Taniel
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taniel.bsky.social
Taniel
@taniel.bsky.social
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Daniel Nichanian. Editor in chief of @boltsmag.org (follow us!). Elections, (local) politics, voting rights, criminal justice, and drag race.
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taniel.bsky.social
don't miss it, as it's buried in my latest analysis of the year's legislative results: where each state stands on who controls its government heading into 2026

boltsmag.org/legislative-...
the 50 states based on whether they have a Dem trifecta, GOP trifecta, or split control
December 10, 2025 at 9:48 PM
taniel.bsky.social
3 separate election nights in Georgia, all over the past 5 weeks
December 10, 2025 at 4:14 AM
taniel.bsky.social
Albuquerque is more populous than Miami... and I know it's not a flip at the mayoral level, but let's make sure it gets at least some of the attention Miami got today!

Here's how I explained these two races in my guide: boltsmag.org/whats-on-the...
December 10, 2025 at 3:29 AM
taniel.bsky.social
This Georgia flip is in a district that the GOP drew to drown Democratic voters in Athens into a neighboring red county, Oconee.

But tonight, Dems in Athens were out in FULL FORCE to swamp that gerrymander.
December 10, 2025 at 2:12 AM
taniel.bsky.social
how I summarized the race in my election guide

(note the second Democratic win tonight in Miami Beach)

boltsmag.org/whats-on-the...
Democrats hope to gain the mayor’s office in Miami as the city’s GOP mayor retires. The city has a weak mayor, but a flip would have symbolic weight in countering the region’s red drift in recent cycles. In the runoff, Democrat Eileen Higgins faces Republican Emilio González. On immigration, Higgins has called Miami’s membership in ICE’s 287(g) program a “tragedy” while González has signaled he is comfortable with it. Higgins has also talked about Miami ramping up affordable housing while González, who says he wants to help Governor Ron DeSantis get rid of property taxes and cut local spending, has minimized that goal. (DeSantis endorsed González.) Just east, in Miami Beach, Democrat-aligned candidates won two city council seats in November. A third went to a runoff between Democrat Monica Matteo-Salinas and Republican Monique Pardo Pope.
December 10, 2025 at 12:20 AM
taniel.bsky.social
An Indiana Republican senator, Mike Crider, confirms he's a 'no' on gerrymandering: indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/12/08/a...
“I think the maps are pretty alarming, actually. So I was a no before, and I’m for sure a no now,” he told the Capital Chronicle. “I mean, I just think that if those maps pass, there’s a good possibility that three or four millionaires from Indianapolis will represent a third of the state, so I don’t know that that serves us well.”
December 8, 2025 at 7:13 PM
taniel.bsky.social
Virginia Democrats have (like Newsom) messaged their proposal as a response to GOP states — so tonight's SCOTUS response will certainly give them more to lean into.

Remember this quote from right after the Virginia elections in November? boltsmag.org/five-ways-20...
“It’s certainly looking necessary now,” he added. “I don’t see many Republican states pumping the brakes, because they all seem to be falling in line behind their dear leader.”
December 5, 2025 at 12:01 AM
taniel.bsky.social
Virginia state Senator Louise Lucas' answer to the SCOTUS ruling on Texas.
I will give a follow back to every person who I see tweet 10-1 tonight.
December 4, 2025 at 11:57 PM
taniel.bsky.social
Alito's (brief) concurrence says the "impetus" for the Texas map was "partisan."

This is a response to the lower court that struck down the map, saying there's evidence of racial impetus. A big evidence was that the DOJ wrote to Texas explicitly saying they should redistrict for racial reasons.
First, the dissent does not dispute—because it is indisputable—that the impetus for the adoption of the Texas map (like the map subsequently adopted in California) was partisan advantage pure and simple.
December 4, 2025 at 11:18 PM
taniel.bsky.social
"Purcell" is not mentioned, but the majority writes that the court "improperly inserted itself" in an "active" campaign.

The map passed with just weeks to go before the filing deadline!

