The GOP war on direct democracy

The Downballot

Republicans have been trying to make it harder for ordinary citizens to effect change at the ballot box for many years, and their latest effort has now washed ashore in the Sunshine State. This week on The Downballot podcast, Amy Keith, the executive director of Common Cause Florida, joins us to explain how a new GOP bill would impose wild new restrictions on the ballot initiative process, including making it a felony if grandma collects more than 25 signatures on bingo night. But, promises Keith, no matter the hurdles placed before them, Floridians just keep jumping higher.

Co-hosts David Nir and David Beard also preview the top state supreme court races taking place across the country both this year and next. The Davids explain why once-sleepy "retention" elections could be the next major battleground in Pennsylvania and Arizona; how Democrats can expand their majorities in Michigan; and why you shouldn't sleep on Montana, whose top court has acted as an independent check on Republican power-grabs.

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