A three-judge federal panel unanimously ruled Ohio’s gerrymandered congressional district map unconstitutional under the First and 14th Amendments.

On behalf of the League of Women Voters, the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio filed the suit.

The suit claimed the congressional map disfavored democratic voters on the basis of their political affiliation.

The court ordered the state to create a new map by June 14 to prepare for the 2020 election.

Campaign Finance

Tennessee: “Senate Approves Bill to Double Campaign Contribution Limits to Members of Upper Chamber” by Joel Ebert for The Tennessean

Ethics

National: “Trump Sues in Bid to Block Congressional Subpoena of Financial Records” by David Fahrenthold, Rachael Bade, and John Wagner for MSN

National: “The Go-To Lawyer for Governors Facing Impeachment” by Alan Greenblatt for Governing

Illinois: “Ex-Top Aide to Dorothy Brown Goes on Trial on Charges of Lying About Pay-to-Play Allegations” by Rosemary Sobel and Jason Meisner for Chicago Tribune

Minnesota: “Minnesota Lawmakers, Lobbyists Describe Cautious Capitol in Wake of #MeToo” by Jessie Van Berkel for Minneapolis Star Tribune

Oregon: “Oregon Officials Approve $50,000 Ethics Case Settlement with Cylvia Hayes” by Ben Botkin for Salem Statesmman Journal

Lobbying

Louisiana: “Numbers of Maine Lawmakers Who Went on to Lobby” by Marina Villeneuva for AP News

Redistricting

Missouri: “Missouri GOP, Fighting Redistricting Changes, Courts Unlikely Ally: Black Democrats” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

Campaign Finance

Idaho: “Campaign Finance Overhaul Passes House” by Nathan Brown for Idaho Falls Post Register

Massachusetts: “House Proposal for Caucus Funding Left Out of Budget Bill – but Caucuses May Still Fundraise” by Shira Schoenberg for MassLive.com

Massachusetts: “Mayor Walsh Has an Effective Fund-Raising Firm; It Employs His Girlfriend” by Matt Stout for Boston Globe

New Jersey: “Dark Money Disclosure Bill Advanced to Gov. Phil Murphy’s Desk” by David Levinsky for Burlington County Times

Oregon: “Oregon Campaign Finance Reformers Focus On ‘Dark Money’” by Jeff Mapes for Oregon Public Broadcasting

Elections

Florida: “Florida Agreed to Let Felons Vote. Now Republicans Are Trying to Limit Who Is Eligible” by Amy Gardner for Washington Post

Ethics

National: “Barr’s Declaration on Trump Puts Justice Dept. Back in Political Crucible” by Charlie Savage, Mark Mazzetti, and Katie Benner (New York Times) for MSN

Maryland: “Ethics Committee Recommends Reprimand of Baltimore County Del. Jay Jalisi Over ‘Toxic’ Work Environment” by Pamela Wood and Luke Broadwater for Baltimore Sun

Redistricting

National: “High Court Questions Courts’ Role in Partisan Redistricting” by Mark Sherman for AP News

Campaign Finance

California: Donors to D.A. Jackie Lacey Included a Murder Suspect’s Parents and a Convicted Felon by Matt Hamilton and Harriet Myers for Los Angeles Times

Maryland: Baltimore Co. Council Approves Public Campaign Financing Measure by Alison Knezevich for Baltimore Sun

North Carolina: Ex-N Carolina Lawmaker Indicted in Campaign Finance Probe by Gary Robertson (Associated Press) for WRAL

Ethics

National: Mueller Sought Michael Cohen’s Emails Months Before FBI Raid, Warrants Show by Devlin Barrett, Matt Zapotosky, and Rosalind Helderman (Washington Post) for MSN

National: Steve King Posts Meme Warning That Red States Have ‘8 Trillion Bullets’ in Event of Civil War by Reis Thebault (Washington Post) for MSN

Georgia: Former Ralston Aide Takes Over as Georgia Ethics Director by Staff for AP News

Illinois: The Consummate Political Insider Linked to the Burgeoning City Hall Corruption Probe by Jason Meisner for Chicago Tribune

Lobbying

Kentucky: Former Lobbyist to Pay $15,000 Ethics Fine. He Was Already Convicted in Bribery Case. by Bill Estep for Lexington Herald-Leader

Redistricting

Virginia: Supreme Court Divided Over Virginia Redistricting Case and Question of Racial Discrimination by Robert Barnes for Washington Post

