“Elon Musk Pledged to Start a Political Party. He Is Already Pumping the Brakes.”

August 20, 2025, 7:33 amthird partiesRick Hasen

WSJ: The billionaire Elon Musk is quietly pumping the brakes on his plans to start a political party, according to people with knowledge of his plans. Musk has told allies that he wants to focus his attention on his companies… Continue reading

I Spoke to Mary Harris of Slate’s “What Next” About Trump and Mail-in Ballots

August 20, 2025, 7:30 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

You can listen here.

ELB Book Corner: Karen Sebold: “Make the Federal Election Commission Great Again”

August 20, 2025, 7:00 amcampaign finance, ELB Book Corner, federal election commissionRick Hasen

I am pleased to welcome Karen Sebold to ELB Book Corner, writing about her new book, Evaluating Campaign Finance Oversight: An Assessment of the Federal Election Commission. (Use that link with code LXFANDF30 for a 30 percent discount). Here is… Continue reading

“Gavin Newsom wants an election in a hurry on his gerrymander. Here’s what has to happen”

August 19, 2025, 2:02 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

Cal Matters dives in.

“Democratic Texas lawmaker passes 24-hour mark on state House floor after refusing GOP demand for law enforcement escort”

August 19, 2025, 1:44 pmchicanery, redistrictingRick Hasen

Insanity: Democratic Texas state Rep. Nicole Collier has now spent over 24 hours on the Texas House floor in protest after refusing a Republican demand to be placed under the watch of the state Department of Public Safety. When Texas… Continue reading

“California Republicans File Suit Seeking to Block Newsom Redistricting Plan”

August 19, 2025, 11:07 amredistrictingRick Hasen

NYT: Republican lawmakers in California have filed a lawsuit asking the State Supreme Court to stop Democrats from moving ahead this week with a plan to redraw congressional districts. It was the latest move in an escalating national battle over… Continue reading

New Section 2 Lawsuit Filed in Montana

August 19, 2025, 7:31 amVoting Rights ActRick Hasen

Release: On August 14, 2025, the Chippewa Cree Indians of the Rocky Boy’s Reservation and two Native voters filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana challenging Chouteau County’s unfair, at-large voting system for… Continue reading

“Can Federalism Protect Subnational Liberal Democracy from Central Authoritarianism?”

August 19, 2025, 7:24 amauthoritarian threats in USRick Hasen

Jim Gardner has posted this draft on SSRN. Here is the abstract: Liberal democracy is eroding rapidly around the globe, including in the United States, raising alarming questions about whether American democratic institutions will endure. Nevertheless, some have speculated that… Continue reading

“Trump vows to change how elections are run. The US Constitution doesn’t give him that power”

August 19, 2025, 7:23 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

AP reports.

“Republicans say they’ll sue to block California redistricting plan. Do they have a case?”

August 19, 2025, 7:21 amdirect democracy, redistrictingRick Hasen

Bob Egelko for the SF Chronicle: “By concocting this partisan redistricting scam, Gavin Newsom and Democrat politicians are openly violating the California Constitution and their oath of office,” DeMaio said in a news release. “Any vote … on this… Continue reading

ELB Book Corner: Karen Sebold: “The Foxes Are Guarding the Henhouse: How Elected Officials Weakened the Federal Election Commission”

August 19, 2025, 7:00 amcampaign finance, ELB Book Corner, federal election commissionRick Hasen

California Democrats’ Proposed Retaliatory Gerrymander Against Texas Could Be Triggered if Another Democratic State Engages in Its Own Partisan Gerrymander

August 18, 2025, 3:54 pmchicaneryRick Hasen

California Democratic leaders are preparing to put a measure before voters that would temporarily suspend congressional redistricting maps drawn by an independent commission for the rest of the decade as retaliation for Texas (or other Republican) states engaging in their… Continue reading

“The collapse of Common Cause’s vision for US democracy”

August 18, 2025, 12:38 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Steven Hill: No organization has led the effort for redistricting reform more than Common Cause. I have known many Common Cause leaders, both nationally and in California where I live. They have all been good and admirable people who… Continue reading

Q & A with Me in New York Magazine: “The Supreme Court Could Supercharge the GOP’s Redistricting Power Grab”

August 18, 2025, 9:40 amredistricting, Supreme Court, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

I spoke with New York’s Intelligencer‘s Nia Prater: What are the potential ramifications if the Court weakens Section Two or ultimately does away with it? First of all, it would be a huge blow for minority representation. A big… Continue reading

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The law of politics and the politics of law