We begin in California where on Tuesday voters will decide whether to move forward with plans to redraw the state's congressional maps in a move to counter Republican gerrymandering efforts elsewhere ahead of the 2026 midterms. Some of those polling locations may be a bit more crowded than usual because in addition to the Department of Justice sending federal election observers to five counties in Southern and Central California, including Los Angeles, California Attorney General Rob Bont has announced that ...

Elections and Political Power - The Republican party's primary objective is to protect Donald Trump and maintain power, lacking a programmatic or policy background [18][19] - Trump's influence stems from his ability to mobilize approximately 30% of voters for primaries, giving him significant control over the Republican party [21] - Republicans fear their own voters, leading them to prioritize maintaining power over democratic processes [20][21] - The White House is willing to use all tools of power to pursue its political ends [7] Concerns over Election Integrity - There are concerns about the potential for interference in elections, with comparisons drawn to Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election [2][3][14] - Trump is seeding the ground early to claim elections are suspect, a tactic he has used since 2015 [11][12] - The Republican National Committee (RNC) is requesting voter data from 48 states and Washington DC, while the Department of Justice (DOJ) is requesting voter data from 20 states [16][17] Democratic Response - Democrats are fighting back against Republican efforts, particularly concerning gerrymandering and voter access [24][26][27] - Democrats emphasize the need to address the concerns and fears of everyday people [26]