Good morning, it’s Thursday, July 18, 2024. In today’s edition, states crack down on faithless electors; Massachusetts Dems reach gun control deal; New Mexico lawmakers return for special session:
Top Stories
ELECTIONS: Lawmakers in four states this year have approved new bills requiring members of the electoral college to remain faithful to the candidates they pledged to vote for, part of a national effort to bring order to the arcane processes that follow a presidential election.
Illinois, Colorado, Tennessee and Virginia adopted or amended laws that require electors to sign a pledge that they will vote for their party’s presidential nominees. Submitting a vote in violation of that pledge would be considered an effective resignation, subject to immediate replacement by another elector. At least 13 states have passed similar model bills in recent years.
The irony: The founders created the electoral college as an independent body, a group of people “most capable of analyzing the qualities adapted to the station” of president, as Alexander Hamilton wrote in the 68th essay of the Federalist Papers. But faithless elector laws are here to stay: The Supreme Court unanimously upheld their constitutionality in 2020. Read more at Pluribus News.
GUN POLITICS: Massachusetts lawmakers have reached a deal on gun control legislation that would regulate so-called ghost guns, expand the state’s “red flag” laws and bar people from carrying firearms in polling places and schools. The measure will require all firearm components to carry serial numbers. (Boston Globe)
MORE: The Third Circuit Court of Appeals has rejected a request for an injunction against Delaware’s ban on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines. The same group of gun rights supporters is also challenging the state’s permit-to-purchase law and a ban on anyone under 21 owning a firearm. (Delaware Public Media)
ABORTION: Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) has asked the state Supreme Court to allow his administration to join a legal challenge against the state’s 1849 abortion ban. A lower court ruled last year that the 1849 law does not apply to abortion. (Wisconsin Examiner)
CRIMINAL JUSTICE: New Mexico lawmakers return to special session today to consider bills cracking down on organized crime and increasing penalties for selling fentanyl. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s (D) office says she is looking for a Republican sponsor of a bill to strengthen Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization laws during the special session. (Source NM)
HOUSING: Colorado officials are awarding almost $40 million to build 600 subsidized housing units in Denver, Fort Collins and three other cities. The money comes from funding through Proposition 123, a voter-approved fund that will eventually spend about $300 million annually on housing projects. (Denver Post)
In Politics & Business
NEVADA: A federal judge has dismissed a Republican lawsuit aiming to bar Nevada from counting ballots received after Election Day. State law allows ballots postmarked by Election Day and received before 5 p.m. on the fourth day afterwards to be counted. (Associated Press)
ILLINOIS: Delegates to the Republican National Convention are floating names of potential gubernatorial candidates for 2026. Among the names bandied about: U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R), RNC committee member Richard Porter, state Sen. Darren Bailey (R) and former lieutenant governor candidate Aaron Del Mar. (Chicago Tribune)
TEXAS: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) has created a new special Senate committee on hurricane and tropical storm preparedness. The committee will review utility companies and their response to Hurricane Beryl, which left millions without power for several days. (KXAN)
By The Numbers
$10.3 billion: The amount Denver received in tourism revenue in 2023, the first time visitors eclipsed the $10 billion mark. About 37.4 million people visited Denver last year, a 3% increase over the year prior. (Denver Post)
$250,000: The amount Multnomah County, Ore., paid to a consulting firm to produce a new seven-sentence declaration of its mission and values. (Oregonian)
Off The Wall
A new generation of Barbie dolls can shoot, and serve, and kick: Mattel has rolled out a line of Roll Model Barbies honoring WNBA legend Sue Bird, tennis ace Venus Williams and soccer star Christine Sinclair, among other athletes. Bird called it “kind of a surreal moment” to be honored with a doll. (New Haven Register)
A New York City Council member has been charged with biting a police officer during a protest over the construction of a homeless shelter in her district. Council member Susan Zhuang (D) was released without bond after being arraigned on felony assault charges. (Associated Press)
Quote of the Day
“I found a good woman. So, Nikoe Pulley, if you’re out there, will you marry me?”
— Michael Ogle (R), a candidate running for an open congressional seat in Kansas, proposing in the middle of a debate with his opponents. She said yes. (Kansas Reflector)