On March 2, New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez signed HB 138. It lets 17-year-olds vote in primaries for all office if they will be age 18 by the general election. There are now 16 states that permit this for all office, and 22 who permit it for president. See this Ballotpedia list.Source: New Mexico Governor Signs Bill Letting 17-Year-Olds Vote...
The Federal Election Commission’s job is hard, harder than many will admit, but the agency somehow manages to make it even harder. So now, five years after the fact, the FEC has decided not to investigate a donor’s alleged use of an LLC to mask a $1 million contribution to a Super PAC.Source: The FEC and the Case of the...
Troy Jackson introduced Sen. Bernie Sanders to a crowd of over 8,000 people in Portland, Maine last July. It was the “summer of Sanders.” As the candidate took the stage, he said solemnly to the exuberant crowd, “In case you didn’t notice, this is a big turnout.”Source: The battle for superdelegates — this time, it’s not about the money...
Donald Trump is taking steps to shape the Republican National Committee's fundraising operation if he secures the GOP presidential nomination, holding initial talks with longtime party fundraiser Ray Washburne about leading the effort.Source: Trump considering former top Christie money man to help lead party fundraising...
Under Fifth Circuit Local Rule 41.3, the court’s order filed yesterday directing this case be reheard en banc with oral argument vacates the previous opinion and judgment of this court and stays the mandate.Source: Texas Voter ID En Banc 5th Circuit Argument Week of May 23...
Jim Bennett writes a weekly column offering historical context to current events. Bennett served as Secretary of State of Alabama from 1993 – 2003 and from 2013 – 2015. He was a reporter for the Birmingham Post-Herald from 1961 to 1971. He can be reached at: [email protected]: Why do we vote on Tuesdays? And why do states pay for primaries?...
Stanford political scientist Morris Fiorina says the current party nominee process system puts a premium on campaign skills and fund-raising, not a demonstrated capacity to govern. A brokered convention would give the party a chance to consider alternative candidates.Source: Stanford expert says brokered Republican convention could be 'gigantic mess,' but not a bad idea...
February was—as GOP front-runner Donald Trump would say—absolutely yuuuge for presidential politics thanks to several state primaries and caucuses.Source: Why Facebook Could Be Bernie Sanders' Secret Weapon in Battling Hillary Clinton...
After tearing through Michigan and Mississippi Tuesday night, Donald Trump extolled the virtues of a Republican majority on Capitol Hill. It’s important “that our senators and that our congressmen get reelected,” he said. GOP donors agree.Source: GOP lobbyists ignore Trump, turn to keeping Congress...
The nation will have to wait for a court’s consideration of whether or not U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is a “natural born” citizen, and thus eligible to serve as president.Source: Challenge to Cruz’s ‘natural born’ status dismissed due to blown deadlines...