Ethics

National: “K Street Boosts Earnings Heading into Trump’s Third Year” by Alex Gangitano for The Hill

Pennsylvania: “Ex-PennDOT Exec Gets House Arrest for Soliciting and Accepting Bribes” by Sarah Cassi for lehighvalleylive.com

Utah: “Former Utah League of Cities and Towns Chief Charged with 7 Felonies for Theft, Misuse of Funds” by Lee Davidson for Salt Lake Tribune

Lobbying

National: “Indicted Russian Firm Cries Foul Over Skadden Arps Settlement” by Tim Ryan for Courthouse News Service

Canada: “Senate Lobbying Up 12 Percent in 2018, Sens. Grant Mitchell, Terry Mercer Lobbied Most” by Samantha Wright Allen for Hill Times

California: “Former California Lawmaker Registers as a Lobbyist After #MeToo Investigation” by Sophia Bollag for Sacramento Bee

Connecticut: “$97 Million of Influence: Lobbyists are fixtures at the Capitol, pushing their message amid rules on gifts, perks, receptions” by Josh Kovner for Hartford Courant

Florida: “Lawsuit Seeks to Nullify Beckham Stadium Resolution” by Brian Bandell for South Florida Business Journal

South Carolina: “After Ethics Snafu, SC Lawmakers Move to Change How They Accept Gifts from Public” by Avery Wilks for The State

South Dakota: “Lobbyist Files Suit Against South Dakota House Speaker” by Jonathan Ellis for Sioux Falls Argus Leader

Redistricting

Virginia: “Federal Judges Choose Va. Redistricting Map Favorable to Democrats; Six GOP House Districts Would Get Bluer” by Gregory Schneider for Washington Post

Campaign Finance

National: “Federal Judge Stops Enforcement of Maryland Election Law” by Edward Ericson Jr. for Courthouse News Service

Michigan: “Snyder Veto Spree Takes Down GOP Power Play Proposal, 40 Other Bills” by Jonathan Oosting for Detroit News

Pennsylvania: “Former Reading Official Sentenced to 18 Months in Bribery Case with Ties to Allentown Pay-to-Play Probe” by Peter Hall for Allentown Morning Call

Elections

National: “Secret Campaign to Use Russian-Inspired Tactics in 2017 Ala. Election Stirs Anxiety for Democrats” by Craig Timberg, Tony Romm, Aaron Davis, and Elizabeth Dwoskin (Washington Post) for Denver Post

Ethics

Oregon: “BOLI Finds ‘Substantial Evidence’ of Sexual Harassment at Oregon Capitol” by Ted Sickinger and Hillary Borrud for Portland Oregonian

Washington: “From Campaign Consultant to Lobbyist and Adviser: The firm that has Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan’s ear” by Daniel Beekman and Lewis Kamb for Seattle Times

Lobbying

California: “As Fires Ravaged California, Utilities Lobbied Lawmakers for Protection” by Ivan Penn (New York Times) for MSN

Redistricting

National: “Supreme Court to Hear Cases on Partisan Gerrymandering in Maryland, N. Carolina” by Robert Barnes (Washington Post) for Salt Lake Tribune

Campaign Finance

National: “Congress Unlikely to Stop Super PACs from Hiding Donors” by Maggie Severns for Politico

National: “Potential 2020 Candidates Confront the Need for Campaign Cash, and Fewer Sources of It” by Matt Viser for Washington Post

National: “Trump Effect: How out-of-state money fueled Democratic House wins in 2018” by Maureen Groppe and Christopher Schnarrs for USA Today

South Dakota: “Undisclosed Donors Gave $95K in SD Governor Race” by Seth Tupper for Rapid City Journal

Ethics

Connecticut: “Former Access Health CEO, State Contractor Pay to Settle Ethics Violation” by Clarice Silber for Connecticut Mirror

Delaware: “Former Delaware Lawmaker Melanie George Smith’s New Career Draws Complaints of Self-Dealing” by Scott Goss for Wilmington News Journal

Missouri: “Committee Investigating Eric Greitens Releases 2,100 Pages of Documents on New Year’s Eve” by Jack Suntrup and Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lobbying

Florida: “Lauren Book Proposes ‘Swearing In’ Legislative Speakers” by Jim Rosica for Florida Politics

Redistricting

New Jersey: “New Jersey Is the Latest Battleground in National Redistricting Fight” by Matt Freidman for Politico

