Democracy in the States: Weekly Roundup
Updates on campaigns, policy changes, obstacles and successes for democracy renovation at the state level.
MISSOURI: ‘Let the courts decide’: Kehoe says he will sign gerrymandered Missouri congressional map | By Rudi Keller & Steph Quinn, Missouri Independent, Sept. 25, 2025
Gov. Mike Kehoe said he will sign a GOP-backed redistricting plan and let courts resolve lawsuits, including one filed by the NAACP challenging the map as unconstitutional.MISSOURI: ‘A fundamental right’: Judge strikes down law giving Missouri AG special appeal power | By Anna Spoerre, Missouri Independent, Sept. 24, 2025
A Cole County judge struck down a law granting Missouri’s attorney general sole authority to appeal injunctions in state-law cases, ruling it violated citizens’ right to appeal.KANSAS: Kansas Legislature closer to special session for partisan remapping of U.S. House districts | By Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector, Sept. 26, 2025
Republican leaders moved toward calling a special session to redraw congressional maps, a step Democrats warn would gerrymander Johnson County and target Rep. Sharice Davids.NORTH CAROLINA: NC Senate President indicates Republicans could redraw congressional maps ahead of mid-terms | By Clayton Henkel, NC Newsline, Sept. 25, 2025
Senate leader Phil Berger said he supports revisiting North Carolina’s congressional maps before 2026, while Democrats accused Republicans of continuing partisan power grabs.PENNSYLVANIA: Fight over Pennsylvania’s mail-ballot date requirement approaches the endgame | By Carter Walker (Votebeat), Pennsylvania Capital-Star, Sept. 23, 2025
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is expected to decide whether mail-ballots must have a handwritten date on return envelopes, a rule that has fueled years of litigation and confusion.FLORIDA: Challenge dismissed: Voter registration must match driver’s license | By Jay Waagmeester, Florida Phoenix, Sept. 23, 2025
A federal judge upheld Florida’s requirement that voter registration data match driver’s license or Social Security records, dismissing claims it discriminates against minority voters.FLORIDA: At delegation meeting, citizens speak out strongly against mid-decade congressional redistricting | By Mitch Perry, Florida Phoenix, Sept. 24, 2025
Dozens of Floridians urged lawmakers to reject Gov. Ron DeSantis’s mid-decade redistricting plan, citing the state’s Fair Districts amendments and polls opposing new maps.ARIZONA: Arizona fake electors prosecution hits roadblock as court declines appeal | By Caitlin Sievers, Arizona Mirror, Sept. 22, 2025
An appeals court declined to revive Arizona’s case against 18 Republicans indicted as “fake electors,” leaving Attorney General Kris Mayes to seek state supreme court review or pursue a new grand jury.NATIONAL: Justice Department sues six US states over voter registration lists | By Ismail Shakil, Reuters, Sept. 25, 2025
The DOJ sued California, New York, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania for failing to provide voter registration lists, saying the information is required by federal law.ILLINOIS: Judge rules feds can’t block Illinois’ disaster funding in response to immigration laws | By Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois, Sept. 25, 2025
A federal judge ruled the government cannot withhold disaster aid from Illinois for limiting cooperation with immigration enforcement and affirmed that only Congress controls spending.RHODE ISLAND: R.I. federal judge strikes down Trump edict tying federal disaster aid to immigration | By Christopher Shea, Rhode Island Current, Sept. 24, 2025
A U.S. District Court judge permanently blocked a Trump administration order conditioning FEMA aid on states’ cooperation with immigration enforcement, calling it coercive and unconstitutional.PENNSYLVANIA: Trump has deployed troops to three cities; Could Philadelphia be on his list? | By Peter Hall, Pennsylvania Capital-Star, Sept. 22, 2025
Officials in Philadelphia said they would oppose any attempt to send National Guard troops to the city after deployments to Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Memphis.TENNESSEE: Shelby County lawmakers torn over National Guard deployment to Memphis | By Sam Stockard, Tennessee Lookout, Sept. 16, 2025
Tennessee lawmakers remain divided on the Guard’s deployment to Memphis, with Democrats citing militarization concerns and Republicans backing the plan despite few details.NEW MEXICO: National Guard to be deployed to Española, second NM city to see military presence | By Patrick Lohmann, Source NM, Sept. 22, 2025
New Mexico officials confirmed National Guard troops will be sent to Española under a crime emergency order, making it the second city in the state to see deployments.NATIONAL: State of democracy takes center stage at Congressional Black Caucus conference | By William J. Ford, News From The States, Sept. 24, 2025
At the CBC conference in Washington, officials pledged to defend democracy and diversity policies and criticized National Guard deployments and election rule changes.OKLAHOMA: Oklahoma City Mayor: Open primaries are how we get the crazy out of politics | By Shawn Griffiths, Independent Voter News, Sept. 23, 2025
Mayor David Holt endorsed State Question 836 to replace closed primaries with a top-two open system, saying it would reduce partisanship and empower more voters.MICHIGAN: Bill allowing AG to enforce campaign finance law against Secretary of State clears committee | By Kyle Davidson, Michigan Advance, Sept. 25, 2025
A Michigan House committee advanced a bill letting the attorney general investigate campaign finance violations by the secretary of state, after Secretary Jocelyn Benson was cited for using a state building to launch her campaign.COLORADO: Colorado voters should go confidential (Commentary) | By Quentin Young, Colorado Newsline, Sept. 25, 2025
In an opinion piece, Young urges Coloradans to apply for confidential voter status in response to federal demands for detailed voter data.NATIONAL: A federal government shutdown is nearing. Here’s a guide for what to expect. | By Jennifer Shutt, Ashley Murray, Jacob Fischler, Ariana Figueroa & Shauneen Miranda, News From The States, Sept. 26, 2025
This guide outlines what services would close and which would continue if Congress fails to pass a funding bill before Oct. 1 and how President Trump could shape the response.In case you missed it …
“Safety Without A Police State,” By Danielle Allen, The Renovator, Sept. 22, 2025
“When Civic Experiments Fail and Still Pay Off,” By Andrew Doty, The Renovator, Sept. 25, 2025
“Are Democracy and Capitalism Compatible?” By Malcolm Salter, The Renovator, Sept. 21, 2025
“Monthly Civic Education Roundup,” By Joanna Kenty, The Renovator, Sept. 23, 2025