A 30-Year Incumbent Falls, and the Court Has Its Last Word - Democracy in the States' Weekly Roundup
I’m writing from Hawaii, where it’s still Independence Eve, and not-too-late for another Democracy in the States’ Weekly Roundup before America’s 250th Birthday! The U.S. Supreme Court closed out its term this week, ruling that states can count mail ballots that arrive after Election Day and upholding birthright citizenship, while a separate ruling loosening limits on party spending is already reshaping the money race in contested Senate contests in Georgia and Maine. Days before the nation’s 250th birthday, Colorado’s primary delivered the cycle’s biggest upset yet, as a democratic-socialist-aligned newcomer unseated a 30-year incumbent in a Denver-area U.S. House seat. We’re covering these developments and more state-level changes to elections, voting rules, redistricting, ballot measures, and safety-net policy below.
The Supreme Court closes its term
The court’s final rulings fell squarely on state election administration and campaign finance, with reactions breaking down along predictable lines.
FLORIDA: Florida Republicans are not happy about U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on late-arriving mail-in ballots.
OHIO: Ohio nixed absentee ballot grace period before US Supreme Court ruling, but court went the other way.
PENNSYLVANIA: Pa. lawmakers relieved, urge action after US Supreme Court upholds birthright citizenship.
GEORGIA: Supreme Court eases spending rules in win for GOP as U.S. Senate battles brew.
MAINE: How SCOTUS striking limits on party spending could impact Maine’s Senate race.
GEORGIA: FBI redirects hundreds of analysts to examine Fulton County’s 2020 election records.
Colorado’s primary upsets and the rest of the field
Colorado held its primary this week, and the results reordered the state’s entire statewide ticket, beginning with a first-time candidate’s win over one of the longest-serving members of the state’s congressional delegation.
Colorado
COLORADO: Newcomer Melat Kiros unseats longtime Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado Democratic primary.
COLORADO: Weiser beats Bennet in Democratic primary for Colorado governor, Kirkmeyer in lead.
COLORADO: Democrat John Hickenlooper of Colorado defeats Senate primary challenger Julie Gonzales.
COLORADO: Jena Griswold wins Democratic primary for Colorado attorney general.
COLORADO: Jeffco clerk and voting rights advocate Amanda Gonzalez wins Democratic secretary of State primary.
COLORADO: Four Colorado state legislators ousted in primary election.
Elsewhere
SOUTH CAROLINA: Inside Alan Wilson’s historic GOP primary victory over Pamela Evette.
LOUISIANA: Letlow rides Trump endorsement to US Senate GOP ticket win; Davis cinches Democratic bid.
ARKANSAS: Sanders calls special election to fill south Arkansas Senate seat vacated by Gilmore.
KENTUCKY: Clerical error stopped Democrats from voting in narrow primary, Jefferson clerk says.
ALASKA: Alaska Supreme Court rules Dan J. Sullivan eligible to run for US Senate.
UTAH: One of Utah’s hottest Democratic races shows how far left voters are willing to go.
Voting rules, rolls, and ballot access
Beyond the primaries, states are still debating over who gets to vote, whose maps count, and which ballot measures survive to November.
Voter rolls and citizenship checks
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Court decision blocking NH voter file transfer the latest loss for Trump administration.
INDIANA: Longtime citizen flagged, voter registration revoked in proof-of-citizenship ordeal.
ARIZONA: US Supreme Court to take up Arizona proof of citizenship case.
SOUTH DAKOTA: Group wants help for voters affected by proof-of-citizenship law and federal-only designation.
Redistricting
COLORADO: Colorado Supreme Court blocks 2028 redistricting measures in blow to Democrats.
Ballot measures
IDAHO: In rural Idaho, medical marijuana ballot initiative hits setback after signatures turned in late.
ARKANSAS: Federal judge rules Arkansas initiative restrictions unconstitutional.
OREGON: Nearly every proposed Oregon initiative won’t make it onto the November ballot.
ARIZONA: Voucher oversight initiative turns in 420k signatures, more than enough to make the ballot.
WASHINGTON: Ballot fight on WA income tax looks certain.
NEBRASKA: Signatures turned in for measure to restrict Nebraska lawmakers’ ability to change voter-passed laws.
IDAHO: Supporters of ballot measure to end Idaho’s strict abortion ban turn in nearly 110K signatures.
States push back on federal health and food aid rules
States are increasingly struggling to keep up with federal changes to the safety net, such as new Medicaid work requirements and tightened SNAP error-rate penalties that could cost several states hundreds of millions of dollars.
Medicaid
MARYLAND: States gird for new Medicaid ‘medically frail’ rule.
INDIANA: Indiana leads nation in decline of children insured through Medicaid.
PENNSYLVANIA: Pa. joins multi-state lawsuit against Trump administration over Medicaid work requirement rules.
NEW JERSEY: NJ joins multi-state challenge to Trump administration Medicaid rule.
MONTANA: Medicaid cuts spark legislative, provider concern.
VIRGINIA: Virginians living with HIV struggle to get drugs that fight the virus after massive health care cuts.
SNAP and food assistance
MAINE: Maine could owe $50 million a year to maintain SNAP benefits under new federal mandate.
TENNESSEE: Tennessee taxpayers could foot bill for some SNAP costs if state’s error rate doesn’t improve.
MISSOURI: Missouri could be on the hook for $150 million in food benefits due to error rate.
MINNESOTA: Federal changes to SNAP could cost Minnesota more than $100M per year.
GEORGIA: Georgia’s SNAP payment errors could cost the state millions of dollars — but not quite yet.
IOWA: Feds pull Iowa’s ‘healthy food’ SNAP waiver.
ARKANSAS: Arkansas launches mobile app to navigate new food stamps junk food ban.