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RandySF's JournalJudge declines request to speed up NC redistricting case
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) A federal judge rejected a request this week to speed up a lawsuit regarding the new election districts Republicans drew for the state Senate, calling that request meritless.
While the case will continue to move forward, Judge James Dever is declining to take any action ahead of Dec. 4 when candidates will begin filing to run for office for 2024.
Judge Dever questioned why the plaintiffs waited nearly four weeks after the General Assembly voted on the new districts to file their lawsuit and ask the court to issue a preliminary injunction.
Furthermore, plaintiffs request completely ignores that their case is not the only case on the courts docket and that plaintiffs do not set this courts schedule for holding hearings or deciding motions. This court has over 1,000 cases, Dever writes.
https://www.cbs17.com/news/capitol-report/judge-declines-request-to-speed-up-nc-redistricting-case/
CA: Proposed district map remains center of controversy in Palm Desert redistricting process
The City of Palm Desert is set to hold two more community workshops on Wednesday, November 29 and Wednesday, December 6, where the public is invited to provide feedback on a proposed voter map advanced by Council in a 4-1 vote at the last meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem Karina Quintanilla was the only councilmember to vote against the adoption of map 109 as the sole map to be used in redistricting discussions moving forward.
According to the meeting agenda, staff had recommended that Council select 2-3 "focus maps" for further consideration, which did not end up happening
"The stated objective was to narrow it down to two to three and if we narrow it down to one, we are stealing from our voters. we are suppressing their voice and saying come and tell us what you think of this one choice," according to Quintanilla.
https://kesq.com/news/local-news/2023/11/28/proposed-district-map-remains-center-of-controversy-in-palm-desert-redistricting-process/
5th Circuit To Reconsider Redistricting Precedent Under Voting Rights Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. The entire 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will reconsider its established Voting Rights Act (VRA) precedent that permits distinct minority communities such as Black and Latino voters to be combined for the purposes of Section 2 vote dilution claims.
This move comes as 5th Circuit issued an order earlier today agreeing to rehear a consolidated redistricting case challenging Galveston County, Texas commissioners court districts under Section 2 of the VRA, which prohibits racially discriminatory redistricting plans. In agreeing to rehear the case, the notoriously conservative court concurrently voided a decision issued on Nov. 10 by a three-judge 5th Circuit panel affirming that Galveston Countys districts illegally diluted Black and Latino voting power.
In an October 2023 ruling, a Trump-appointed district court judge found that Black and Latino voters in Galveston County who account for nearly 40% of the population were illegally deprived of the ability to elect their preferred candidate in any one of Galveston Countys four districts due to the elimination of the countys sole majority-minority district.
In the case of Galveston County, neither the countys Black nor Latino populations are large enough to individually constitute a majority in a particular district; however, the two communities together form a politically cohesive coalition of minority voters that is protected under Section 2.
https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/5th-circuit-to-reconsider-redistricting-precedent-under-voting-rights-act/
Tennessee Senate redistricting map thrown out by court, but dissenting opinion opens the door for an appeal
he state Senates redistricting map has been thrown out by the Tennessee Chancery Court in a 2-1 decision. However, the single dissent gives Republican Senators a shot at setting a precedent for future map challenges.
The dissenting opinion from Judge Steven Maroney (found on page 37) argues that Francine Hunt, the plaintiff in the case against state officials, does not have the ability to bring the case forward.
Although Hunt is a Davidson County resident that resides in District 17, Maroney states that she does not have standing because she has not demonstrated that she is directly impacted by the maps.
His opinion has left many scratching their heads, wondering why a Tennessee resident wouldnt have standing and asking who would have standing.
https://wpln.org/post/tennessee-senate-redistricting-map-thrown-out-by-court-but-dissenting-opinion-opens-the-door-for-an-appeal/
5 redistricting cases that will impact the 2024 elections
New York
Democrats are seeking to have a bipartisan commission redraw the states congressional maps after attempts to draw more favorable lines for the party were botched last cycle, costing them critical seats in the House.
Wisconsin
The state Supreme Court heard arguments last week in a case over the fate of Wisconsins state legislative maps. A group of Democratic voters filed a lawsuit in early August challenging the maps as unconstitutional.
North Carolina
Republicans in the Tar Heel State scored their first win last November when they flipped the Democratic majority on the state Supreme Court.
Alabama
The Supreme Court surprised many in June, given its conservative makeup, when it ruled that Alabamas congressional map likely violated the Voting Rights Act.
Louisiana
The issue of fair representation of the states Black voting bloc has also been a focal point in Louisiana. Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) vetoed the GOP-controlled state Legislatures congressional maps in March 2022, arguing in a statement at the time that it does not meet the standards set forth in the federal Voting Rights Act.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4329285-five-redistricting-cases-that-will-impact-the-2024-elections/
MI: Warren couple file to run against each other in special election for open House seat
It's not often that a Democratic and Republican candidate in Michigan openly say they're "rooting for each other" to win the same election. But a married couple in Warren say they decided to both run in a special election next spring for an open seat in the Michigan House because they believe either one of them would be a strong representative for the community.
