And many of those changed things would not be changed things at all but for the new Democratic majorities the Commonwealth elected to the state House and Senate in 2019.
Campaign Action
Perhaps you’re wondering, “What is this, history class? It’s 2021 ffs!”
Gold star for you! Because it is 2021! Which means it’s an election year in Virginia!
bonus star if you pointed out that it’s always an election year in Virginia
All 100 seats in the House of Delegates are on the ballot this November, and now that Labor Day is behind us, that sprint to Election Day is unofficially under way.
The Future’s So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades: Obviously those 100 House seats aren’t the only things on the ballot in Virginia this fall.
- The Commonwealth is also electing a new (… sorta, probably) governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general (though that one is also unlikely to be “new,” since incumbent Mark Herring is generally favored to win a third term).
- Terry McAuliffe is vying to be the second governor ever elected twice in Virginia (popularly elected, anyway—old versions of the state constitution had the legislature selecting the governor and no prohibition on successive terms).
- If he wins, he’ll have a Senate with a (narrow) Democratic majority and … well, will he have a Democratic House?
Maybe! Probably?
But also maybe not?
(Seriously, ask me again in a week.)
- Democrats have a five-seat majority in the chamber (55 D/45 R), which seems kind of comfortable, but considering that Democrats flipped the House a scant two years ago, isn’t really.
- Because of Census delays, these elections are being held in the same districts they were in 2019, so at least incumbents don’t have to worry about introducing themselves to a new set of voters.
- Of those 100 House districts, only eight are uncontested (by a major-party candidate): Six (unwinnable) GOP seats and two (probably unwinnable) Dem seats.
But as the majority party in the House, Democrats are playing defense for the first time in decades.
- It’s an unfamiliar place for them to be, but if fundraising is any indicator (and it is, though absolutely not dispositive), Virginia House Dems appear in a strong place to keep those majorities.
- Finance reports for the past two months will drop in just a few days, though, and I’ll have more thoughts about Virginia Democrats’ down-ballot endeavors then.
But cash money notwithstanding, an interesting new wrinkle in Virginia’s 2021 elections was delivered last week by none other than Texas Republicans.
Be Chrool To Your Scuel: As an erudite consumer of this missive, you’ve likely been aware of the terrible Texas anti-abortion law that took effect last week for a few months now.
- Obviously so-called “fetal heartbeat” laws are bad (and deceitfully named—at six weeks, there’s no actual fetus yet, much less a heart to beat), but the Texas law has an especially cruel twist embedded in it.
- The new law opens people up to abusive legal action by allowing any fool Texan to sue anyone else—not just doctors—they believe may have somehow helped a pregnant person violate (what amounts to) the abortion ban.
- That means any rando in the state who believes a woman has obtained an abortion can sue the Uber driver who took her to the appointment, the office worker who scheduled the procedure, someone who sent a link to an abortion information website to their unwillingly pregnant friend, a reproductive rights activist from another state who donates to a fund that helps a Texas woman get the abortion to which she is constitutionally entitled …
- Hell, some Texas asshole can sue you if they decide you “intend” to help a woman get an abortion, even if you never actually do anything to assist.
It absolutely beggars belief.
- But it’s now actual Texas law (hopefully, with more legal action pending, not for very long).
- But more troubling is the strong indicator SCOTUS gave by declining to block SB8 that the days of Roe v. Wade (which constitutionally guarantees the right to obtain an abortion but allows states to impose more restrictions as a pregnancy advances through trimesters and a fetus [NOT an embryo, which is what we’re talking about at six weeks] becomes more likely to survive outside of a woman’s body) may be numbered.
It’s scary.
But fear can be a really great motivator.
And because Virginians don’t have to dig especially far into their memories to recall a time when Old Dominion GOPers eagerly sought ways to make obtaining a safe, legal abortion as difficult as possible, that fear is absolutely going to come into play in this November’s elections.
- Will it also motivate Republicans? Maybe. But they’re not frightened the way many people with uteruses are right now.
Another Brick in the Wall: And we can’t leave Texas behind without addressing the fact that the savage voter suppression measure Democratic House members there fought mightily to stop was signed into law this week.
And yes, it’s as bad as you remember.
- The law formerly known as SB1
- Specifically targets voting initiatives used by Harris County—the state’s most populous, diverse, and Democratic—by banning overnight early voting hours and drive-through voting.
- Tightens vote-by-mail rules in a state where it’s already not easy to cast a ballot in such a way
- Gives partisan poll watchers increased autonomy inside polling places
- Sets new rules—and criminal penalties!—for assisting voters
- Makes it a felony (with jail time!) for local election officials to proactively distribute applications for mail-in ballots—even if they’re providing them to voters who automatically qualify to vote by mail
- But it does increase early voting hours!
- ... in smaller, mostly Republican counties.
Multiple lawsuits seeking to prevent the new law’s implementation in three months have already been filed, but with SCOTUS in its current sorry state, I’m definitely not getting my hopes up.
A(rizona)BC: While we’re revisiting things past, let’s check in quickly with the farce known as the Maricopa County election “audit” in sunny Arizona.
[[waits quietly, looks around, waits some more, checks watch, texts a friend, waits ...]]
… aaaaaaaaaaaand still no report.
Cyber Ninjas finally living up to the invisibility implied by the name
- But Trump-loving, free and fair election-hating Arizona Sen. Wendy Rogers and Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol attack attendee Rep. Mark Finchem aren’t the kind of Republicans to let things like a dearth of facts and data (though the facts and data that might come out of this “audit” seem certain to be … questionable) stop them from spewing nonsense.
- The pair took to Twitter on Wednesday and demanded Arizona “recall” its electors (waaaaaaaaaaaaay too late for that, geniuses) and decertify the presidential election (who’s gonna tell them the Biden is president and is gonna stay that way for a while?).
School’s Out: Kentucky may have a Democratic governor, but with a GOP-controlled legislature (House: 25 D/75 R, Senate: 9 D/29 R) able to override his vetoes with a simple majority vote, it doesn’t matter as much as it ought to.
Kentucky Republicans’ new policy is going to lead directly to the deaths of kids and teachers. Ipso facto murder.
res ipsa loquitur? I just met her
… sorry.
Welp, that’s a wrap for this week!
Thanks for taking a break from your studies or teaching or [insert normal activity that’s not remotely like and probably much healthier than tracking the machinations of various legislatures] to join me for the latest in statehouse machinations.
I appreciate you.
Until next time, much love!
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