Morning Headlines
- Florida’s GOP controlled legislature has indicated it will defer to Governor Ron DeSantis on the state’s new congressional maps. DeSantis previously vetoed maps passed by the legislature.
- The Iowa Supreme Court will hear arguments tomorrow on whether or not Abby Finkenauer can appear on the state’s June 7th Democratic primary ballot for Senate. Over the weekend a lower court ruled the former Congresswoman failed to submit the required number of valid signatures. A decision is expected as early as the end of the week in order to allow for the printing of ballots to meet federal deadlines for military voters.
- South Dakota’s Republican Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg faces an impeachment vote today in the state’s House of Representatives. Ravnsborg pleaded no contest to two misdemeanors related to a traffic accident in which a pedestrian was killed.
- The New Hampshire Supreme Court has set a deadline for the state legislature and Governor to agree on the lines for the state’s two congressional districts. If the parties fail to meet that deadline, the Court has named a Special Master to determine the boundaries. The state holds its primary on Tuesday, September 13th.
- The Member vs. Member Republican primary in West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional district, necessitated when the state lost a House seat following the 2020 census, presents voters with a choice between supporting former President Donald Trump’s preferred candidate or one who helped secure federal infrastructure spending. The West Virginia primary is on Tuesday, May 10th.
- President Joe Biden announced he is nominating former federal prosecutor Steven Dettelbach to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Biden’s original choice to lead the agency, David Chipman, had his nomination withdrawn after bipartisan opposition emerged in the Senate.
- Philadelphia has reinstituted its indoor mask mandate due to an increase in Covid cases. Pennsylvania’s Attorney General and Democratic candidate for Governor Josh Shapiro distanced himself from the decision saying he opposes mandates. New polling shows an overwhelming majority of Americans feel Covid is no longer a crisis.
- From election rules and redistricting to hot button issues like abortion and gun rights, top state courts are playing an increasing role in the legal and political system. In many states the judges on these courts are elected by the people, not appointed by the Governor. Insider takes a deep dive into this year’s state judicial campaigns.
- It took a veto, a court case, and an eventual deal to get Maryland’s new congressional districts drawn. Now that they are, Jacob Rubashkin of Inside Elections takes a look at the changes and what they may portend for the midterms.
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