April 27, 2022 •
New York Court Postpones Primaries
The New York State Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court, issued a ruling invalidating the state’s new congressional and state senate districts due to gerrymandering. The ruling will result in the congressional and state senate district primaries being moved […]
The New York State Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court, issued a ruling invalidating the state’s new congressional and state senate districts due to gerrymandering.
The ruling will result in the congressional and state senate district primaries being moved from June to August.
It is unclear whether the primaries for governor and state Assembly will also be postponed.
Campaign finance reporting deadlines associated with the postponed primaries will be shifted accordingly.
January 14, 2022 •
Ohio Supreme Court Strikes Down House and Senate District Maps
In a 4-3 decision issued on January 12, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled the state House and Senate district maps drawn by Ohio Redistricting Commission are unconstitutional gerrymandering, giving Republicans a 62-37 advantage in the House and 23-10 advantage in […]
In a 4-3 decision issued on January 12, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled the state House and Senate district maps drawn by Ohio Redistricting Commission are unconstitutional gerrymandering, giving Republicans a 62-37 advantage in the House and 23-10 advantage in the Senate.
The court ordered the Ohio Redistricting Commission, which is dominated by Republicans, to draw new maps in compliance with Article XI, Section 6 of the Ohio Constitution.
The new plan must be adopted within 10 days and the Ohio Supreme Court retains its authority to review any rewrites.
The decision was based in part on the fact that Ohio voters overwhelmingly approved changes to the state constitution to limit partisan line-drawing in 2015.
November 21, 2019 •
North Carolina Legislature Adjourns
The North Carolina General Assembly adjourned after finalizing a replacement map for congressional districts. Legislators extended the legislative session to redraw the map due to state judges blocking lines drawn in 2016 from being used next year. The session was […]
The North Carolina General Assembly adjourned after finalizing a replacement map for congressional districts.
Legislators extended the legislative session to redraw the map due to state judges blocking lines drawn in 2016 from being used next year.
The session was one of the longest legislative sessions in recent history due to the redistricting lawsuit and a fight over the budget.
November 19, 2019 •
North Carolina Lawmakers Redraw State’s Congressional Map
A replacement map for North Carolina’s congressional districts was finalized with new lines drawn to address alleged extreme partisan bias. The map was redrawn after state judges blocked lines drawn in 2016 from being used next year. The judges ruled […]
A replacement map for North Carolina’s congressional districts was finalized with new lines drawn to address alleged extreme partisan bias.
The map was redrawn after state judges blocked lines drawn in 2016 from being used next year.
The judges ruled there was enough evidence of partisan gerrymandering to make it likely that the 2016 map violated the state constitution.
The voters whose legal challenge led to the new map went to court immediately to oppose the newly drawn map.
However, the North Carolina Supreme Court refused to fast-track the redistricting appeal.
Without a bypass to the state Supreme Court, any appeal would have resulted in a lengthy process that would likely not have been resolved until the 2020 elections were over, making a ruling largely moot.
May 6, 2019 •
Federal Judges Rule Ohio Congressional Map Unconstitutional
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 […]
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.
March 11, 2019 •
NYCU Video Digest – March 11, 2019
Keeping track of changes to federal and state ethics and campaign finance laws is tough. Here are four stories you don’t want to miss from last week about changes happening all across the country!
Keeping track of changes to federal and state ethics and campaign finance laws is tough. Here are four stories you don’t want to miss from last week about changes happening all across the country!
March 8, 2019 •
US House Passes HR 1, For the People Act of 2019
On March 8, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a sweeping campaign finance, lobbying, ethics, and election gerrymandering reform bill. Introduced by Rep. John Sarbanes, House Bill 1, the For the People Act of 2019, requires any organization involved in […]
On March 8, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a sweeping campaign finance, lobbying, ethics, and election gerrymandering reform bill.
