As Elon Musk’s government-shrinking operation slashed its way through federal agencies across Washington this month, one of his top lieutenants turned his attention to a smaller political arena, more than 2,000 miles away.
Chris Young, the top political strategist to Elon Musk who is also a senior adviser at Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, joined a video call last week with a Nevada political consultant to discuss how Musk’s America PAC could help turn Nevada’s seven-seat Clark County Commission Republican and shape the political landscape in Nevada, people familiar with the call said.
After spending hundreds of millions of dollars backing Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, America PAC is now exploring local races. Republican candidates across the country are wooing the group for support for the 2026 midterm elections and other political efforts. In Georgia, gubernatorial candidates have asked the group to play a role in that race, according to people familiar with the outreach. In other 2026 battleground states, including Arizona, Senate candidates have also reached out to the group.
Wyoming Governor lets proof of voter residency bill become law without his signature
Gov. Mark Gordon let HB 156 go into law without his signature. The new law requires proof of U.S. citizenship and Wyoming residency to register to vote in the state. You must have lived in the state for 30 days for residency. It also says a county clerk can reject someone’s registration due to “any indication” that the person is not a U.S. citizen or Wyoming resident. The law will go into effect on July 1st.
Proof of U.S. citizenship can include a valid Wyoming driver’s license or ID, valid tribal ID, Real ID driver’s license or ID issued by any other state. It will be up to the secretary of state to decide what documents or other proof establishes Wyoming residency.
“Appeals Court panel wrestles with NC Supreme Court election dispute”
A North Carolina Court of Appeals panel spent more than 90 minutes Friday morning listening to arguments related to state Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin’s challenge of more than 65,000 ballots cast in last fall’s election.
Griffin, an Appeals Court judge, trails Democratic Justice Allison Riggs, an appointed incumbent, by 734 votes out of more than 5.5 million ballots cast in the Nov. 5 election. Recounts have confirmed Riggs’ lead. Yet a Jan. 7 stay issued by Riggs’ state Supreme Court colleagues has blocked the North Carolina State Board of Elections from certifying Riggs as the winner.
“DOJ Moves to Take Over Trump Defense Against Jan. 6 Lawsuits”
Zoe Tillman at Bloomberg:
The US Justice Department is seeking to intervene on behalf of President Donald Trump in the long-running civil lawsuits accusing him of being personally liable for the violence and disruption at the US Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.
The cases have been held up for years amid a fight over whether Trump is entitled to immunity. In a notice filed Thursday night, a Justice Department official told a judge Trump was acting “within the scope of his office” during the events in question, meaning the US government, and not Trump, should be the defendant in the cases.
If government lawyers succeed in swapping Trump out of the litigation, it would rid him of one of the last remaining personal legal threats he faces. But a judge will first have to approve the move, and the plaintiffs are expected to oppose it.
“Some voters are pushing back on lawmakers’ efforts to overturn citizen ballot initiatives”
“The federal Voting Rights Act was gutted. States now want their own versions.”
Coverage at Stateline.
Crum: “Questioning Shaw in Callais”
The following is a guest post from Professor Travis Crum:
On Monday, the Supreme Court will hear oral argument in Louisiana v. Callais, a Shaw challenge to Louisiana’s congressional redistricting plan. This is the first time the Court will… Continue reading
“Workers Say They Were Pressured to Pay for N.Y.C. Election Jobs”
Shayla Colon at the New York Times:
When a Republican employee of the New York City Board of Elections told a woman that if she paid $150, she could have a job working at the polls during local elections,… Continue reading
“After flagging 2,000+ ballots, Iowa secretary of state says 35 noncitizens voted in 2024”
Stephen Gruber-Miller at the Des Moines Register:
Thirty-five noncitizens voted in Iowa in the 2024 election and another five noncitizens tried to vote but had their ballots rejected, Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate announced Thursday.
Pate, a Republican,… Continue reading
“Scoop: Musk’s PAC offers $100 to Wisconsin voters in pitch against ‘activist judges'”
Déjà vu all over again, from Axios.
My New Encyclopedia Britannica Article: “Election Law in the United States”
Very happy to see the final version of this article posted. Thanks to all who helped me with completing it!
“Meta vows to curtail false content, deepfakes ahead of Australia election”
Reuters:
Facebook and Instagram-owner Meta Platforms said on Tuesday its independent fact-checking program in Australia would help detect and remove false content and deepfakes, as it aims to curb misinformation ahead of a national election due by May.
In… Continue reading
“Interview: NC GOP chair defends challenge of 65,000 votes in Supreme Court election”
In 6-1 decision, New York high court finds New York City’s non-citizen voting law violates state constitution
From the majority opinion in Fossella v. Adams:
On December 9, 2021, the New York City Council passed a bill entitled “A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to allowing lawful permanent residents in… Continue reading