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RandySF's JournalIdaho Senate approves bill creating May presidential primary election
The Idaho Senate on Wednesday cleared a hurdle toward reinstating a presidential primary election in May after it was unintentionally eliminated in 2023.
However, there’s a competing bill to reinstate a March presidential primary instead, with a much steeper candidate filing fee, that passed the House earlier this month, the Idaho Capital Sun reported.
McCammon Republican Sen. Jim Guthrie sponsored Senate Bill 1398, which would consolidate primary elections for the presidential nomination and down-ticket local and state races to the Tuesday following the first Monday in May. Under Guthrie’s bill, political parties would have the option to opt out of the presidential primary election, and use the caucus process instead.
Guthrie said the timing was selected to support higher voter turnout while selecting Idaho’s presidential nominees ahead of summer party national conventions.
https://idahocapitalsun.com/2026/03/25/idaho-senate-approves-bill-creating-may-presidential-primary-election/
Florida targets NFL's 'Rooney Rule' promoting minority coaches
TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Florida is preparing to throw a challenge flag at the NFL’s longstanding “Rooney Rule” — meant to bolster the number of minority coaches and top executives in the league — as part of the state’s opposition to diversity hiring practices.
State Attorney General James Uthmeier warned NFL officials Wednesday that the Rooney Rule and other similar hiring policies are “illegal” under Florida’s civil rights laws. In a letter to Commissioner Roger Goodell, Uthmeier pressed the NFL to confirm by May 1 it would no longer enforce its policies requiring teams to interview minority candidates, including women, or else the state could take “civil rights enforcement action.”
“NFL teams and their fans don’t care about the race of the coaching staff,” Uthmeier said Wednesday in a social media post. “They want a merit-based system that gives their team the best chance to win.”
The move by Uthmeier aligns with ongoing attempts by Florida’s conservative leaders to rid the state of diversity, equity and inclusion-aligned policies, from public schools to colleges and now even local governments. But taking on the NFL, which prides itself on diversity programs like the Rooney Rule, would be a significant escalation of that fight.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/25/florida-nfl-rooney-rule-00845217
MI-07: GOP Rep. Barrett scrutinized over payments to firms employing spouse
The Michigan Democratic Party and the campaign arm for U.S. House Democrats is slamming U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett following a report that Barrett’s campaign and joint fundraising committee paid nearly $56 thousand to firms where his wife was employed as a campaign finance lawyer.
First reported by Politico, the Charlotte Republican and his joint fundraising committee – Barrett Brigade Victory Fund – first paid the law firm Butzel Long for legal services on Aug. 7, 2023, with campaign finance data from the Federal Election Commission showing he paid $31,000 for legal services over the course of the campaign.
Ashley Barrett was hired as counsel at the firm on May 2, 2023.
The firm also contributed more than $13,000 to Tom Barrett’s campaign and the Barrett Brigade Victory Fund between August 5 and Oct. 16 2024, despite not donating to Barrett in the 2022 campaign cycle, where he unsuccessfully challenged then-U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly).
https://michiganadvance.com/2026/03/25/gop-rep-barrett-scrutinized-over-payments-to-firms-employing-spouse/
'This isn't just about a ride': DART riders voice concern as 3 withdrawal elections loom
As the May 2 election nears for voters in Addison, University Park and Highland Park to reconsider their future in the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system, dozens of residents raised concerns to DART’s directors about the potential service cuts that could come from the three cities’ withdrawal.
DART riders spoke for over an hour during a public hearing Tuesday night in a mostly full boardroom and the agency’s board received around 100 written comments on the potential service cuts. Residents and riders came to stress the importance of DART’s services for dependent riders while also to advocate for a connected system to support the region’s economy.
Samantha Krasne spoke about her daughter, who she said relies on DART’s paratransit services to get to a school for children with developmental disabilities in Dallas. As a school teacher, she said she can’t afford transportation alternatives for her daughter, who has autism.
“This isn’t just about a ride,” she said. “This is about whether my child can access her education. It’s about whether our family can continue working. It’s about whether she gets the same opportunity as every other child.”
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/transportation/2026/03/24/this-isnt-just-about-a-ride-dart-riders-voice-concern-as-3-withdrawal-elections-loom/
Three CCSD board incumbents face challengers in upcoming election
The field is set for Clark County School Board seats up for election this year, and for some candidates, the race could be over as early as June.
Three incumbents — Brenda Zamora, Irene Bustamante Adams and Linda Cavazos — now face a finalized list of challengers following the close of the filing window earlier this month. Under Nevada law, nonpartisan races with more than two candidates, such as the school board’s District F, can be decided outright in the June 9 primary if a candidate receives more than 50% of the vote.
However, in Districts D and G, where only two candidates have filed, those races will skip the primary ballot and proceed directly to the Nov. 3 general election.
