaign or their allies, and… Continue reading

Hofeller files come into court in North Carolina state gerrymandering case

July 20, 2019, 11:24 ampolitical parties, redistrictingJustin Levitt

Courthouse News Service reviews the end of week one of trial.

“Drawing new congressional lines won’t be easy for Democrats”

July 19, 2019, 10:38 ampolitical parties, redistrictingJustin Levitt

Nathan Gonzales in Roll Call counting an awful lot of chickens: Democrats’ potential challenge in the next round of redistricting will be drawing new lines at the apex of electoral performance.