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Alaska Governor's Race Shifts to 'Toss Up' Due to Republican Disunity and Ranked-Choice Voting

Alaska Governor's Race Shifts to 'Toss Up' Due to Republican Disunity and Ranked-Choice Voting

The election-forecasting website Sabato’s Crystal Ball has reclassified Alaska's gubernatorial race from 'Likely Republican' to 'Toss Up.' This significant shift occurred three days after the certification of the state’s primary election. The race now features Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins against Republicans Bernadette Wilson, Dave Bronson, and Candice English. A primary factor cited for this change is Alaska's ranked-choice ballot system, which many Republicans oppose. The Crystal Ball site suggests that 'ballot exhaustion,' where supporters of Republican candidates do not rank other candidates, threatens Republican chances. Additionally, the website notes that the top three primary vote-getters—Kreiss-Tomkins, Wilson, and Bronson—are not proven statewide contenders in a general election, and English is even less known. The last Democrat elected governor in Alaska was Tony Knowles in 1998.

Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh Requests Response from Michigan Officials in Ballot Proposal Case

Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh Requests Response from Michigan Officials in Ballot Proposal Case

Associate Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh has requested a response from Michigan officials by noon Wednesday regarding an emergency application filed by Americans for Citizen Voting — Michigan. This group, along with Michigan voter Fred Smith, is seeking a Supreme Court order to place a measure requiring proof of citizenship to vote on the November ballot. The application was submitted to Justice Kavanaugh, who handles such requests from the Michigan region. The state's ballots are expected to be finalized around Friday, and the group claims Michigan's Democratic Secretary of State, Jocelyn Benson, has not specified a 'drop dead date' for finalization. The measure is currently not slated for the ballot due to a deadlock among state officials over signature sufficiency. The applicants previously sought relief from the Michigan Supreme Court, which they contend effectively denied their request by not acting on it, leading them to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. They argue that their due process and equal protec...

Federal judge considers whether to extend ban against US Postal Service mail voting changes

Federal judge considers whether to extend ban against US Postal Service mail voting changes

A federal judge is hearing arguments on whether to extend a prohibition against the U.S. Postal Service implementing President Donald Trump's executive order that restricts mail voting during the midterms

Federal Judge Considers Extending Ban on U.S. Postal Service Mail Voting Changes

Federal Judge Considers Extending Ban on U.S. Postal Service Mail Voting Changes

U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani is deliberating whether to extend her prohibition on the U.S. Postal Service's (USPS) proposed regulation of mail ballots. This effort stems from an executive order by President Trump. The hearing occurred just before the first state began sending mail ballots to voters for the midterm elections. Judge Talwani expressed concern that the USPS had not provided clear information on how it would implement the plan, stating, 'I have nothing from the USPS about how this will happen.' The administration's plan requires states to upload voter lists to an online portal and adhere to a uniform envelope style, with the USPS potentially refusing to deliver ballots that do not comply. Election officials have stated that complying with these directives would necessitate a complete overhaul of their operations, and the online portal was not active this week.

ACLJ Files Amicus Brief at Supreme Court to Defend Arizona's Voter ID and Citizenship Verification Laws

ACLJ Files Amicus Brief at Supreme Court to Defend Arizona's Voter ID and Citizenship Verification Laws

The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) has filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court, urging it to reverse a Ninth Circuit ruling that impacts Arizona's voter registration requirements. The case, Republican National Committee v. Mi Familia Vota, centers on Arizona's mandate for voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship and its process for confirming and canceling registrations of self-identified noncitizens. The Ninth Circuit previously ruled that the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) preempts these Arizona requirements. The ACLJ argues that this ruling undermines Arizona's ability to maintain accurate voter rolls and ensure election integrity by making it harder to verify voter eligibility. The organization asserts that confirming a voter's citizenship is a fundamental check for trustworthy elections and that the NVRA was intended to facilitate voter registration while allowing states to keep their rolls secure, not to force states to accept registrations without reliable eligibil...

Indiana Supreme Court Halts Ballot Distribution Amidst Tight Senate Primary Recount

Indiana Supreme Court Halts Ballot Distribution Amidst Tight Senate Primary Recount

The Indiana Supreme Court has issued an order to halt the distribution of general election ballots in six counties. This decision comes as the court considers legal arguments surrounding a Republican primary recount for Indiana State Senate District 23. The recount initially showed challenger Paula Copenhaver defeating incumbent State Senator Spencer Deery by a narrow three-vote margin. Deery, a first-term senator, had initially held a three-vote lead after the May primary. However, the Indiana Recount Commission later flipped the outcome in favor of Copenhaver, who had the endorsement of President Trump. Deery's appeal to the Supreme Court centers on six ballots cast for him that were reportedly tossed due to missing signatures, which his attorneys argue were the result of election worker omissions rather than voter error. Copenhaver's legal team contends that Deery has not provided sufficient evidence for this claim and that it is too late for judicial intervention, given the August 21 certification dead...

