Each week, we bring you a collection of the most viewed stories from The Daily Brew, condensed. Here are the top stories from the week of May 8-May 12.
A roundup of May 6 Texas election results
We covered 47 Texas ballot measures on May 6,nearly three times more than we covered in May Texas elections in 2019 and 2021, mainly due to an increase in bond measures and charter amendments this year.
San Antonio voters rejected Proposition A 71.6% to 28.4%.
El Paso voters decided 11 charter amendments, including Proposition K, a citizen initiative related to the climate. Voters rejected Proposition K 83.5% to 16.5%.
Austin voters decided on two competing initiatives related to police oversight. Voters supported the Equity Action-backed Proposition A and rejected Austin Police Association-backed Proposition B.
We also covered mayoral elections in six cities where all incumbents were re-elected.
Three of those cities—Fort Worth, Garland, and Irving—have Republican mayors, while Dallas has a Democratic mayor. San Antonio’s mayor is an independent. We have been unable to verify the partisan affiliation of Arlington’s mayor.
Virginia’s legislative elections have most open-seat races since at least 2011
Virginia is one of four states holding regular state legislative elections this year.
Overall, 279 major party candidates are running for state legislative offices in Virginia—154 Democrats and 125 Republicans.
Here’s what we know from the candidate lists.
43 districts—or 31% of the state’s 140-member General Assembly—are open-seat races as the incumbent is not running for election.
This is the most open state legislative seats in Virginia elections since at least 2011, when 20 districts, or 14.3%, were open.
Of the retiring incumbents, 22 are Democrats, and 21 are Republicans. Two districts have incumbent versus incumbent primaries this year:
- House District 47, with a Republican primary between Reps. Marie March (R) and Wren Williams (R); and,
- Senate District 18, with a Democratic primary between Sens. Louise Lucas (D) and Lionell Spruill (D).
Virginia has had a divided government since Republicans won the governorship and the House of Delegates in 2021. Republicans have a 50-46 majority in the House with four vacancies. Democrats hold a 22-18 majority in the Senate.
Virginia’s state legislative primaries are on June 20.
SCOTUS to hear case challenging Chevron deference
On May 1, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, a case that could curb or clarify future applications of Chevron deference in federal courts.
Chevron deference is an administrative law principle courts have cited in thousands of opinions since 1984.
Under this principle, if federal law is unclear or doesn’t address a specific issue, the agency responsible for its implementation can interpret the law and create rules to fill the gaps. If a court finds the agency’s interpretation reasonable, it will accept the agency’s view rather than replace it with its own interpretation.
Any adjustments to Chevron deference could affect the doctrine’s future application by federal courts in cases relating to administrative law.
If you want to learn more, Ballotpedia has you covered with all the info on Chevron deference, compiled as part of our Administrative State Project.
An update on the 2024 presidential campaign
As of May 11, 2023, there are three noteworthy Democratic presidential candidates, six noteworthy Republican candidates, and one noteworthy Republican exploratory committee.
Below is a summary of each candidate’s campaign activity from May 4 to May 11.
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Democratic candidates
- Joe Biden spoke in Hudson Valley, New York, on May 10. He expressed support for raising the debt ceiling and criticized the Republican-backed Limit, Save, Grow Act. He also attended a fundraising event in New York City hosted by former Blackstone executive Tony James.
- Marianne Williamson held a town hall in East Palestine, Ohio, on May 9, and is set to speak at a bookstore in Washington, D.C., today.
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Republican candidates
- Nikki Haley held a rally in Greer, South Carolina, on May 4.
- Vivek Ramaswamy campaigned in New Hampshire on May 4, and in Michigan from May 6 to May 7. Ramaswamy began a campaign tour of Iowa on May 9, which is set to last through May 13.
- Corey Stapleton held a town hall in New Hampshire on May 4.
- Donald Trump issued a statement about Ramaswamy, and Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) endorsed Trump on May 5. Trump participated in a CNN televised town hall on May 10.
Additionally, Tim Scott (R), who may announce his presidential candidacy on May 22, held a town hall in Iowa on May 6 and campaigned in New Hampshire from May 8 to May 9.
Other noteworthy candidates include Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (D), Larry Elder (R), and Asa Hutchinson (R).
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