Monthly Archives: February 2019

“The popular vote could decide the 2020 presidential election, if these states get their way”

February 26, 2019, 7:28 amelectoral collegeRick Hasen

WaPo: Colorado is set to become the latest member of a group of states banding together to bypass the electoral college system.The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact — which already has 11 states and the District of Columbia on… Continue reading

“Brennan Center Report Shows Why New York State’s Democracy Needs Small Donor Public Financing”

February 26, 2019, 7:21 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Release: In a new report, the Brennan Center provides research and analysis demonstrating New York State’s urgent need to reform its campaign finance system, as well as the most effective solution: small donor public financing. The policy outlined in… Continue reading

“The continuing “Price of Power”: How the political parties leaned on legislative leaders for cash during the 115th Congress”

February 26, 2019, 7:18 amcampaign finance, legislation and legislaturesRick Hasen

New report from Issue One.

“Forget federal races. Democrats are targeting a key state office”

February 25, 2019, 3:32 pmelection administration, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

Roll Call reports.

“Michigan gerrymandering lawsuit now up to judges”

February 25, 2019, 3:07 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Detroit News: A three-judge panel is weighing the fate of a high-profile federal lawsuit alleging gerrymandering by Republican mapmakers who drew Michigan political boundaries in 2011.Plaintiffs who sued over the maps and Republicans who are defending them on Friday… Continue reading

AOC Wrongly Relies on Brad Smith’s Article to Make the Opposite Point to the One He Was Making

February 25, 2019, 8:28 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Brad Smith fairly criticizes AOC’s use of his hush money article in the WSJ in her now viral video about campaign money and Washington. I don’t think this undermines many of the points AOC made in her discussion of the… Continue reading

Democrats Put Forward Bill to Restore the Preclearance Provisions of the Voting Rights Act (Killed by the Supreme Court in Shelby County) to 11 States, Including California

February 25, 2019, 7:49 amVoting Rights ActRick Hasen

The Guardian: But Sewell and her colleagues are playing a long game in the hope that Democrats, should theyregain control of the White House and both chambers of Congress as they did most recently in 2008, would then be… Continue reading

“Elizabeth Warren to Forgo Receptions and Fund-Raisers With Big Donors”

February 25, 2019, 7:45 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NYT: Senator Elizabeth Warren on Monday escalated her presidential campaign’s battle against big money in politics, announcing that her bid for the Democratic nomination will forgo traditional fund-raising methods meant to cultivate a candidate’s relationships with the wealthy.The Massachusetts… Continue reading

“Three lessons from North Carolina’s tainted election — and what comes next”

February 25, 2019, 7:42 amcampaigns, chicanery, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

Michael Bitzer for The Monkey Cage.

According to New Book on Justice O’Connor, J. Scalia Thought Equal Protection Rationale of Bush v. Gore Was “as We Say in Brooklyn, a Piece of Shit”

February 25, 2019, 7:07 amBush v. Gore reflections, Scalia, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

New book is “First” by Evan Thomas and here’s the excerpt, courtesy of Mike Sacks: Some behind the scenes detail of Bush v Gore: -O’Connor backfired her bestie Breyer’s bid for Kennedy’s vote -Scalia went along with what he thought… Continue reading

“Republican Cries Against Voter Fraud Go Mostly Quiet After Scheme Tied to Party”

February 23, 2019, 9:19 amfraudulent fraud squad, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

NYT reports.

Today’s Must Read: Mark Harris Deep Dive in News & Observer

February 23, 2019, 9:13 amcampaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

Brian Murphy profiles the NC09 candidate. Assuming the new law requiring a primary holds up to any legal challenge, I’d be shocked if Harris runs again. (If the new primary law is challenged and ruled illegal, and Harris has to… Continue reading

Breaking: North Carolina State Court Rules State Voter ID Constitutional Amendment is Void Because Enacted by a Racially Gerrymandered Legislature; Not Clear if Ruling Will Stand

February 22, 2019, 2:22 pmThe Voting Wars, voter idRick Hasen

Release: The Wake County Superior Court today ruled that the illegally gerrymandered North Carolina General Assembly did not have legal authority to place constitutional amendments on the ballot because it did not act with the full will of the… Continue reading

“Wake DA: Criminal prosecution anticipated in District 9 case “

February 22, 2019, 1:45 pmcampaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

CBS 17: Following the state Board of Elections hearing on fraud in the 9th Congressional district, Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman says she expects to take the case before a grand jury in the next month.Freeman said that… Continue reading