Campaign Finance

National: “Jeb Bush Super-PAC Fined $200,000 for Campaign Finance Violation” by Ken Doyle for Bloomberg Government

New Jersey: “‘Dark Money’ Flows into NJ Politics and None of It Has to Be Accounted For” by Dustin Racioppi for Bergen Record

South Carolina: “Court Case Could Change How SC Statehouse Elections Are Funded” by Jamie Lovegrove for Charleston Post and Courier

Elections

National: “How to Influence Campaigns: Take inexperienced staffers, stir in a small amount of money, Democrats find” by Michael Scherer for Washington Post

Ethics

National: “Manafort Breached Plea Deal by Repeatedly Lying, Mueller Says” by Sharon LaFraniere (New York Times) for WRAL

National: “Trump Nominee Sunk by ‘Fat Leonard’ Corruption Scandal” by Craig Whitlock for Washington Post

New Jersey: “Bridgegate: Ex-Christie aides win appeal on one conviction, still guilty on two other counts” by Andrew Ford for Bergen Record

Lobbying

National: “Corporations Risking ‘Serious Corruption’ by Failing to Disclose Political Engagement, Researchers Say” by Chloe Taylor for CNBC

Redistricting

Maryland: “Hogan Names Panel to Redraw Maryland’s 6th District, Despite Frosh Appeal of Court Order to Fix Gerrymandering” by Michael Dresser for Baltimore Sun

Campaign Finance

National: “These Democrats Swore Off PACs. But Corporate Lobbyists Have a Plan” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call

National: “GOP Megadonor Miriam Adelson Is Winning a Medal. But Are Republicans Losing the Political Money War?” by Carrie Levine and Dave Levinthal for Center for Public Integrity

Michigan:”Republican Bill Would Shield Donors to ‘Dark Money’ Groups in Michigan” by Riley Biggins for Bridge Michigan

Elections

National: “Julian Assange Is Secretly Charged in U.S., Prosecutors Mistakenly Reveal” by Charlie Savage, Adam Goldman, and Michael Schmidt (New York Times) for WRAL

California: “San Diego Loosening Rules for Phone Polls and Phone Ads to Avoid Skewed Results” by David Garrick for San Diego Union Tribune

Georgia: “Stacey Abrams Ends Fight for Georgia Governor” by Alan Blinder and Richard Fausset (New York Times) for WRAL

Ethics

National: “Judge Hands CNN Victory in Its Bid to Restore Jim Acosta’s White House Press Pass” by Paul Farhi (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

Oklahoma: “Lobbyists Await Largest Number of Freshmen Lawmakers Since Statehood” by Janelle Stecklein for McAlester News Capital

Redistricting

Maryland: “Maryland Appeals Partisan Gerrymandering Decision to Supreme Court” by Ann Marimow and Erin Cox for Washington Post

Campaign Finance

Arizona: “Arizona Utility Regulators Ask Judge to Bar Colleague’s Investigation of Them” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for Arizona Daily Star

Michigan: “Bill Could Provide a Potential $92K Windfall for 2 Michigan Senators” by Paul Egan for Detroit Free Press

New York: “Sugarman Election Complaint Seeks $700K in NYSUT Penalties” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Elections

Florida: “Inside the Republican Strategy to Discredit the Florida Recount” by Jeremy Peters and Maggie Haberman for MSN

Ethics

Federal: “Justice Dept. Defends Legality of Trump’s Appointment of Acting Attorney General” by Charlie Savage for New York Times

Lobbying

Federal: “A Fugitive Financier’s Charm Offensive Has P.R. Firms Proceeding with Caution” by Matthew Goldstein and Kenneth Vogel for New York Times

Canada: “Sask. eHealth Exec Got Free PGA Golf Trip from Vendor Doing Business with Province” by Geoff Leo for CBC

California: “SoccerCity Document Leak by San Diego Councilman Prompts Tougher Restrictions” by David Garrick for San Diego Union Tribune

Redistricting

Virginia: “U.S. Supreme Court to Take Up Virginia Redistricting Case on Racial Gerrymandering” by Gregory Schneider and Robert Barnes for Washington Post

Campaign Finance

Arizona: “Arizona Voters OK Public Campaign Finance Change” by the Associated Press for Arizona Daily Star

New York: “NYC Charter Amendments Win Approval from Voters” by Noah Manskar for New York City Patch

Oregon: “Portland Voters Pass Campaign Finance Limits” by Amelia Templeton for Oregon Public Broadcasting