Introduced by Rep. John Sarbanes, House Bill 1, the For the People Act of 2019, requires any organization involved in political activity to disclose its largest donors, creates a multiple matching system for small donations for political campaigns, and amends rules governing super PACs.
Additionally, the bill restructures the Federal Election Commission, amends the federal conflict of interest law, and expands the revolving door provision by prohibiting Members of Congress from serving on corporate boards.
If enacted, the bill also requires presidential candidates to disclose their tax returns, prohibits partisan gerrymandering, increases oversight over election vendors, creates an automatic voter registration across the country, and changes registration requirements for lobbyists and foreign agents.
August 20, 2018 •
Virginia Governor Calls Special Session to Redraw Districts
Gov. Ralph Northam signed a proclamation calling Virginia lawmakers into a special session on August 30. The purpose of the special session is to redraw districts of the House of Delegates. A U.S. District Court ruled on June 26 that […]
Gov. Ralph Northam signed a proclamation calling Virginia lawmakers into a special session on August 30.
The purpose of the special session is to redraw districts of the House of Delegates.
A U.S. District Court ruled on June 26 that House of Delegates districts were racially gerrymandered to concentrate black voters.
The court ordered new boundaries to be drawn by October 30 for use in next year’s elections.
December 12, 2017 •
Tuesday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup
Lobbying Canada: “Ethics, Lobbying Commissioners Can Work More Closely Together: Nominee” by Beatrice Britneff for iPolitics.ca Kentucky: “Law Which Prohibits Legislators Accepting ‘Anything of Value’ from Lobbyists Has Been Ruled Unconstitutional by U.S. District Court Judge” by Don Weber for […]
Lobbying
Canada: “Ethics, Lobbying Commissioners Can Work More Closely Together: Nominee” by Beatrice Britneff for iPolitics.ca
Kentucky: “Law Which Prohibits Legislators Accepting ‘Anything of Value’ from Lobbyists Has Been Ruled Unconstitutional by U.S. District Court Judge” by Don Weber for Spectrum News
Campaign Finance
“State Lawmakers Blur Line Between Public, Personal Interests” by Ryan Foley (Associated Press) and Liz Essley Whyte for Center for Public Integrity
“Aide to U.S. Rep. Bob Brady Pleads Guilty in Probe of Payoff to 2012 Campaign Rival” by Jeremy Roebuck for Philadelphia Inquirer
Pennsylvania: “Sands Shareholder Challenging Pennsylvania’s Ban on Casino Industry Political Giving” by Peter Hall and Steve Esack for Allentown Morning Call
Ethics
Alabama: “Birmingham Water Works Chair, Others Charged on Corruption Probe” by John Archibald for AL.com
California: “Matt Dababneh Will Resign from California Assembly After Sex Assault Allegation” by Alexei Koseff for Sacramento Bee
Florida: “Flagler Prevails in Fight over ‘Malicious’ Ethics Complaints” by Matt Bruce for Daytona Beach News-Journal
Michigan: “Chuck Rizzo Sr. Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud Conspiracy in Macomb Trash-Hauling Probe” by Tresa Baldas and Ann Zaniewski for Detroit Free Press
Wisconsin: “John Doe Judge to Step Down Because of Tweets He Posted About the Case” by Patrick Marley and Jason Stein for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Elections
“For Trump Adviser at Center of Russia Probe, a Rapid Rise and Dramatic Fall in His Ancestral Land” by Griff White for Washington Post
Redistricting
“Supreme Court Will Take Up a Second Gerrymandering Case This Term” by Robert Barnes for Washington Post
August 4, 2017 •
No Special Elections for Redrawn North Carolina Districts
A panel of three federal judges ordered North Carolina lawmakers to draw new maps to eliminate racially gerrymandered districts by September 1, 2017. The judges also rejected a request for special elections to be held in March 2018 for redrawn […]
A panel of three federal judges ordered North Carolina lawmakers to draw new maps to eliminate racially gerrymandered districts by September 1, 2017.
