Morning Digest: Campaign to end qualified immunity finally cleared to gather signatures

GOP officials had blocked the effort for four years but were repudiated in court

Jenny Sue Rowe, a co-founder of the Ohio Coalition to End Qualified Immunity (credit: Ohio Coalition to End Qualified Immunity video screenshot)

Leading Off

OH Ballot

Activists in Ohio finally got permission Tuesday to collect signatures to place a proposed amendment on the 2026 general election ballot that would ask voters if they want to repeal the legal doctrine of qualified immunity—a development that comes almost four years to the day after organizers first submitted their proposal to Republican Attorney General Dave Yost.

This week's action by the Ohio Ballot Board came after a long court battle between Yost, who rejected the amendment's language eight times, and supporters of the plan to make it easier to sue police officers and other public employees for civil rights violations.

A federal court ruled last March that Yost, who is tasked with determining whether summaries of amendments are "fair and truthful," had exceeded his authority and "played the role of an antagonistic copyeditor, striking plaintiffs' work on technical grounds." However, the attorney general did not run out of legal options until last week, when the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal.

The high court's actions, though, came too late for reformers to collect signatures to place their amendment on this fall's ballot. But the campaign has until July of next year to collect 413,487 valid signatures—a figure that represents 10% of the votes cast in the last election for governor.

Supporters, operating as the Ohio Coalition to End Qualified Immunity, must also hit targets in at least 44 of Ohio's 88 counties, which is a tough task for progressives in a state where liberal voters are largely concentrated in a few large urban counties.

The gun safety group Everytown says that just three states—Colorado, Connecticut, and New Mexico—have laws limiting qualified immunity, which shields police officers and other public officials from liability in civil suits.

Reformers want Ohio to be the fourth, saying that the status quo has led to "a lack of transparency and accountability within government" and "has prevented victims of misconduct from seeking accountability and compensation for their injuries."

Law enforcement groups like the Fraternal Order of Police, however, have long claimed that qualified immunity is necessary for police to be able to carry out their duties. One FOP official in the Columbus area also predicted to ABC 6 that if the amendment passes, "Cities are going to be forced to take out insurance, like malpractice insurance, they are going to turn that money over to taxpayers."

The qualified immunity measure is not the only proposal that Yost, who is running for governor next year, stalled. Proponents of an amendment they've called the Voter Bill of Rights, which would establish sweeping new protections for voters, tried to get their plan before voters last year, but Yost also repeatedly rejected their summary.

In ensuing litigation, the state Supreme Court unanimously ruled in October that the attorney general had, once again, gone too far, but the campaign behind the Voter Bill of Rights still has yet to say how it will move forward.

Yost, though, is hoping that the Republican-led state legislature will give him the kind of authority the courts say he lacks. A Yost spokesperson responded to his rejection at the U.S. Supreme Court last week by telling WKYC, "There needs to be clarity about what the law actually is regarding the First Amendment. We'll work with legislative leaders on how we might clarify the law to avoid the problems that the trial court found."

The Downballot Podcast

GOP implosion in Virginia

The Virginia GOP is in the midst of a meltdown after the state's governor demanded a fellow Republican running for lieutenant governor quit the race—even though he's the only candidate running. We're examining the mess on this week's episode of The Downballot podcast, as well as another big story out of the Old Dominion: longtime Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly's retirement and what it means for his perch atop the House Oversight Committee.

The Davids also dive deep into their favorite topic—North Carolina politics—with Rob Schofield, editor of the invaluable NC Newsline. Schofield explains how his organization grew to fill a gap left by vanishing traditional media and shares his insights on all the major stories unfolding in his home state. On the docket: Gov. Josh Stein's unusually placid relationship with GOP lawmakers; Justice Allison Riggs' unusual post-election campaign for public support; and Sen. Thom Tillis' unusual start in politics. You're sensing the theme for this most unusual of states!

The Downballot podcast comes out every Thursday morning everywhere you listen to podcasts. Click here to subscribe and to find a complete transcript!