Elections

National: “Democrats Oust Walker in Wisconsin and Kobach in Kansas but Fall Short in Florida and Ohio” by Adam Nagourney, Sydney Ember, and Patricia Mazzei (New York Times) for WRAL

National: “Three Candidates Indicted on Felony Fraud Charges Survive Midterms. One Just Barely.” by Meagan Flynn for Washington Post

National: “Midterm Elections: Democrats flip House as GOP expands Senate majority” by David Fahrenthold, Isaac Stanley-Becker, and Elise Viebeck for Washington Post

Ethics

National: “Sessions’s Ouster Throws Future of Special Counsel Probe into Question” by Rosalind Helderman, Matt Zapotosky, and Carol Leonnig for Washington Post

Missouri: “Amendment 1: Voters strongly support Clean Missouri redistricting plan, ethics reform” by David Reynolds, Thomas Oide, and Tessa Weinberg for Columbia Missourian

New Mexico: “New Mexico Voters OK Ethics Commission” by Associated Press for KRWG

North Dakota: “Aimed at Combating Corruption, North Dakota Voters Pass Measure 1” by Tu-Uyen Tran for Dickinson Press

Legislative Issues

Utah: “Voters Favor Proposed Constitutional Amendment Empowering Lawmakers to Call Themselves into Special Session” by Dan Harrie for Salt Lake Tribune

Redistricting

National: “Anti-Gerrymandering Reforms Sweep the Nation Tuesday” by Shawn Griffiths for IVN

Campaign Finance

Kentucky: “Kentucky Officials Seek Changes in Campaign-Finance Laws” by Adam Beam (Associated Press) for Huntington Herald-Dispatch

Montana: “How Big Sky Country Became the Front Line in a Long Battle Over Dark Money” by Christa Case Bryant for Yahoo!News

New Jersey: “Baraka, Ex-Campaign Treasurer Still Face Campaign Finance Accusations” by Rebecca Panico for TAPinto.net

Elections

National: “‘Staying on the Sidelines Is No Longer an Option’: How Silicon Valley is trying to help Democrats capture Congress in 2018” by Tony Romm for Washington Post

Ethics

Florida: “Former City Manager Rick Fernandez Agrees to Settlement with Ethics Commission” by Jeff Burlew for Tallahassee Democrat

Legislative Issues

Wisconsin: “Last-Minute Surprises and Secretive Moves Hide Wisconsin Lawmakers’ Actions from Public View” by CV Vitolo-Haddad and Dee Hall (Wisconsin Center For Investigative Journalism) for Wisconsin Public Radio

Lobbying

Arizona: “Arizona Commissioner Andy Tobin Texted APS Lobbyists Frequently, Including About Open Rate Case” by David Pomerantz for Energy Policy Institute

Redistricting

Michigan: “Volunteer Movement Helped Carry Redistricting Proposal to the Ballot” by Lauren Gibbons for MLive.com

Federal judges have appointed a University of California political science professor, Bernard Grofman, to redraw House of Delegates congressional maps.

In June, the court ordered lawmakers to redraw lines to address racial gerrymandering by the end of October.

The General Assembly was not able to agree on a legislative solution and Gov. Northam promised to veto any redistricting bills sent to his desk.

The court will hold another conference to schedule the process but has indicated a new map will be enacted by March 28, 2019.

Pictured: University of California professor Bernard Grofman

Campaign Finance

National: “Wall Street Is Booming Under Trump. But Many of Its Donors Are Embracing Democrats.” by Shane Goldmacher for New York Times

Elections

National: “‘We Are Here!’ From a Blue Dot in a Sea of Red Comes a Hopeful Pitch for a Politician’s Visit.” by Stephanie McCrummon for Washington Post

National: “Taylor Swift’s Stunning Statement: Famously apolitical star slams Tennessee Republican, endorses Democrats” by Emily Yahr for Washington Post

Ethics

National: “Trump Team’s Contact with Mueller Targets Could Taint Findings” by Darren Samuelsohn for Politico

Missouri: “Is Clean Missouri’s Redistricting Proposal Fixing Problem or Power Grab?” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

North Carolina: “Prosecutor Asks SBI to Review Allegations Raised About House Speaker Moore” by Dan Kane for Raleigh News and Observer

Redistricting

Virginia: “Virginia Redistricting Appears Headed to Courts as GOP Cancels Hearing” by Marie Algebis for The Virginian-Pilot