Seven candidates have filed to run across three available seats, according to the Clark County Election Department:
https://lasvegassun.com/news/2026/mar/25/3-ccsd-incumbents-face-challengers-in-upcoming-ele/
Los Angeles County Democratic Party Endorses Councilmember Jones for Re-Election
The Los Angeles County Democratic Party has officially endorsed Councilmember Justin Jones for re-election to the City Council.
“I’m honored to earn the endorsement of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party,” said Jones. “I’m focused on making Pasadena work for everyone, keeping our neighborhoods safe, and delivering reliable water, power, and infrastructure residents can depend on. We’ve made real progress, and I’m committed to continuing that work and earning the trust of residents across every neighborhood.”
During his tenure on the City Council, Jones has led efforts to expand the City’s Park Safety Specialist program, increase access to clean energy through Pasadena Water and Power, and activate neighborhood parks with more programming for residents and families. He has also prioritized expanding funding for quality-of-life improvements and regularly hosts monthly weekend community meetings across the District to stay directly connected to residents.
Jones also led coordination efforts in response to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) crisis during the federal government shutdown. The issue impacted approximately one in eight Pasadena residents. He worked with local agencies and community partners to help ensure families continued to receive critical food assistance.
https://pasadenanow.com/main/los-angeles-county-democratic-party-endorses-councilmember-jones-for-re-election
FL-HD51: Hilary Holley Wins (R) HD51 in Special Election
Republican Hilary Holley will represent Florida House District 51 through November 2026 after winning a special election on March 24. District 51 includes Auburndale, Haines City, Davenport, Lake Alfred, Polk City, Four Corners, and surrounding northern Polk County communities.
Holley won the election with 54.18% or 8,406 votes, according to unofficial results as of March 25. Her opponent, Democrat Edwin Pérez, received 45.82% or 7,109 votes.
The HD51 seat will be up for election again in November’s midterms.
Holley replaces Josie Tomkow, who vacated the position in November 2025 to run in a special election for Senate District 14, which she lost to Democrat Brian Nathan.
https://www.lkldnow.com/hilary-holley-wins-hd51-in-special-election/
Some States Already Preparing for Potential Supreme Court Ban on Late Ballots
Francisco Aguilar, the secretary of state in Nevada, stepped out of the Supreme Court in Washington on Monday, where justices had just heard arguments about the legality of counting mail votes that arrive after Election Day. He immediately called his top deputy.
The court’s conservative majority had appeared deeply skeptical of the arguments for continuing the practice. So Mr. Aguilar’s message was urgent, he later said in an interview. He began listing things “we need to start working on and answering.” And in the middle of the midterm election season, they couldn’t wait for a decision to land — perhaps as late as June. “We have to provide a road map for the county clerks,” he said into the phone.
Mr. Aguilar, a Democrat, is one of 18 top election officials in states and territories across the country bracing for the possibility that the Supreme Court will require major changes to election law just months before the midterm election in November. Part of the urgency: getting the message out to voters that late-arriving ballots may no longer be counted. Such a decision could affect hundreds of thousands of voters.
The case centers on a Mississippi law that allows the state to accept ballots mailed and postmarked by Election Day that arrive up to five days later. Similar laws are on the books in 17 other states and territories, though the length of the grace period varies. In the 2024 election, at least 725,000 ballots arrived in the legally permitted post-Election Day time period across 14 states that provided data to The New York Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/25/us/politics/supreme-court-mail-ballots-states.html
District 19 candidates outline priorities for Winnebago County Board
OSHKOSH – Bob Poeschl is attempting to make a return to elected office life.
The former Winnebago County supervisor is looking to represent District 19 again as he faces political newcomer Micah Graf for the open county seat in the upcoming April 7 spring election.
District 19 incumbent Joshua Belville opted not to seek reelection, leaving Graf, a small business owner and content creator, to battle the onetime supervisor, former Oshkosh Common Council member and past Oshkosh Area School District Board president at the polls.
As part of the Northwestern's ongoing election coverage, both candidates were asked to explain what they see as their priorities on the Winnebago County Board. Here's what they said.
https://www.thenorthwestern.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/03/25/poeschl-graf-winnebago-county-board-district-19-race-priorities/89314706007/
Amanda McLea (R) wins Lady Lake election for commission, Ward 2
Amanda McLea won the special election in Lady Lake yesterday, March 24, to fill the late John Gourlie's unexpired term in Ward 2.
"Today was truly a mixture of emotions," McLea told the Daily Commercial last night by email.
"We started the day campaigning, moving to the dedication ceremony of the Safe Haven baby box in Leesburg," a project she started 938 days ago, presenting the project to the Leesburg City Commission for approval.
The commissioner-elect will be sworn in on Monday, April 6. "I’m excited to get started," she effused.
https://www.dailycommercial.com/story/news/local/lady-lake/2026/03/25/amanda-mclea-wins-lady-lake-florida-special-election/89314644007/
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