DDHQ Morning News Spotlight: Redistricting Court Battles Heat Up in New York and Ohio

Welcome to this morning’s Decision Desk HQ Morning News Spotlight on Elections Daily as part of the Decision Desk HQ News Network.

Morning Headlines

• The New York Court of Appeals, the highest court in the state, heard arguments yesterday over whether the Congressional map passed by the Democrat-controlled state legislature should stay in place. The map in question would likely see a three-seat gain for the Democrats in Congress. The New York Court of Appeals has seven judges, all of whom were appointed by Democrats. A decision could come as early as today.
• Voting-rights groups in Ohio are asking the Ohio Supreme Court to require the Ohio Redistricting Commission for the third time to explain why they should not be held in contempt of court. It has been over a week since the Court has ordered the commission to redraw the state legislative maps after all four sets of maps drawn by the commission have been ruled unconstitutional. The Court has set a May 6 deadline for new maps to be drawn, but the commission has yet to meet since the order. The commission has little incentive to draw a workable map after a federal court ruled last week that if no maps are approved by May 28, the federal court would instate the third set of maps passed by the commission even though the Ohio Supreme Court has ruled them unconstitutional.
• Politico is reporting that New Hampshire is the leading contender to be the first state to kick off the 2024 presidential primary calendar. The DNC is expected to vote to do away with caucuses which would mean the demise of Iowa’s first in the nation status. Nevada is also considered a top contender to take over as the first state in the nation to vote in the presidential primary.
• Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) was cited for a misdemeanor for bringing a loaded gun to Charlotte Douglas International Airport. This is the second time he has faced a charge for bringing a loaded gun to an airport. This came on the same day that multiple Congressional watchdog groups said that rep. Cawthorn may have participated in an illegal insider trader scheme. Cawthorn is up for reelection this year and faces a contested primary contest on May 17.
• The Rhode Island Senate passed the Let RI Vote Act yesterday to make pandemic-era absentee voting measures permanent. The bill does away with the two-witness signature verification requirement, along with allowing for no-excuse absentee voting and allowing voters to request mail-in ballots online.
• Vice President Kamala Harris has tested positive for Covid-19. She is currently asymptomatic but will isolate and work from the VP’s residence. According to her press secretary, she has not recently been in close contact with the President or First Lady due to their recent travel schedules.
• Over at Elections Daily, Jacob Walters explores Indiana’s 1st Congressional District and the potential for a Republican upset there.

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