Campaign Finance Issues in the Roman Republic

July 28, 2025, 4:50 amUncategorizedRichard Pildes

I’ve been reading Lawless Republic: The Rise of Cicero and the Decline of Rome, by Josiah Osgood. I came across this striking passage on campaign finance issues in elections in 66 BCE, which shows that some of the same issues… Continue reading

Bruce Cain and Matt Barreto Comment on the Viability of a California Mid-Decade Redistricting

July 27, 2025, 2:28 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Via Politico: “I don’t think it’s doable. I think there are too many constitutional constraints,” said Bruce Cain, a Stanford political scientist who was deeply involved as a staffer in the partisan gerrymanders from a prior era of California politics.… Continue reading

“Mapping How Mamdani’s Ranked-Choice Strategy Beat Cuomo”

July 27, 2025, 8:20 amalternative voting systems, primariesDan Tokaji

NYT takes a deep dive into NYC’s ranked-choice ballots to show how Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani beat former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Big takeaway: although voters could list up to five candidates on their ballots, 54% didn’t include Cuomo at all.

The Floridization of Politics

July 27, 2025, 7:54 amBush v. Gore reflections, political polarizationDan Tokaji

The U.S. Capitol may be in Washington and the President in Scotland at the moment, but Florida is at the center of American politics, Kimberly Leonard suggests in Political Playbook. Not only has President Trump spent much of his… Continue reading

“Democrats desperately look for a redistricting edge in California, New York and Maryland”

July 27, 2025, 7:07 amredistrictingDan Tokaji

Politico on the limited options available to counter Republican redistricting efforts in Texas, Ohio, and Missouri: In conversations with more than a dozen state lawmakers and redistricting experts, Democrats’ best shot at redrawing a map lies in California, a heavily… Continue reading

“AOC’s Met Gala appearance violated House gift rules, ethics panel says”

July 26, 2025, 9:16 amethics investigationsDan Tokaji

Washington Post: The House Committee on Ethics determined in a report released Friday that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) failed to comply with the House’s gifting rule as part of her appearance at the 2021 Met Gala, determining that… Continue reading

“Minnesota rejects DOJ demand for state’s voter rolls”

July 26, 2025, 9:05 amDepartment of Justice, voter registrationDan Tokaji

Minnesota Star Tribune: The Justice Department asked Minnesota election officials in June for voter rolls and other information to show proof of compliance with federal election law. Similar requests were made to other states, including Colorado, Wisconsin and… Continue reading

Ballot Stuffing in Brooklyn?

July 26, 2025, 9:00 amchicaneryDan Tokaji

From the NYT, reports of what sounds like old-fashioned election fraud in a GOP city council primary: The New York City Board of Elections asked prosecutors on Friday to investigate possible ballot stuffing and votes being cast by dead… Continue reading

“Democrats Get Lowest Rating From Voters in 35 Years, WSJ Poll Finds”

July 26, 2025, 8:13 amUncategorizedRichard Pildes

This is from the WSJ, which is paywalled. To put this in a broader perspective, the combined “favorability” of both parties is -41% (Rs at -11%, Ds at -30%), which is the worst combined ratings for the two parties… Continue reading

Waiting for Callais

July 25, 2025, 12:29 pmredistricting, Supreme Court, Voting Rights ActTravis Crum

Earlier today, Rick Pildes flagged the Court’s inexplicable month-long delay in issuing a re-argument order in Louisiana v. Callais, last Term’s—and now next Term’s—major Shaw case. I agree with Pildes’s concerns and want to add a few points. First, to… Continue reading

“Fired prosecutor who handled Capitol riot cases sues government”

July 25, 2025, 10:21 amauthoritarian threats in US, Department of Justice, election subversion riskDan Tokaji

Washington Post: A prosecutor who handled some of the most high-profile cases against Jan. 6, 2021 rioters is suing the government over his dismissal last month, arguing that the decision was politically motivated. Former assistant U.S. attorney Michael Gordon… Continue reading

Texas Redistricting Hearing

July 25, 2025, 10:17 amredistrictingDan Tokaji

NYT and Texas Tribune report on yesterday’s hearing in Austin before a select committee of the Texas house on redrawing the state’s congressional districts. From the Texas Tribune story: The Legislature has not yet revealed any proposed revisions of… Continue reading