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A2 UP FRONT
Thursday 11 July 2024
Presidential battle could play role in control of state capitols in

several swing states

Continued from Front The Supreme Court's 2022 Bradford said.
decision overturning a half- Democrat Anna Payne,
On Wednesday, Democrat- century of abortion rights who is challenging Hogan,
ic legislative leaders from showed both the influence of sees abortion rights, public
Arizona and Wisconsin said national politics in state elec- safety and school funding
they hope the door-to-door tions and the importance of as the key issues. "To some
efforts of their statehouse state legislatures. After the extent, people are looking
candidates can have a re- ruling, many Republican- for common sense," Payne
verse coat-tails effect, boost- led states banned or limited said. "They don't want any-
ing Democrats at the top of abortion while many Dem- body who's too extreme on
the ticket. ocratic-led states strength- one side or too extreme on
Democrats won a slim 102- ened abortion protections. the other." Hogan, a former
101 majority in the Pennsyl- The ruling gave Democrats congressional aide, has bur-
vania House two years ago. a new campaign theme for nished a moderate image in
But Republicans expressed the 2022 legislative elections, the General Assembly, work-
confidence they can retake which were the first con- ing on childhood education State Rep. Joe Hogan, a Bucks County freshman Republican,
the chamber this year, citing ducted under voting districts and public transit, among poses in his Capitol offices on Monday, July 8, 2024, in the state
inflation, immigration and Bi- redrawn using 2020 census other things. Capitol in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
den's troubles. data. Democrats wrested Rosemary Donahue, a Associated Press
"If the election were held to- control of legislative cham- 77-year-old retired nurse and social safety net. She ranks flip closely divided, GOP-
morrow, I'd feel great about bers away from Republicans registered Republican, said women's health, education led legislative chambers in
it," said Pennsylvania state in Michigan, Minnesota and she has received mail from and welcoming immigrants Arizona and New Hampshire.
Rep. Josh Kail, head of the Pennsylvania. Hogan and will be evaluat- among her top issues. Immigration and inflation
campaign efforts for Penn- This year's reelection bids ing his performance on such "Do they care about others or are especially hot issues in
sylvania House Republicans. by Hogan and Munroe are issues as fixing roads, support- are they strictly for business?" Arizona. And abortion rights
The Republican State Lead- among 15 Pennsylvania ing schools and women's said McBride, 90, a registered supporters recently submit-
ership Committee already House races spotlighted by health rights. She regularly Democrat. "It doesn't seem ted petition signatures to get
has run ads in Michigan, Min- the national Democratic follows state and national that those who are strictly a constitutional amendment
nesota, Pennsylvania and Legislative Campaign Com- politics. for big business really care on the November ballot.
Wisconsin pinning inflation on mittee. Both of their Bucks "If you watch television, you about the less fortunate." That has raised the stakes in
Biden and other Democrats County districts gave slightly can't think of anything else, Research has shown that a state where voter registra-
while touting Republican leg- more than half their votes to because you're constantly many voters know little about tion is divided almost equally
islative candidates. Biden four years ago and a being bombarded by the their state legislative candi- among Republicans, inde-
Democrats are targeting larger margin to Democrats presidential election, adver- dates, so "national politics pendents and Democrats.
Wisconsin after a new liberal John Fetterman and Josh tisements and all," Donahue will probably dominate the "I'm expecting a lot of the
majority of the state Supreme Shapiro in their 2022 races said. state legislative elections," national issues — the na-
Court struck down the pre- for U.S. Senate and governor. Arlene McBride, who recent- said Steven Rogers, a politi- tional dynamics — to really
vious Republican-drawn dis- "We believe we have a ly became one of Munroe's cal scientist at Saint Louis Uni- play into the legislative races
tricts that had entrenched great opportunity not just constituents, said she'll be versity who focuses on state in Arizona because of our
the GOP in power. The new to protect our majority in watching his race with Bucks legislatures. battleground-state status,"
districts, backed by Demo- the suburbs, but to grow County Recorder of Deeds While Republicans seek to said James Strickland a politi-
cratic Gov. Tony Evers, im- our majority," Pennsylvania Dan McPhillips to see who is reverse their 2022 losses, cal scientist at Arizona State
prove Democrats' chances. House Majority Leader Matt more inclined to preserve the Democrats are pushing to University.q

A city’s fine for a profane yard sign about Biden

and Trump was unconstitutional, judge rules

her front yard saying “F-‘Em tected Mrs. Pereira’s right to her sign as local officials
Both 2024” except, uncen- express her political views demanded by covering up
sored. The city of Lakeland, and to have achieved a one letter in the profane
a northeast suburb of Mem- successful outcome in this word, but within a week she
phis, then fined Pereira hun- important First Amendment removed the redaction.
dreds of dollars for violating case,” said Daniel Horwitz, The city began fining her
its regulation against ob- Pereira’s lead attorney. in January, so she covered
scene content on signs. The judge’s order comes up part of the word again
She filed a lawsuit in June, after the city agreed to a to avoid further penalties,
saying she was so dissatis- settlement paying Pereira according to the lawsuit.
fied with both presidential about $32,000 for her legal Pereira’s lawsuit said “cuss”
President Joe Biden, right, and Republican presidential candidates that she want- fees and reimbursing nearly words are not constitution-
candidate former President Donald Trump, left, participate in a ed a sign that “speaks sim- $700 in fines. ally obscene. The lawsuit
presidential debate hosted by CNN, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in ply and cogently for itself.” The city’s regulation prohib- and the judge pointed
Atlanta.
Associated Press U.S. District Judge Mark its signs with “statements of to a 1971 Supreme Court
Norris in Memphis ruled an obscene, indecent, or decision that overturned
By JONATHAN MATTISE yard sign with profane lan- Tuesday that Pereira’s po- immoral character which the conviction of a man in
Associated Press guage condemning both litical sign is not obscene, would offend public morals California who entered a
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A President Joe Biden and and the city cannot lawful- or decency” and “state- courthouse wearing a jack-
federal judge has ruled that former President Donald ly regulate people’s points ments, words or pictures of et with a message against
a Tennessee woman has a Trump. of view. an obscene nature.” the draft that included
constitutional right to post a Julie Pereira set up a sign in “We are proud to have pro- Initially, Pereira censored profanity.q