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Daily Brew: April 3, 2019

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April 3, 2019

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Today's Brew highlights the results of Chicago’s runoff election for mayor + a federal judge rules voter-approved ban on certain firearms magazines unconstitutional  
The Daily Brew

Welcome to the Wednesday, April 3 Brew. Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:

  1. Lori Lightfoot wins runoff to become next mayor of Chicago
  2. California's ban on large-capacity firearm magazines declared unconstitutional by federal judge
  3. Don’t miss our next Ballotpedia Insights webinar on political campaigns

Lori Lightfoot wins runoff to become next mayor of Chicago

Chicago

Former Chicago Police Board President Lori Lightfoot defeated Cook County Board of Commissioners President Toni Preckwinkle in the runoff election for mayor of Chicago Tuesday. With 97 percent of precincts reporting, Lightfoot received 74 percent of the vote to Preckwinkle's 26 percent.

Lightfoot was president of the Chicago Police Board from 2015 to 2018. She also chaired the Police Accountability Task Force and was a senior equity partner at the law firm Mayer Brown. Lightfoot held several positions in city government under former Mayor Richard M. Daley, who was mayor from 1989 to 2011.

Both Lightfoot and Preckwinkle described themselves as progressives and called each other's progressive credentials into question based on their political and professional histories. Lightfoot noted her background and past roles in city government as evidence of her experience managing teams and budgets.

Lightfoot finished first among 14 candidates in the February 26 general election with 17.5 percent of the vote. In three polls conducted during December 2018 and January 2019, she was the first choice of between 3 and 5 percent of respondents.

This year’s election was Chicago's fourth open-seat mayoral race in 100 years and the second mayoral runoff election in the city's history. Lightfoot will be the city's first female African-American mayor and its first openly gay mayor.

Wisconsin

With 97 percent of precincts reporting, Appeals Judge Brian Hagedorn led Appeals Chief Judge Lisa Neubauer, 50.2 percent to 49.8 percent, for an open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Under Wisconsin state law, a losing candidate may request a recount if the margin is 1 percent or less of the total votes cast.

Although state Supreme Court elections in Wisconsin are officially nonpartisan, liberal and conservative groups typically coalesce around specific candidates. Conservatives, who back Hagedorn, currently have a 4-3 majority on the court while liberals, who supported retiring Justice Shirley Abrahamson, back Neubauer.

Pennsylvania

Pam Iovino (D) defeated D. Raja (R) in the special election for the District 37 seat in the Pennsylvania State Senate. With all precincts reporting, Iovino received 52 percent of the vote to Raja’s 48 percent.

This is the first state legislative seat to flip from Republican to Democratic control as a result of a special election in 2019. Four others have flipped from Democratic to Republican control in Minnesota, Connecticut, and Kentucky, and one previously Republican-held seat was won by an independent candidate in Louisiana.

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California's ban on large-capacity firearm magazines declared unconstitutional by federal judge

A federal judge ruled Friday that California’s ban on firearm magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition is unconstitutional.  

The decision from Judge Roger Benitez invalidates a portion of California Proposition 63, the Background Checks for Ammunition Purchases and Large-Capacity Ammunition Magazine Ban Initiative. That measure was approved by state voters in November 2016, 63 percent to 37 percent.

Benitez, a judge of the U.S. District Court of Southern California, wrote in his opinion, “[Proposition 63] burdens the core of the Second Amendment by criminalizing the acquisition and possession of these magazines that are commonly held by law-abiding citizens for defense of self, home, and state.” Benitez joined the court in 2004 after being appointed by President George W. Bush.

Current California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) was lieutenant governor in 2016 and a supporter of Proposition 63. He responded to Judge Benitez’s ruling, saying, “This District Court Judge's failure to uphold a ban on high-capacity magazines is indefensible, dangerous for our communities and contradicts well-established case law.”

Before Proposition 63, residents who owned such large-capacity magazines prior to 2000 could keep them. Proposition 63 was designed to criminalize the possession of large-capacity magazines and require owners, including those who possessed them before 2000, to remove them from the state, sell them to a firearms dealer, or surrender them to law enforcement.

In May 2017, five San Diego County residents and the California Rifle & Pistol Association sued the state claiming this ban violated the 2nd Amendment. On June 29, 2017, Judge Benitez issued an injunction preventing the state from enforcing the ban.

If Benitez’s decision is appealed, the case would go before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra (D) said his office is “reviewing the decision to evaluate next steps.”

Another provision of Proposition 63 is also under legal scrutiny. In April 2018, the California Rifle & Pistol Association and ten other plaintiffs sued the state arguing that the prohibition on purchasing ammunition from outside the state and bringing it into California without first having it delivered to a licensed dealer also violates the 2nd Amendment. That case has not yet been decided.

Don’t miss our next Ballotpedia Insights webinar on political campaigns

Did yesterday’s battleground elections spark your interest into how high-profile campaigns are run? Join us for our next Ballotpedia Insights webinar that goes behind the scenes of political campaigning. We’ll be joined by Jeff Roe, a strategist for the Republican Party, and Jeff Hewitt, a strategist for the Democratic Party, to discuss the unique challenges of campaigning today.

The session will be held on April 15 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. Our director of outreach, Sarah Rosier, will lead the Q&A, asking questions such as: how are the parties shifting in their messaging?

How do you go about boosting one candidate in a crowded field? What techniques do you use to manage turnout?

Register for free at the link below. Our Insights calls have always been fascinating—check out our archive for prior recordings.


See also

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