Basically SCOTUS is saying that means there's no judicial review possible.
December 4, 2025 at 11:12 PM
taniel.bsky.social
Also looming: www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
December 4, 2025 at 5:43 PM
taniel.bsky.social
3️⃣ In Atlanta, there were four battles that I'd summed up as establishment Democrats versus left groups, DSA and otherwise.

The former won 3 of the 4 races, including an at-large school board race that featured a candidate you may have heard of when he was in HS a decade ago.
Results: Worthy and Martin win. Results: Hutcherson wins over Pace. Brock wins over Mann.
December 3, 2025 at 10:18 PM
taniel.bsky.social
2️⃣ The progressive slate had a great night in Jersey City:

James Solomon beat former governor McGreevey in the mayoral race, that got plenty of attention.

But also, two DSA candidates won city council races, joining other candidates with WFP/left support.

(boltsmag.org/whats-on-the...)
Result: Solomon wins. Results: Progressive slate prevails. Ridley, Brooks, and Ephros win, and in the at-large race, the candidates aligned with Solomon (Rolando Lavarro, Michael Griffin, and Mamta Singh) also win.
December 3, 2025 at 10:16 PM
taniel.bsky.social
A source sends me a picture of Mary Robichaux at her victory party tonight. She won by 6.4%.
December 3, 2025 at 3:12 AM
taniel.bsky.social
The city of Hoboken, in New Jersey, has a new mayor.

Emily Jabbour won tonight runoff between two Dems.

Not the most high-octane election, but here's how I'd summarized their contrasts.
Two councilmembers in the running to replace Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla. Emily Jabbour and Michael Russo are both Democrats, and both voted this year in favor of the city ordinance meant to bar local collaboration with ICE. But they haven’t always seen eye to eye, most notably earlier this year on the city budget, which contained a tax increase: Jabbour backed it and Russo opposed it, later telling Hoboken Girl, “I have almost never voted for a tax increase.” On housing, Jabbour has proposed restricting rent hikes and increasing affordable housing quotas; Russo has emphasized a need to jumpstart development and grow “supply” more broadly.
December 3, 2025 at 2:49 AM
taniel.bsky.social
A new post by a Republican state Senator in Indiana, saying she will "not cave" on redistricting as she shares that she was just the target of a pipe bomb threat to due "DC political pundits."
Unfortunately, my house was the target of a pipe bomb threat on Saturday evening. This is a result of the D.C. political pundits for redistricting. Thanks to the Oldenburg Town Marshall, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the ISP, all is okay!
November 30, 2025 at 8:57 PM
taniel.bsky.social
I mean, as fighting words as it gets here from a GOP official against the White House.
The state senator said he declined the invitation and believes it violates the Hatch Act, which restricts certain political activities by federal employees. Walker said he would have reported the alleged violation to federal authorities “if I thought that there was anyone of integrity in Washington that would follow through on my accusation and actually cause someone to lose their job over it.”
November 29, 2025 at 3:58 AM
taniel.bsky.social
Another Indiana Republican Senator makes it clear he’s still opposing the GOP push to re-gerrymander the state. dailyjournal.net/2025/11/26/s...
Sen. Greg Walker Said he turned down an invitation to visit the Oval Office last week and is accusing the White House of violating federal law in its push to pressure Indiana Republicans to redraw the state’s congressional districts ahead of next year’s midterm elections.
November 29, 2025 at 3:54 AM
taniel.bsky.social
Exciting news for DCers:

Keren, the uber-tasty restaurant that burned down in early 2024 and has been closed since, has a new sign in the window!
OPENING SOON
November 22, 2025 at 7:17 PM
taniel.bsky.social
Alito grants a stay is while the full courts considers the matter: he’s the justice responsible for circuit that contains Texas.

Of course, we all understand what the conservative justices as a whole are likely to do… but his move sets up their turn.

