Week 20: Lots of Election News this Past Week

Dear Colorado Voter,

Colorado is the only state with a primary election today. I'm flying my Colorado flag today as I do every time Colorado holds a primary election!

Thanks to all the candidates running for office, at least all the serious candidates – notice that I did not say "viable." I think viability is largely determined by the media who should be paying attention to all serious candidates regardless of party affiliation.

This has been a busy week for elections and communications news.

• June 24 – Two days after I wrote to Ryan Schuiling and Ashe Epp asking to engage with them on the topic of "Ranked Choice Voting," Schuiling and at least 3 other iHeart radio colleagues in Colorado are laid off.

• June 24 – Referencing the Callais decision that Louisiana's map was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander and California's own Voting Rights Act, the Superior Court of California orders Huntington Beach to implement at-large (no districts) proportional ranked voting elections.

• June 29 – US Supreme Court upholds a post-election grace period for mail-in ballots. Colorado doesn't accept ballots after 7pm on Election Day so we are not affected by this ruling.

• June 29 – CO Supreme Court blocks redistricting initiatives 241 and 242, backed by Coloradans for a Level Playing Field, and 328, backed by the law firm of former Sec of State Scott Gessler. They would have asked voters to temporarily redraw the state's congressional districts. CO now sits on the sidelines of the national gerrymandering war.

• June 30 – US Supreme Court strikes down limits on how much political parties may spend on federal candidates. Minor-party candidates will have even less visibility unless the media decide to cover all serious candidates and their policy stances instead of focusing on the major-party candidates and their money race.

• June 30 – US Supreme Court rejects Trump's effort to end birthright citizenship.

The United States of America turns 250 on Saturday, the Fourth of July. In honor of The Declaration of Independence, I hope you exercise your right to "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Fundraising update: The reporting period ending June 24 once again shows me with more funds raised than the Republican. (Major-party candidates are, by definition, "serious" candidates.) I also reported more funds on hand than the leading fundraiser (!) because she is burning through all her money as she tries to win this primary. Yet, she didn't show up for either of the candidate forums that invited me to attend. Hmmm…

With enthusiasm and purpose,

Celeste