Good morning, it’s Wednesday, July 23, 2025. In today’s edition, lawmaker conferences boost security; Texas GOP prepares redistricting plans; U.S. Rep. Lawler won’t run for New York governor:
Top Stories
SECURITY: Conventions aimed at state legislators are boosting security this summer after the attacks on two lawmakers in Minnesota. The Council of State Governments’ Southern Legislative Conference this weekend featured noticeably tighter security, while the National Conference of State Legislatures says it has added security to its Legislative Summit in Boston next month. (Pluribus News)
REDISTRICTING: Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) and House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R) have established select committees on redistricting. Texas Republicans are aiming to pick up at least five Democratic-held seats in an effort to maintain control of the U.S. House in the midterm elections. (KXAN) Democrats have threatened to walk out to deny the GOP a quorum over the redistricting plan. (KXAN)
MARIJUANA: The Texas Senate State Affairs Committee heard testimony Tuesday on legislation to ban hemp-derived THC products, nearly identical to the measure Gov. Greg Abbott (R) vetoed last month. Abbott has called for increased regulations on those products, but he said in his veto message that a full ban would face legal challenges. (KXAN)
SOCIAL MEDIA: New York Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D) has introduced legislation to require social media companies to allow users to turn off algorithms that control the content they see. A second Gounardes bill would require social media platforms to display a warning label. (State of Politics)
IMMIGRATION: The North Carolina legislature will return to Raleigh on July 29 to attempt to override 14 vetoes signed by Gov. Josh Stein (D). Among the vetoed bills: One Senate measure to require law enforcement agencies to cooperate with federal authorities, and one House measure mandating law enforcement notify ICE before an undocumented immigrant is scheduled to be released from custody. (Carolina Journal)
MORE: A U.S. Appeals court has struck down a New Jersey law that bans operators from cooperating with federal officials to operate immigration detention centers. The ruling, a victory for the Trump administration, applies to a CoreCivic Corp. facility in Elizabeth. (Associated Press)
PUBLIC HEALTH: Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) has signed legislation requiring the state to increase the number of birth centers and to enhance payments to doulas. Lamont also signed legislation to examine the availability of perinatal mental health services to identify gaps in care. (New Haven Register)
In Politics & Business
KANSAS: State Sen. Ethan Corson (D) has filed papers to run for governor in 2026. He joins Sen. Cindy Holscher (D) in the Democratic primary. Lt. Gov. David Toland (D) said he would not run to replace outgoing Gov. Laura Kelly (D) next year. (Kansas City Star)
NEW YORK: U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler (R) will not run for governor in 2026 after months of consideration, he said Wednesday. His exit clears the way for U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R), who said she plans to make a formal announcement about a run after November. (New York Post)
VIRGINIA: A legislative panel held a hearing Tuesday to consider switching statewide elections to even years. Virginia is one of two states, along with New Jersey, that holds gubernatorial elections the year after a presidential contest. Changing that would require a constitutional amendment voters would have to ratify. (WVTF)
CRIME BLOTTER: Former Colorado Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis (D) has been charged with attempting to influence a public servant, a felony charge. Court records show Jaquez Lewis allegedly attempted to influence someone — it’s not clear whom — before she resigned from the legislature on Feb. 18 in the midst of an ethics investigation. (Colorado Sun)
By The Numbers
14%: The share of Americans who own cryptocurrency, according to a new Gallup survey. Younger men (25%), college graduates (19%), wealthier Americans (19%) and conservatives (18%) are most likely to say they own crypto. (Gallup)
1863: The last time a mayor of Manchester, N.H., ran for re-election without opposition. Incumbent Mayor Jay Ruais (R) is the only candidate in the race ahead of Friday’s filing deadline. (WMUR)
6: The number of state capitals — Carson City, Sacramento, Olympia, Salem, Juneau and Honolulu — that lie west of Los Angeles. (Nevada Independent)
Thank us at your next trivia night.
Off The Wall
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) is reversing course on a proposed pedestrian walkway in front of the capitol building after 94% of participants in a survey he conducted said they opposed the idea. Polis, who initially proposed the walkway, said he will chain himself to the Capitol Plaza to stop its construction. (Colorado Sun)
Dozens of peacocks and peahens that wander the grounds of a Walnut Grove, Calif., hotel are missing, and hotel staff worry the animals have been stolen. Authorities are investigating the case as a property crime. (Associated Press)
Quote of the Day
“The top of his head has no gold left on it from all of the birds.”
— Mike Sliwinski, a field superintendent for Hoffman Construction, the company tasked with sprucing up Gold Man, the 23-foot tall statue that stands atop Oregon’s Capitol Building. Gold Man is getting a new layer of gold plating after 25 years of wear, tear, and, yes, bird poop. (Oregonian)