“New report outlines the deep political polarization’s slow and steady march”
The WaPo with highlights from Dave Wasserman’s latest report, blogged here.
“Big money is flooding into the Philly mayor’s election. Here’s how it’s shaping the race.”
The Philadelphia Inquirer with a compilation of the self-funding, SuperPAC spending, and big-dollar checks driving the race.
One former city councilmember has cited the flood of big money as the reason for suspending her mayoral campaign.
“The Wisconsin Supreme Court election cost $40 million. There could be a better way.”
Alicia Bannon on NPR’s Weekend Edition about reforming judicial elections.
“‘Can I vote?’ Florida’s new elections bill leaves voters in the dark — by design”
The Miami Herald Editorial Board on the new bill moving through the Florida legislature.
NY trial court finds constitutional right to cast primary write-in for candidate who’s not a member of the party
Friday’s decision is here, with a little more illumination from the earlier hearing transcript here.
“To harness the political power of young voters, teach civics”
Lauren Cristella, of the Committee of Seventy, highlights the infrastructure behind the infrastructure of democracy.
Looks like Justin Jones could be back in the Tennessee legislature as soon as Monday
There will eventually be a special election for House District 52, but in the meantime, the Tennessee Constitution allows the legislative body of the district’s county of residence to appoint an interim representative.
And now the Nashville Metropolitan Council, the… Continue reading
“A study confirms it: Tennessee’s democracy really is as bad as the expulsions made you think”
Vox on Jake Grumbach’s State Democracy Index.
“For DeSantis, Overflowing War Chest Obscures the Challenges Ahead”
A fair amount of this NYT piece is about the various PACs that support DeSantis, how much they matter, and what they can legally do with the money they’ve got.
“How Herschel Walker’s Wife Tried—and Failed—to Profit Off His Campaign”
Some insight into the economics of media buys, and the potential for profit therein.
Kari Lake tries to make election denial a litmus test for 2024
But not with particular subtlety.
And I think you should get even more specific, ‘Was the 2022 election for governor in Arizona stolen?’ And if they won’t say ‘Absolutely, yes,’ that’s a big red flag,” she added. “That’s a… Continue reading
Justice Thomas addresses ProPublica report on luxury travel gifts
NPR has his full statement:
Harlan and Kathy Crow are among our dearest friends, and we have been friends for over twenty-five years. As friends do, we have joined them on a number of family trips during the more… Continue reading
“Meta won’t say if politicians can post AI-made fakes without warnings”
It seems … suboptimal … for platforms to be building terms-of-service policy ad hoc and mid-campaign for AI images and video in a political context.
“With more costs to come, Shasta County will spend $950,000 on new voting system”
The $950,000 is apparently for “the equipment needed to hand-count ballots”; the final bill will also include personnel costs estimated at more than $1.6 million.