Senate

GA-Sen, GA-Gov

Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger told 11Alive this week that he's thinking of running both for the Senate and governor, making this the first time he's confirmed his interest in the former post. Raffensperger, who would not say whether he had a preference between the two races, explained that he was "looking at all my options" and would announce "in a few months."

KY-Sen

CNN commentator Scott Jennings confirmed to the Daily Beast on Saturday that he's interested in entering the Republican primary to succeed retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell, whom he's long advised. Jennings said, "If the president wants me, I'll run. If he wants somebody else, I'll support that candidate."

Those comments, which Jennings delivered at what the Daily Beast described as a "bougie espresso martini-swilling party at the Swiss ambassador's residence following the White House Correspondents' bash," came a few days before Donald Trump invited Jennings onstage at his rally in Michigan. Trump gushed that his guest was "defending me all the time on CNN," though he didn't mention his Senate ambitions.

MN-Sen

Businessman Dave Wellstone took his name out of contention for the Minnesota Senate race on Wednesday by endorsing Rep. Angie Craig in next year's Democratic primary. Wellstone, the son of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone, previously talked about running in February for his father's old seat.

Governors

IA-Gov

Julie Stauch, a longtime operative in Iowa Democratic politics, filed paperwork last week for a potential bid for governor. Stauch subsequently confirmed she was interested in running to Bleeding Heartland's Laura Belin, who described her as "well-known to people who follow elections but not to the public at large."

No prominent Democrats have announced campaigns for governor yet, though state Auditor Rob Sand appears likely to run and had been eyeing the race even before Republican incumbent Kim Reynolds unexpectedly announced her retirement last month.

NY-Gov, NY-17

Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik confirmed her interest in running for governor of New York to reporter Annie Karni on Wednesday, comments that came as part of a lengthy New York Times piece detailing Stefanik's unhappiness in her current job.

Karni says that Stefanik's once-close relationship with Speaker Mike Johnson has "completely disintegrated" in the month since Donald Trump withdrew her nomination to serve as UN ambassador. The congresswoman reportedly blames Johnson for the falling-out, though he was by no means the only Republican who'd fretted about the party's ability to win special elections in red constituencies like Stefanik's 21st District.

And while Stefanik announced on April 9 that the speaker had followed through on his pledge to give her back her spot on the House Intelligence Committee, Karni reports that a return has yet to happen. Such a maneuver would require Johnson to yank another Republican from the panel, but Karni says Johnson has yet to broach the matter with either of the GOP congressmen he might make walk the plank.

The two estranged leaders met after the Times story was published on Wednesday, with Johnson saying he'd reinstate Stefanik on the Intelligence Committee "as soon as possible," according to Politico. It remains to be seen, though, if anything he does will actually appease Stefanik, who informed Karni she'd told Johnson she was "the angriest" Republican in the House thanks to his actions.

But while Stefanik's continued presence in the House is making things tougher for just about everyone, senior Republicans would be relieved if a different New York Republican remains just where he is. NBC reports that GOP leaders, including some Trump advisors, are trying to convince Rep. Mike Lawler to seek reelection to his swingy 17th District instead of challenging Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Richard Hudson, the North Carolina congressman who chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee, publicly acknowledged, "I would prefer he not run for governor." An unnamed GOP strategist working on House races likewise told NBC, "No one is waiting in the wings of his quality."

Lawler responded by once again saying he'd stick to his June timetable for making up his mind. In a statement to NBC, he insisted that his choice "will be mine alone to make and will not be impacted by the decisions or desires of any of my colleagues."

RI-Gov

Former Gov. Gina Raimondo did not rule out trying to reclaim her old job back in November, but she appears to have put that idea aside as she flirts with a much higher office. Raimondo, who served as Joe Biden's secretary of commerce, answered in the affirmative when former political strategist David Axelrod asked if she was thinking of running for president.

House

MI-10

Eric Chung, a former attorney for the U.S. Department of Commerce, announced Wednesday that he was entering the busy Democratic primary to flip Michigan's open 10th District.

Chung began his campaign by touting his work on the CHIPS Act, a 2022 law he described as "a bipartisan initiative to bring back jobs and manufacturing" that Donald Trump has "gutted" in favor of destructive tariffs.

