Good morning, it’s Tuesday, June 24, 2025. In today’s edition, New York to open new nuke plant; Mamdani, Cuomo neck and neck as voters cast primary ballots; Wisconsin backs first-of-its-kind gig economy bill:
Top Stories
ENERGY: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said her state will develop and construct a new advanced nuclear power plant, the first since 1989. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed a measure providing $350 million to develop nuclear power in his state, and another bill to promote a nuclear workforce. (Pluribus News)
GIG ECONOMY: Wisconsin lawmakers have approved legislation allowing gig workers to be eligible for incentives and benefits. The bill expands portable benefits to cover delivery drivers for companies like Uber and Instacart, including retirement accounts, health insurance and occupational accident insurance. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
TICKETING: Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) has signed legislation imposing a 10% price cap on ticket resales. The measure prohibits the use of online bots to purchase tickets, and bars the sale of a ticket the seller does not have on hand. Supporters say it’s the strongest ticket resale measure in the country. (Maine Public Radio)
PUBLIC SAFETY: The Oregon House has approved legislation limiting the ability of the federal government to call up the National Guard. The bill requires the Guard’s Adjutant General to override federal deployment orders if troops are needed for in-state emergencies. It allows for circumstances in which the Department of Defense can call the Guard into active duty, including supporting responses to a national emergency or disaster. (Oregonian)
HOUSING: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has signed legislation revamping condo safety laws, four years after the collapse of the Champlain Towers South building in Surfside. The bill, approved unanimously by the legislature, allows condo associations to tap lines of credit or loans to meet safety deadlines. (Orlando Sentinel)
IMMIGRATION: Florida is set to open a new 1,000-bed immigration detention center that Attorney General James Uthmeier (R) dubs “Alligator Alcatraz.” The facility, to be located in the Everglades at Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, has a 10,500-foot airstrip to facilitate deportations. (Orlando Sentinel)
PUBLIC HEALTH: The Washington legislature approved a new tax on products that contain tobacco or nicotine, adding a new tax on pouches like Zyn. The products will be subject to a tax of 95% of their sales price. (Spokane Spokesman-Review)
CIVIL RIGHTS: The Missouri legislature has approved a bill banning discrimination against natural hairstyles in educational settings. The CROWN Act has been adopted by 26 other states, many of which extended discrimination bans to employment settings. (KCUR)
In Politics & Business
NEW YORK CITY: Voters head to the polls today to pick a Democratic nominee for mayor. A final Emerson College poll finds former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) leading Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani (D) 35% to 32% in the initial round of voting, with Mamdani overtaking Cuomo in the final round of ranked-choice voting. Comptroller Brad Lander (D) finishes third with 13%. No other candidate breaks into double digits. (State of Politics)
Betting markets are giving Mamdani the edge over Cuomo. (Political Wire)
SOUTH CAROLINA: State Sen. Josh Kimbrell (R) and Attorney General Alan Wilson (R) both entered the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Henry McMaster (R) next year, they said Monday. Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette (R), Sen. Sean Bennett (R) and U.S. Reps. Ralph Norman (R) and Nancy Mace (R) are all considering bids. (The State, Charleston Post & Courier)
ARKANSAS: Sen. Fred Love (D) will challenge Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) in 2026, he said Monday. Love joins fellow Democrat Gary Huskey (D) in the primary; he faces term limits and cannot seek re-election. (Talk Business & Politics)
UTAH: Gov. Spencer Cox (R) has placed a vote on whether to repeal a law banning public employee unions from collective bargaining on the 2026 ballot. Opponents of the bill, led by labor groups, collected more than 320,000 signatures in 30 days to qualify the referendum for the ballot. (Salt Lake Tribune)
PEOPLE: Former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman (D) and her husband Mark will lie in state at the Capitol on Friday, a day before their private funeral. Their golden retriever, Gilbert, will lie in state alongside them. (Minnesota Star-Tribune)
By The Numbers
More than 427,000: The number of New York voters who cast early votes in this year’s primary elections. Early voting turnout in 2023, the last time off-year elections were held, was just 78,000. (State of Politics)
1.2 million: The number of fake students who applied for California community college slots last year. Scammers stole about $11.1 million in federal and state financial aid in 2024. The Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges have discussed a $10 application fee to cut down on application fraud. (Los Angeles Times)
Off The Wall
Florida Gov. DeSantis has signed legislation allowing the state to oversee the regulatory process for any potential future presidential libraries in the state. Florida Atlantic University and Florida International University are in the running to host President Trump’s library once he leaves office. (Florida Politics)
Connecticut will become the second state to recognize the Hindu Festival of Lights, Diwali, under legislation signed by Gov. Ned Lamont (D). Pennsylvania became the first state to honor the holiday, celebrated on the 15th day of Kartik on the Hindu lunar calendar. (CT Insider)
Quote of the Day
“I’m used to getting bruised by the political process. This was just a little bit bigger bruise than I’m accustomed to.”
— Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost (R), who ended his gubernatorial campaign after the state Republican Party voted to endorse entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy (R). (Ohio Capital Journal)