“Thune Moves to Speed Trump Nominees Past Democratic Blockade”

September 8, 2025, 8:49 pmlegislation and legislatures, political polarizationRick Hasen

NYT: Republicans took the first step on Monday toward changing the Senate’s rules to speed the confirmations of Trump administration nominees being slowed by Democratic opposition, touching off the latest in a yearslong tit for tat between the two… Continue reading

Register for Free Sept. 16 Webinar from Safeguarding Democracy Project: “The Risk of Federal Interference in the 2026 Midterm Elections”

September 8, 2025, 7:30 amauthoritarian threats in US, election administration, election subversion riskRick Hasen

The Risk of Federal Interference in the 2026 Midterm Elections Tuesday, September 16, 12:15pm-1:15pm PT, Webinar Register here. Ben Haiman, UVA Center for Public Safety and Justice, Liz Howard, NYU Law Brennan Center for Justice, and Stephen Richer, Ash Center for Democratic Governance… Continue reading

“Russia Steps Up Disinformation Efforts as Trump Abandons Resistance”

September 7, 2025, 11:47 amcheap speech, chicaneryRick Hasen

NYT: Since returning to the White House in January, President Trump has dismantled the American government’s efforts to combat foreign disinformation. The problem is that Russia has not stopped spreading it. How much that matters can now be seen in… Continue reading

“Republicans brace for redistricting ‘catastrophe’ in California”

September 7, 2025, 11:43 amredistrictingRick Hasen

Politico: Republicans wield almost no power in California. But as a moribund state party gathered here over the weekend, it confronted an even grimmer reality now suddenly settling in: If the state gerrymanders its congressional map, they’ll practically be… Continue reading

“How Does the Gerrymandering Arms Race End?”

September 7, 2025, 11:40 amredistrictingRick Hasen

Alex Keena, Michael Latner, and Natasha Romero Moskala write at the Substack of the Houston Institute for Race & Justice.

Should Representative Ronny Jackson’s Lawyers Be Sanctioned for Filing a Frivolous Federal Lawsuit Attacking California’s Proposed Ballot Measure Redrawing Congressional Districts?

September 6, 2025, 4:27 pmchicanery, redistrictingRick Hasen

This ridiculous complaint went nowhere even before federal district judge Matthew Kascmaryk given that Rep. Jackson could not prove irreparable harm before the ballot measure even passes and given that Jackson failed to give notice to the other side. Here’s… Continue reading

“The Secret Bundlers Behind Eric Adams’ Campaign Fundraising Revealed”

September 5, 2025, 1:47 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

The City: In October 2023, Mayor Eric Adams showed up for the opening of a new office of a big personal injury law firm, Morgan & Morgan, smiling and posing for selfies in Manhattan’s South Street Seaport. The firm made… Continue reading

“U.S. Is Increasingly Exposed to Chinese Election Threats, Lawmakers Say”

September 5, 2025, 1:08 pmcampaign finance, cheap speech, chicaneryRick Hasen

NYT: Democratic lawmakers warned on Friday that severe staff cuts at an intelligence office that monitors foreign threats to U.S. elections would leave the country vulnerable to interference and subversion from Beijing, as Chinese companies use artificial intelligence as a… Continue reading

“10 Alaskans born in American Samoa plead not guilty in voting case highlighting citizenship issues”

September 5, 2025, 1:06 pmvotingRick Hasen

AP: Ten Alaska residents pleaded not guilty Thursday to voter misconduct or other charges in cases that have renewed attention on the complex citizenship status of people born in the U.S. territory of American Samoa. Those facing charges —… Continue reading

Election Conspiracy Theorist Cleta Mitchell Suggests Trump Could Declare a “National Sovereignty” Crisis and Do an Emergency Federal Takeover of the Midterm Elections (He Can’t and It Would Trigger Massive Protests and the Potential End of American Democracy)

September 5, 2025, 12:00 pmauthoritarian threats in US, election subversion riskRick Hasen

Chilling video: Trump lawyer Cleta Mitchell says Trump may try to declare a “national sovereignty” crisis in 2026 to claim “emergency powers” over elections and override the states— People For the American Way (@peoplefor.bsky.social) 2025-09-05T18:23:54.459Z

“To Boost Turnout, Ballot Measure Proposes Moving New York City Elections to Even Years”

September 5, 2025, 10:06 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

Bolts reports.

Pam Karlan: Why Section 2 Matters to Existing Minority-Opportunity Districts

September 5, 2025, 7:40 amSupreme Court, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

The following is an important guest post from Pam Karlan: In a recent post describing his amicus brief in Louisiana v. Callais, Nick Stephanopoulos points out a “large decline in racially-polarized voting” in many jurisdictions may preclude plaintiffs… Continue reading

“Inside Gavin Newsom’s Redistricting Cash Blitz; Total spending could top $200 million in a November contest that could help determine control of the House next year.”

September 5, 2025, 7:27 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

NYT: Over the next two months, Democratic and Republican donors are expected to funnel as much as $200 million into a California ballot fight that could heavily shape which party wins control of the U.S. House next year. It is… Continue reading

“Gabriel Sterling joins Republican race for Georgia elections chief”

September 4, 2025, 1:08 pmelection administration, election law bizRick Hasen

AJC: Gabriel Sterling, a leading defender of Georgia’s voting system who famously called for President Donald Trump to condemn election threats in 2020, entered the Republican race for secretary of state on Thursday. Sterling, 54, immediately becomes the most well-known… Continue reading