Chung, who would be the first Vietnamese American to represent Michigan in Congress, is the fourth notable Democrat to join the race. Army veteran Alex Hawkins, former prosecutor Christina Hines, and Pontiac Mayor Tim Greimel were already campaigning to replace Republican Rep. John James, who is leaving this suburban Detroit constituency behind to run for governor.

No prominent Republicans have launched bids to defend a seat that, according to calculations by The Downballot, favored Trump 52-46 last year.

MN-02

Former state Sen. Matt Little on Wednesday became the first notable candidate from either party to announce a campaign for the House seat that Rep. Angie Craig, a fellow Minnesota Democrat, is giving up to run for the Senate.

Little won his seat in the state Senate in a tight race in 2016, but he lost reelection 55-45 to Republican Zach Duckworth four years later. Little went on to compete in the nonpartisan contest for Dakota County attorney in 2022 but narrowly lost to appointed incumbent Kathy Keena.

Several other Democrats and Republicans are eyeing Craig's seat, including Duckworth. The 2nd District, which is based in the Twin Cities suburbs, supported Kamala Harris 52-46 last year.

Attorneys General

TX-AG

Former U.S. Attorney John Bash announced Wednesday that he was dropping out of the Republican primary for Texas attorney general over what he described as a recent "health scare" in his family.

Bash's departure leaves state Sen. Mayes Middleton as the only prominent candidate running to succeed Attorney General Ken Paxton, a fellow Republican who is giving up this powerful post to challenge Sen. John Cornyn in next year's primary. Several other Republicans, however, are eyeing Paxton's office.

Judges

NC Supreme Court

Republican state Rep. Sarah Stevens on Wednesday became the first candidate to challenge Justice Anita Earls, who is one of just two Democrats on the seven-member state Supreme Court, in next year's election. Stevens launched her campaign at a time when her party remains committed to overturning last year's victory by Justice Allison Riggs, the other Democrat on North Carolina's highest court.

Legislatures

Special Elections

Nonprofit founder Angel Ramirez turned in the biggest overperformance by a Democrat in a special election this year with her victory on Tuesday night, winning Iowa's vacant 78th House District in a 79-21 landslide.

Last year, Kamala Harris carried the district, based in the Cedar Rapids area, by an already considerable 66-33 margin, according to calculations from The Downballot. That means Ramirez's showing represents a 26-point improvement on last year's presidential results.

Read our complete special report on this race, including what it might mean for Iowa Republicans.

Mayors & County Leaders

Cobb County, GA Board of Commissioners

Georgia Democrats regained their 3-2 majority on the Cobb County Board of Commissioners in a pair of elections on Tuesday.

The two contests, which were supposed to take place in November of last year, were delayed by almost six months due to litigation over a gerrymander drawn up by the Republican-led state legislature.

The courts ultimately allowed Republicans to make the two seats on this week's ballot more Democratic to protect their hold on two other constituencies—both of which are up in 2026—but some Peach State Republicans convinced themselves they were on track to pull off an upset and take control of the commission.

"Republican leaders entered the evening so confident they'd flip at least one that several sent laudatory quotes to use in case of victory," reported the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

However, while the GOP candidates far outperformed Donald Trump's showing in both districts, any statements proclaiming the GOP's resurgence in a suburban Atlanta county they'd dominated until recently went straight to the trash.

Former state Rep. Erick Allen defeated Republican Alicia Adams 59-41 in the 2nd District, which Democratic Commissioner Jerica Richardson had to give up in February because Republicans drew her home out of the seat. (Because commissioners must live in their districts, a court declared the seat vacant after a separate legal battle.)

According to data from Dave's Redistricting App, Kamala Harris carried this seat by a 67-32 spread, but Allen still did more than well enough to win.

Democratic Commissioner Monique Sheffield, meanwhile, successfully defended the 4th District, beating Republican Matthew Hardwick 64-36 in a constituency Harris won 72-27. Sheffield, unlike Richardson, was allowed to keep serving through the election because she remained a resident of her district.