Rick Hasen: electionlawblog.org?p=153164
I would not read too much into it on the merits, but as I said above, I think there’s a good chance of a stay being issued when the full court considers the case.
November 22, 2025 at 1:46 AM
taniel.bsky.social
Bolts reported in August on some of what it could mean for immigration if the consent decree ends: boltsmag.org/new-orleans-...
The NOPD is currently constrained from asking about immigration status or partaking in almost all immigration enforcement activities by a federal consent decree, which supersedes state law. But the decree is not long for this world: A judge in January granted a joint request by New Orleans officials and Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill for a “sustainment period” that would wind down federal monitoring over two years. The protections may end even sooner; the city and Murrill are currently asking a federal appeals court to terminate the consent decree immediately. That’d remove a core bulwark against data-sharing, which has some advocates very nervous about the facial recognition ordinance. “If they approve this, it’s going to be catastrophic,” Edith Romero, an organizer with the groups Union Migrante and Eye on Surveillance, told Bolts.
November 20, 2025 at 11:08 PM
taniel.bsky.social
3️⃣ We've brought you unique tools to follow local and state elections all around the country, not just with my guide to November's elections (that was a big one), but through our monthly look at elections to watch!

This monthly format was new this year! boltsmag.org/whats-on-the...
November 20, 2025 at 6:20 PM
taniel.bsky.social
This part of the bill was blocked.

Most of the organizers I talked to in Arkansas this spring were really worried about this part.

boltsmag.org/new-rules-fr...
Like other Arkansans who talked to Bolts for this article, Miller focused her criticism on the proposed requirement that petitioners read a proposal in its entirety or have it read to them by the canvasser. Under current law, canvassers already show prospective signers the text of the measure. Requiring a full reading would balloon the interaction time since measures tend to be very lengthy and full of legalese. In testing the rule, it took this reporter nearly four minutes to silently read last year’s marijuana initiative; it took nearly six minutes to read it outloud. “It’s quite ridiculous, I cannot even logistically imagine doing it,” said Miller. “It’s already so difficult to collect signatures. When you’re out there in the heat, in the cold, you’re talking to people—it’s all you can do to be able to get a few moments of their time to explain the measure.” “We are to require folks to stand outside for ten minutes to read a ballot title? We don’t even have these requirements to sign a candidate’s petition,” she said. Miller is nervous about the fact that Arkansans will now be making decisions about whether to volunteer for an initiative under the fear of criminal penalties. She worries that state officials may turn technical errors into full-blown police investigations. “What if the potential signer appeared to merely skim through the language?” Miller asked. “Are you supposed to question them? If you don’t and someone is watching/recording then you’re on the hook for a crime.” With the new bills, she said, prospective canvassers will “be afraid to even engage in this work.” Other advocates told Bolts that passersby will be similarly scared off from signing petitions once they’re told by canvassers that there’s any risk of criminal charges.
November 20, 2025 at 3:10 PM
taniel.bsky.social
the level of incompetence, far too much www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/u...
When Ms. Halligan first went into the grand jury, she had initially sought a three-count indictment against Mr. Comey. And after the grand jurors rejected one of the charges, she did not re-present the case with only two counts, but simply had the original indictment redrafted to reflect the failure of a third. Judge Nachmanoff seemed stunned by the events, and asked Ms. Halligan to stand up in court to answer questions. He asked her whether the entire grand jury had the opportunity to see the second indictment. She told him it had not. He thanked her and told her to sit down.
November 20, 2025 at 2:30 AM
taniel.bsky.social
But worry not, he has a footnote explaining why his fixation on Soros "is not political."
I suppose someone will say that in making these comments about the Soros connections, I’m expressing a political view, not the proper role of a federal judge. To the contrary: As I say above, the political branches engage in policy and politics. It’s our job as judges to let that happen, but it’s also our duty to recognize the societal and political effects of what we do, regardless of whether we approve of those downstream results. Today’s ruling has dramatic political consequences by meddling in the orderly processes of a duly-elected state government. It’s not “political” for me to point that out by describing the political dynamics that are inherent in the litigation of redistricting cases.
November 19, 2025 at 10:18 PM