On August 14, the Fifth Circuit issued an opinion in Nairne v Landry, 24-30115. This is a very old case alleging that the 2022 Louisiana legislative districts violate the federal Voting Rights act. It had been filed in 2022. The Fifth Circuit agreed with the U.S. District Court that the maps for both chambers did not create enough Black-majority districts.

Here is the opinion, which is unsigned, but which was before Judges James L. Dennis (Clinton appointee), Catharina Haynes (Bush Jr.) and Irma Carillo Ramirez (Biden).

The next Louisiana legislative elections are in 2027. It is possible the plaintiffs will now press for special legislative elections before then.

The Connecticut Mirror, an on-line non-partisan newspaper, has this op-ed by Jan Carpenter, condemning Connecticut’s petitioning rules for minor party and independent candidates. Carpenter was a petitioner last year for Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

This Texas Tribune article says the Texas Republican Party passed a rule last year that authorizes keeping candidates off the Republican primary ballot for ideological reasons. Now, the state party seems to be starting to compile a list of “sins” that would implement the rule, especially for state legislative candidates.