The judges also rejected a request for special elections to be held in March 2018 for redrawn districts.
The next legislative elections will take place as regularly scheduled in November 2018.
June 8, 2017 •
Special Concurrent Session Called in North Carolina
On June 7, Gov. Roy Cooper called a 14-day special session for North Carolina lawmakers to redraw district voting maps. The session begins June 8 and will run concurrently with the regular session. The special concurrent session comes after the […]
On June 7, Gov. Roy Cooper called a 14-day special session for North Carolina lawmakers to redraw district voting maps.
The session begins June 8 and will run concurrently with the regular session.
The special concurrent session comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 28 districts unconstitutional due to racial gerrymandering.
June 6, 2017 •
Supreme Court Rules North Carolina Districts Racially Gerrymandered; Remedial Special Election Vacated
On June 5, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed a lower court ruling that 28 state House and Senate Districts in North Carolina were racially gerrymandered, while also vacating the lower court’s order for a special election in 2017 for one-year […]
On June 5, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed a lower court ruling that 28 state House and Senate Districts in North Carolina were racially gerrymandered, while also vacating the lower court’s order for a special election in 2017 for one-year terms to address the issue.
The court ruled that the special election remedy was not properly analyzed by the lower court. The matter has been returned to the lower court, which could call another special election or order new districts in time for the regular cycle of elections in 2018.
The Supreme Court’s decision comes just two weeks after the court found two of the state’s U.S. Congressional districts to also be racially gerrymandered.
December 1, 2016 •
Court Orders 2017 Special Election for NC General Assembly Seats
A federal appeals court ruled North Carolina must hold special elections in November 2017 for General Assembly seats in unconstitutionally gerrymandered districts. The Legislature will need to redraw districts by mid-March, and legislators recently elected from the affected districts will […]
A federal appeals court ruled North Carolina must hold special elections in November 2017 for General Assembly seats in unconstitutionally gerrymandered districts. The Legislature will need to redraw districts by mid-March, and legislators recently elected from the affected districts will have their terms shortened to one year from the usual two-year term.
Earlier this year, the court ruled the affected 28 districts unconstitutional, but allowed the 2016 election to continue under the old maps. This new order settles the issue of whether the new districts would take effect for the regular 2018 election or if a special election would be necessary.
June 8, 2016 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Campaign Finance “FEC Republicans Explain Dropping Gingrich, Murray Cases” by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg BNA California: “Ex-California Lawmaker Tom Calderon Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering” by David Siders and Alexei Koseff for Sacramento Bee Florida: “Florida AG Asked Trump for […]
Campaign Finance
“FEC Republicans Explain Dropping Gingrich, Murray Cases” by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg BNA
California: “Ex-California Lawmaker Tom Calderon Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering” by David Siders and Alexei Koseff for Sacramento Bee
Florida: “Florida AG Asked Trump for Donation before Nixing Fraud Case” by Jeff Horwitz, Gary Fineout, and Michael Biesecker for The Associated Press
Missouri: “On the Trail: St. Louis aldermen will take another look at campaign contribution limits” by Jason Rosenbaum for St. Louis Public Radio
Ethics
Pennsylvania: “Kathleen Kane’s Administration Hit with Discrimination Complaint from Her Twin Sister” by Steve Esack for Allentown Morning Call
Elections
“Exclusive: Trump’s 3,500 lawsuits unprecedented for a presidential nominee” by Nick Penzenstadler and Susan Page for USA Today
“Clinton Celebrates Victory, Declaring: ‘We’ve reached a milestone’” by Anne Gearan, Robert Costa, and John Wagner for Washington Post
Virginia: “Supreme Court Will Weigh in On Whether Va. Districts Are Racially Gerrymandered” by Robert Barnes and Laura Vozzella for Washington Post
Legislative Issues
Rhode Island: “RI Assembly Reworks ‘Community-Service’ Grants Program” by Katherine Gregg for Providence Journal
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