Monday afternoon marked the deadline for candidates to declare in both the 13th and 25th House Districts, which are now vacant after former state Reps. Lori Stone, D-Warren, and Kevin Coleman, D-Westland, won mayoral elections in their respective cities. In the 13th, Suzanne Ostosh, a Democrat, and Curtiss Ostosh, a Republican, have both filed to run.
"We're not running against each other. We're running for each other," Curtiss Ostosh told the Free Press Monday. "We're running for the city because we want to put people first, so no matter which one of us wins, we'll be happy with that."
The Ostoshes, who have been married for nearly two years, run the food pantry at the Harvest Time Christian Fellowship Church in Warren, where Curtiss is the pastor. Suzanne Ostosh mentioned community investment, particularly for young children in Warren, as a major priority in her campaign.
https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/elections/2023/11/28/warren-couple-in-opposite-parties-both-file-to-run-for-open-house-seat/71722572007/
Russia's Parliament to Announce Presidential Race on Dec. 13 - Communist Leader
Russias parliament will officially announce the start of the 2024 presidential race on Dec. 13, the head of Russias Communist Party Gennady Zyuganov told reporters during a press briefing on Tuesday.
Next years presidential election is scheduled to take place in March, with President Vladimir Putin widely expected to run for a fifth term in office.
According to the information I have, the [upper-house] Federation Council will officially announce the start of the presidential election campaign on Dec. 13., Zuganov told reporters.
The ruling United Russia party will announce its presidential nominee four days later, according to Zuganov.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/11/28/russias-parliament-to-announce-presidential-race-on-dec-13-communist-leader-a83234
Texas Democrats Endorse Local Houston Candidates Ahead of December 9th Runoff Election
Project LIFT is a longtime program of the Texas Democratic Party that invests in candidates running in local, down-ballot races across the state. Following Texas Democrats Project LIFT endorsement of Chris Hollins for Houston City Controller today, were proud to endorse the following candidates ahead of the December 9th runoff elections in Houston next week:
Melanie Miles, Houston City Council At-Large Position 1
Nick Hellyar, Houston City Council At-Large Position 2
Richard Cantu, Houston City Council At-Large Position 3
Dr. Letitia Plummer, Houston City Council Position 4
Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa issued the following statement on the Project LIFT endorsement of local Houston candidates:
Through Project LIFT, the Texas Democratic Party has built upon our movement from the local office up. Theres no doubt that these exceptional Houston Democrats will represent their community and meet the needs of working families in local neighborhoods. Under Texas Democratic leadership, Houston has become a hotbed for innovation ranging from energy and technology to community-first policies making Houston one of the largest and most diverse cities in the United States. H-Town is not slowing down, and were proud to endorse local candidates who will continue Houstons progressive legacy so that the city and the rest of Texas can thrive. Election Day is Saturday, December 9th and we encourage voters to make their voices heard. Houstonians can find where to vote at MyTexasVotes.com.
https://elpasoheraldpost.com/texas-democrats-endorse-local-houston-candidates-ahead-of-december-9th-runoff-election/
Fargo's special election will be first run by the city in over two decades
FARGO (KFGO) Fargo voters will be at the polls next Tuesday to decide whether to approve a quarter-cent sales tax increase and a 3% lodging tax for a proposed $140 million Fargodome expansion that would include a convention center.
Elections are typically run by the county, but the City of Fargo is running this one because the North Dakota Secretary of State told the county they cannot do special elections after Oct. 1. It will be the first time the city has run an election in 23 years.
The last time the City of Fargo ran an election was in 2000. City auditor Steve Sprague said, at that time, Fargo held a city election in April, a run-off election in May, a primary election in June, and a general election in November.
That November, on the general election ballot, we had a question of, should we amend the Home Rule Charter to eliminate the run-off provision, and to combine our elections with [Cass] County? Sprague said. That passed overwhelmingly, and we have combined with the county ever since.
https://kfgo.com/2023/11/28/fargos-special-election-will-be-first-run-by-the-city-in-over-two-decades/
MT: Cascade County blows state deadline for election canvass
Officials in Cascade County have struggled to certify the results of the recent municipal elections in Great Falls and several outlying communities, missing a state-mandated deadline of Nov. 21 to complete the countys post-election canvass.
The challenges began nearly two weeks ago as Cascade County Clerk and Recorder Sandra Merchant attempted to schedule a canvass meeting on Nov. 20, a Monday, with the county commission. In an interview with Montana Free Press, Cascade County Commissioner Joe Briggs said he was worried that the schedule, proposed by Merchant the Friday prior, violated Montanas 48-hour notice requirement for public meetings a concern, he added, that the county attorneys office later substantiated.
Merchant and the commission rescheduled the canvass for Nov. 22, but after more than five hours the group still failed to certify the election results. They will now reconvene at 1:30 p.m., on Nov. 29 with the goal of concluding the work. Until that happens, Briggs said, no one can take office.
That wouldnt normally happen for another month and a half, so assuming we can get this handled this week, there really wont be any operational issues, Briggs continued. The concern is it just adds another question mark to the election process, and weve been going through this now well, every election this year, theres been a lawsuit. Whether there will be one about this one or not, I dont know. But it does not add to the credibility of the election process, and thats bad.
https://montanafreepress.org/2023/11/28/cascade-county-misses-election-canvass-deadline/
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