Friday, August 29

Texas governor signs Republican gerrymander as legal challenges loom Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed Republicans’ gerrymander, which could add five GOP seats ahead of the midterm elections, into law. After signing the map, Abbott said, “Texas is now more red in the United States Congress.” The Texas redistricting battle now moves from the state capitol to the federal courthouse, where pro-voting advocates have already taken steps to try to block the map. Texas GOPer who blocked filibuster shares alarming approach to immigrants In a 2022 legislative hearing, the Texas Republican lawmaker who last week blocked Democrats’ effort to filibuster the state’s gerrymander suggested “shoot, shovel and shut up” as a way to deal with immigrants — a comment that could boost legal efforts to block the state’s map.

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Still on Texas, appeals court upholds key sections of voter suppression law A federal appeals court upheld parts of a Texas voter suppression law, including a provision that restricts how people can assist voters in casting ballots. The court ruled that the pro-voting groups lacked standing to challenge some provisions. Court rejects DOJ bid to delay challenge to Trump’s anti-voting order A federal court rejected the Department of Justice’s bid to delay a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s anti-voting executive order. The ruling smooths the way for the challenge to move forward. Trump’s order aims to require documentary proof of citizenship as well as cracking down on mail voting.  Trump’s urban power grab raises fear of troops at the polls  Trump’s unprecedented weaponization of National Guard troops in recent months raises concerns that the administration might be laying the groundwork to deploy troops to the polls. And it may just start with Virginia’s fast-approaching gubernatorial election. AND NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS After nearly 60 years without elections, Newbern votes in first Black mayor Patrick Braxton won election this week after a long legal battle over his right to hold the office. Newbern, a small majority-Black town in Alabama, had not held an election for mayor since the VRA became law in 1965. Instead, Newbern selected its mayors by a “hand me down” system where the current mayor appoints the next mayor. All of them were white. In July 2020, Braxton ran unopposed for mayor but the white town leaders locked him out of office. The NAACP sued the town and last year they reached a settlement allowing Braxton to take office. The settlement also required the town to hold its first election since 1965. On Tuesday, Braxton won and will continue to serve as the town's first Black mayor. California Supreme Court denies another Republican attempt to block maps The California Supreme Court denied the second Republican attempt this week to stop the legislature’s plan to redraw congressional districts in response to Texas gerrymandering. This keeps the “Election Rigging Response Act” on the November ballot, giving voters a chance to uphold fair representation in the U.S. House. Federal court tosses Trump DOJ’s attack on Maryland judges A federal judge dismissed the Trump administration’s unprecedented lawsuit against every district judge in Maryland, which sought to overturn an order protecting immigrants from immediate deportation. In his ruling, Judge Thomas Cullen — a Trump appointee — blasted the administration for trying to “smear and impugn” the judiciary, rebuking its escalating attacks on judicial independence. Utah court restores voter-approved anti-gerrymandering law A Utah state judge struck down the GOP-drawn congressional map and reinstated Proposition 4, the independent redistricting reforms voters passed in 2018. The ruling permanently blocks the map that split Salt Lake County into four districts and orders lawmakers to redraw the map under Proposition 4’s fair-map rules. Federal court prevents Pennsylvania from tossing mail ballots over trivial errors The Third Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously upheld a ruling requiring Pennsylvania to count mail-in ballots that are timely cast but missing or bearing the wrong date. The decision rejects GOP efforts to use meaningless technicalities to throw out thousands of votes. Arizona court rejects GOP bid to throw out mail ballot signatures The Arizona Court of Appeals rejected a Republican lawsuit seeking to restrict how officials verify mail-in ballot signatures, finding the plaintiffs had no standing to sue. The dismissal preserves flexible rules that let counties compare ballots against multiple known signatures on file — protecting seniors, voters with disabilities and the nearly 90% of Arizonans who vote by mail from unjust rejections. Ninth Circuit upholds fair maps for Latino voters in Washington state The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court ruling that struck down Washington’s gerrymandered state legislative map, keeping a fairer map in place. This decision ensures that Latino voters retain an equal voice in elections despite Republican attempts to roll back their fair representation. Federal court blocks all attempts to deport Kilmar Ábrego García A federal judge has temporarily barred the Trump administration from deporting Kilmar Ábrego García to Uganda — where he has no ties — or elsewhere. The ruling safeguards his right to due process by keeping him in the U.S. and delaying any removal until at least an October evidentiary hearing. Federal court blocks firing of Voice of America director A federal judge blocked the Trump administration — via advisor Kari Lake — from firing Michael Abramowitz, director of Voice of America, ruling that Lake lacked lawful authority. This decision preserves critical protections for an independent outlet and sets precedent against politically motivated interference in government agencies.