On July 30, U.S. District Court Judge Norman Moon, a Clinton appointee, issued an opinion in Lynchburg Republican City Committee v Virginia Department of Elections, w.d., 6:25cv-29. The city of Lynchburg’s Republican Party had sued to stop a new law that requires parties that nominate by convention to make provision for absentee voting for people who cannot attend the convention. The judge wrote that the case is not yet ripe for a decision. The specific state rules have not yet been set out, and the judge felt the case must wait until there is greater clarity about whether the law will prove burdensome.

On August 14, California Governor Gavin Newsom asked the legislature to quickly pass a bill, providing for a popular vote on November 4, 2025 on a new set of U.S. House district boundaries. The bill must pass both houses by August 22 in order to accomplish that objective.

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.