The latest on politics

Missouri

Voter ID Battle Shifts to Proof of Citizenship

New York Times

The battle over voting rights will expand this week as lawmakers in Missouri are expected to support a proposed constitutional amendment to enable election officials to require proof of citizenship from anyone registering to vote. The measure would allow far more rigorous demands than the voter ID requirement recently upheld by the Supreme Court, in which voters had to prove their identity with a government-issued card.

Ohio

A.G. Gets Another Demand to Resign

Columbus Dispatch

The Ohio Democratic Party has officially defrocked Attorney General Marc Dann, rescinding its endorsement and denying him participation in party functions. The party's state executive committee almost unanimously passed a resolution calling upon Dann to resign immediately, further ostracizing him in the wake of a sexual-harrassment scandal that has rocked Capitol Square.

Galveston, Texas

Election Winners Want to Rein in Developers

Houston Chronicle

Three of four controlled-growth candidates won in Galveston City Council races Saturday, two defeating incumbents in hard-fought races. Victories by the three candidates, who have criticized the city council as subservient to developers, serve as a public rejection of council policy and a victory for environmentalists and controlled-growth advocates on this storm-battered island.

The Nation

Some Governors Still Neutral on White House Pick

Stateline.org

Democratic governors in three of the five states yet to have their presidential primaries—Kentucky, Montana and West Virginia—are staying out of the fray and letting their voters decide on their own whether Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton should be the party’s nominee. Idaho's Republican governor, C.L. “Butch” Otter, says he intends to endorse John McCain after his state votes May 27.

Denver Mayor May Not Be Superdelegate Denver Post

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper's pledged neutrality in the Democratic race could cost him a chance to become one of the state's superdelegates as Obama backers try to lock in one of their own. Obama's Colorado organization is backing former Denver Mayor Federico Peña, a national co-chair for the Obama campaign.

Lake County, Ind.

Tardy Tally Puts County in Spotlight

Gary Post-Tribune

“What’s the problem with Lake County?” was the question asked Tuesday night as a region already known for political trickery gained new notoriety and single-handedly held up results in Indiana’s crucial Democratic presidential primary. County Elections Supervisor Michelle Fajman insisted that a record voter turnout simply conspired with the region's inherent election difficulties to slow the process.

Indiana Voter Turnout Highest in 20 Years Indianapolis Star

Just over 39 percent of Indiana’s registered voters cast ballots in the presidential primaries— nearly double the turnout of recent comparable elections. The turnout was the highest since the 1988 primary election, when 42 percent of Hoosiers voted.

The Nation

Governor’s Party Most Vulnerable in Four States

Stateline.org

With 11 governorships up in 2008, the contests are swinging to extremes. The likelihood of a switch in partisan control of the top spot has grown in at least three states—Missouri, North Carolina and Washington State—and remains high in Indiana, making these races the most vulnerable for the party in control.

California

Senate Leader Drops Recall Push Against GOP Foe

Sacramento Bee

Citing the prospects of another lengthy state budget stalemate, Democratic state Senate leader Don Perata dropped his campaign to recall Republican Sen. Jeff Denham—a development that surprised even Denham. Perata launched the recall effort after Denham angered him during last year's 53-day state budget stalemate by joining his GOP colleagues in voting against the spending plan.

North Carolina

Lieutenant Governor, Mayor to Face Off

Charlotte Observer

Charlotte's Republican mayor, Pat McCrory, will face Democratic Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue in the governor's race, with voters choosing between a seasoned mayor who won allies across party lines and a female legislator who broke barriers in two branches of government. McCrory was leading four other Republicans with 47 percent. Perdue led with 56 percent to State Treasurer Richard Moore's 40 percent.

Ex-Congresswoman Wins Democratic Nod in Indiana Indianapolis Star

In Indiana, former U.S. Rep. Jill Long Thompson captured a slim victory over Indianapolis architect Jim Schellinger in a fierce battle for the Democratic nomination to face Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels in the fall.

Colorado

Ballot Measure Targets ... Ballot Measures

Denver Post

Colorado lawmakers approved a ballot measure that would ask voters in November to make it harder to amend the constitution by increasing the number of signatures needed to put constitutional amendments on the ballot, while decreasing the number needed to change state law. Most lawmakers agreed that there have been too many initiatives changing the state constitution, sometimes at odds with each other.

The Houston Region

$1.6 Billion in School Bonds on Ballot

Houston Chronicle

Voters in a half-dozen Houston-area school districts will head to the polls Saturday to decide whether to approve nearly $1.6 billion to build and repair schools in fast-growing communities. Klein, Humble and Conroe will ask for the bulk of the money—a collective $1.4 billion—to build 17 new schools and to expand dozens of others.

Detroit-Area Voters Approve School Bonds Detroit Free Press

Metro Detroit voters were generous to school districts, approving all four bond proposals on ballots in the tri-county area—including two in districts that had seen efforts fail in recent years.

The Nation

Parties Eye Fixes for Frenzied Nominating Process

Stateline.org

While Democratic presidential primary voters in Indiana and North Carolina go to the polls and Republicans rally behind John McCain, party insiders and state election officials are in informal talks to improve the nominating contests for 2012 and beyond. While all sides agreed that this year’s run has energized voters, many are concerned that the cycle’s very early start was unfair to candidates and some voters.

Delaware

GOP Favorite Mulls Race for Governor

Wilmington News Journal

Retired Superior Court Judge Bill Lee, drafted by the Republican Party to be its candidate for governor, said he was humbled by the “unprecedented honor” and would “proceed toward running” for the governor’s office, but did not commit to making the race. Lee, 72, lost a close race to incumbent Democrat Ruth Ann Minner in 2004.

The Nation

Gas-Tax Holidays Getting State-Level Push

New York Times

Rising frustration with gas prices has led two presidential candidates, Sens. John McCain and Hillary Clinton, to promote proposals to suspend the federal gas tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day. But state gas taxes, which run as high as 45.5 cents a gallon, often add far more to the price of gas than the 18.4-cent federal excise tax. So lawmakers and candidates at the state level have been getting into the act.

Ohio

A.G. May Face Impeachment in Sex Scandal

Akron Beacon Journal

With Attorney General Marc Dann refusing demands from fellow Democrats that he resign over a sexual-harassment scandal and an extramarital affair with a subordinate, Gov. Ted Strickland said Democrats will begin drafting an impeachment resolution against Dann. Republican House Speaker Jon Husted said his chamber, which takes the first step in any impeachment, was already reviewing the process.