Biweekly Policy Briefing: Issue XXXVIIII

Democracy

1. Alabama may use 2023 congressional map
   The U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 2 that Alabama may use its 2023 congressional map in the 2026 elections, temporarily blocking a lower court order that found the map unlawfully diluted Black voting power. The decision follows the court’s recent ruling in Louisiana v. Callais and allows Alabama to proceed with elections under the disputed map while legal challenges continue.
2. Redistricting litigation continues for Louisiana
   Louisiana’s congressional map remains the subject of ongoing redistricting litigation after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled April 29 that the map constituted an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. The decision follows years of legal challenges over the creation of a second majority-Black congressional district and could affect district boundaries used in future elections.
3. Redistricting debate continues for South Carolina
   South Carolina lawmakers continue to debate congressional redistricting ahead of the 2026 elections after Gov. Henry McMaster called a special legislative session in May. The state House approved a new congressional map, but the Senate adjourned without advancing the proposal after rejecting a motion to end debate.

Election Results

1. North County races are taking shape
   Early results from San Diego County’s June 2 primary election show several North County races beginning to take shape, though hundreds of thousands of ballots remain uncounted. San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones leads the District 5 County Supervisor race, County Supervisor Jim Desmond holds an early lead in the 48th Congressional District contest, and former San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott leads the race for the 40th State Senate District. Officials cautioned that results could change as additional ballots are processed.
2. Measure A trails in early results
   Early election results show San Diego’s Measure A trailing by more than 16 percentage points. Supporters and opponents of the proposed tax on certain non-primary residences said they will continue monitoring results as vote counting continues.
3. Imperial Valley incumbents appear poised to retain their seats
   Several incumbent officeholders appear on track to retain their seats following early returns from the June 2 primary election. Among them are state Sen. Steve Padilla and Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez, who represent Imperial Valley, as well as Rep. Raul Ruiz. Final results remain unofficial and subject to additional ballot counts.
4. Stay up to speed as the counts continue
   Election results from San Diego County’s June 2 primary election are available online, with Imperial County’s results available here. Both will continue to be updated as additional ballots are counted.

Nonprofits

1. Proposed new rules could shift federal grant priorities and review process
   The White House has proposed new rules that would require federal grants to align with President Donald Trump’s policy priorities and undergo review by political appointees before approval. The proposal would impose new restrictions on grant funding for a wide range of recipients, including nonprofits, universities, local governments, and research institutions. The rules are expected to undergo a public comment period before being finalized.

Immigration

1. More than 117,000 immigration cases forced to shift from San Francisco
   San Francisco’s primary immigration court closed May 1 after nearly all of its judges were fired, retired, or resigned, shifting more than 117,000 cases to a courthouse in Concord. The closure comes amid broader changes to the immigration court system, including judge reductions and efforts to address a nationwide backlog of 3.8 million asylum cases.
2. Immigration attorneys challenge bond practices 
   Immigration attorneys are challenging what they describe as increasingly restrictive bond practices in immigration courts, arguing that some detainees are being assigned unusually high bonds or denied release despite favorable federal court rulings.
3. ICE to stop reporting the deaths of recently released detainees
   U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will no longer publicly report deaths that occur within 30 days of a person’s release from custody, reversing a policy adopted in 2021 to increase transparency and oversight. The change comes as the agency faces growing scrutiny over detainee deaths and medical care in immigration detention facilities, with critics arguing the move could reduce public accountability.

Takeaways & Resources

Actions you can take

1. Review public input on San Diego budget
   Review the results of public input into the City of San Diego’s budget and the city’s May revise.
2. Learn election protection strategies
   The California Policy Forum will host a webinar June 16 focused on election protection strategies and voting access ahead of upcoming elections. The event will bring together nonprofit leaders, philanthropic organizations, and community advocates to discuss efforts to combat voter suppression and support secure voting processes.
3. Attend statewide session on immigrant community well-being
   Attend a statewide session on June 24 on immigrant community well-being. Led by Grantmakers Concerned With Immigrants and Refugees, this space will explore how current federal and state actions are affecting immigrant communities’ well-being and discuss why investing at the intersection of health and immigration is essential to advancing health equity.
4. Get up to speed on the opposition to California’s newly qualified voter ID ballot measure
   A coalition of voting rights, philanthropic, and community organizations is organizing opposition to California’s newly qualified voter ID ballot measure ahead of the November election. The group argues that the proposal could affect voter participation and plans to coordinate education, outreach, and fundraising efforts in the coming months.