From Democracy Docket <newsletters@democracydocket.com>
Subject Trump demands California adopt voter ID requirement to get wildfire aid
Date January 24, 2025 11:13 PM
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Friday, January 24

At Democracy Docket, keeping our readers informed is our top priority — share this newsletter with a friend ([link removed]) and help amplify a pro-democracy news outlet like ours.

Trump demands California adopt voter ID requirement to get wildfire aid
* President Donald Trump threatened ([link removed]) to withhold aid for the LA wildfires unless California adopts stricter voter ID requirements. Gov. Gavin Newsom's (D) office defended the state's election laws and said “[c]onditioning aid for American citizens is wrong.”

Trump’s DOJ quickly differentiates itself from Biden’s DOJ
* Trump issued ([link removed]) a freeze Wednesday on the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division, which enforces anti-discrimination, voting and election laws. While the division can continue working on ongoing cases, the pause blocks it from pursuing new cases, indictments or settlements.
* Trump’s pick to lead the DOJ Civil Rights Division, Harmeet Dhillon, is awaiting Senate confirmation. Dhillon's law firm has been involved in over a dozen lawsuits in recent years challenging voting rights. Learn more about her track record here ([link removed]) .
* Trump's acting solicitor general withdrew ([link removed]) a request made by former President Joe Biden's solicitor general for the office to participate in a U.S. Supreme Court case over Louisiana's congressional map. Trump's solicitor general said the "previously filed brief no longer represents the position of the United States."

Republicans dodge accountability for attempts to overturn 2020 election
* The Georgia Court of Appeals upheld ([link removed]) the dismissal of six counts in the indictment against Trump and his associates for trying to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia, citing a lack of detail. There are 10 remaining counts, but the case may stall now that he's in office.
* The State Bar of Texas dropped ([link removed]) its lawsuit seeking to discipline Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton for attempting to overturn the 2020 election results. The Bar cited a December ruling that dismissed similar charges against his top deputy.

Virginia election board removes local official who refused to certify votes
* The Virginia Board of Elections voted ([link removed]) to remove the local Waynesboro Board of Elections chairman after he attempted to refuse certification ahead of the 2024 general elections.

Minnesota Supreme Court says GOP unlawfully elected state House speaker
* The Minnesota Supreme Court sided ([link removed]) with Democrats and ruled that 68 members are needed for a quorum in the state House. The issue came to the court after the GOP used its 67 members to elect a speaker after a power-sharing agreement fell apart.

House Republican proposes amendment to allow Trump to seek third term
* Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) proposed ([link removed]) a constitutional amendment allowing Trump to seek a third presidential term, while still barring former presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama from running again. The amendment is highly unlikely to pass.

Who will be the next chair of the Democratic National Committee?
* We spoke with three candidates to discuss why they're running, their top priorities for the party and what Democrats got wrong in 2024. Read here ([link removed]) to learn how each of them would lead the party.

Oral argument and hearing coming up Monday
* The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear ([link removed]) oral argument in GOP candidate Jefferson Griffin's challenge to his loss in the North Carolina Supreme Court race and over 60,000 ballots. The election is the last uncertified 2024 race in the country.
* A Kentucky court will hear ([link removed]) a challenge to the state’s process for purging voters from its registration rolls. A pro-voting group claimed the system violates the National Voter Registration Act.

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