Washington State Faces Surge in Uncounted Late Ballots Amidst Federal Mail-in Ballot Disputes

Washington State Faces Surge in Uncounted Late Ballots Amidst Federal Mail-in Ballot Disputes

Washington State experienced a significant increase in uncounted late ballots during its recent primary election, with over 20,000 ballots rejected due to late arrival, a 32% jump from 2024. This issue is attributed to changes in U.S. Postal Service (USPS) policies, including a rule stating that a mailpiece's postmark date does not necessarily align with the date of acceptance. Election officials, including Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs and U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, have raised concerns that reduced service and distant processing centers are causing delays, particularly impacting rural counties where ballot drop box access is limited. These officials are urging voters to use drop boxes or mail ballots at least a week before Election Day. The state is also engaged in litigation with the Trump administration over its mail-in ballot system, with the administration seeking tighter federal control through the Postal Service. A federal judge has temporarily blocked these federal moves, but the cas...

Alaska Primary Election Results Suggest Continued Coalition Majorities in State Legislature for 2027

Alaska Primary Election Results Suggest Continued Coalition Majorities in State Legislature for 2027

Final results from Alaska's August primary election indicate a strong likelihood that existing coalition majorities in both the state House and Senate will continue into 2027, with potential for growth. Alaska is unique as the only U.S. state where both legislative chambers are controlled by coalitions comprising Democrats, independents, and Republicans, necessitating bipartisan negotiation. In the certified primary results, coalition-leaning candidates led in 24 of 40 state House races. The current House coalition includes 21 lawmakers. In the state Senate, where 10 of 20 seats are up for election, coalition members or inclined candidates are leading in seven races, with seven other coalition members not up for re-election this year. This trend suggests a continuation of the current legislative dynamics.

City of Honolulu Admits Ineligible Voters Cast Ballots in Tied Makakilo Primary Race

City of Honolulu Admits Ineligible Voters Cast Ballots in Tied Makakilo Primary Race

The City of Honolulu has acknowledged that two ineligible voters cast ballots in the Makakilo District primary election, which resulted in a tie between incumbent Kanani Souza and challenger Sheila Medeiros. The error occurred at Kapolei Hale, where two walk-in voters from Ewa Beach were mistakenly issued ballots for Makakilo. The primary race, a winner-take-all contest, concluded in a perfect tie. The tie was initially resolved through an improvised drawing, which Medeiros won. However, Souza is now challenging this resolution, as well as the proper counting of votes, particularly in light of the two extra ballots. The Hawaii Supreme Court is scheduled to hear evidence and arguments regarding this challenge. HNN political analyst Colin Moore described the situation as 'bizarre' due to the unusual circumstances of a perfect tie and the participation of ineligible voters.

Trump to campaign against 'phony' in Alaska as Senate race looks tight

Trump to campaign against 'phony' in Alaska as Senate race looks tight

Democrats are eying Alaska as a prime pickup opportunity as they seek to win control of the Senate.

Democrats Consolidate Support Behind Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins in Alaska Governor's Race

Democrats Consolidate Support Behind Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins in Alaska Governor's Race

Democrat Tom Begich has withdrawn from the Alaska governor's race, endorsing fellow Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins. This decision aims to unite the Democratic vote behind a single candidate in the upcoming November general election. Begich, who finished just behind Kreiss-Tomkins in the August 18 primary, stated that after reviewing internal data and data from Kreiss-Tomkins' campaign, consolidating resources behind one candidate offers the strongest path to victory. The move leaves Kreiss-Tomkins as the sole Democrat on the ballot, a strategic effort by the party to flip the governor's seat, which has not been held by a Democrat in nearly 25 years. The Alaska election system allows the top four finishers, regardless of party affiliation, to advance to a ranked-choice general election.

Will SCOTUS stop Trump's mail ballot scheme? I asked judges. | Opinion

Will SCOTUS stop Trump's mail ballot scheme? I asked judges. | Opinion

The battle over mail-in ballots is being waged in U.S. courts, including the Supreme Court. I asked three judges if they think Trump will succeed.