In California's 16th Congressional District, two Democratic candidates, State Assemblyman Evan Low and Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian, have tied for second place in the nonpartisan primary election, with former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo leading. If the results are certified, all three candidates will appear on the November ballot. The election will determine the successor to Rep. Anna Eshoo, who announced her retirement after more than three decades in Congress.
The Florida Supreme Court has approved two proposed amendments to be on the November ballot, one for legalizing recreational marijuana and the other for protecting abortion rights, despite objections from the attorney general. The court upheld a 15-week abortion ban but also allowed an initiative to "limit government interference with abortion" to proceed to the ballot. If approved by 60% of voters, abortion rights will be enshrined in the state constitution. Additionally, the court approved a measure to legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older, allowing companies that grow and sell medical marijuana to sell it for any reason.
Ohio voters will have the opportunity to decide whether the right to an abortion should be added to the state constitution in the upcoming November ballot. The proposed amendment would establish a "fundamental right to reproductive freedom" with "reasonable limits" and require restrictions on abortions past the viability of the fetus to be based on evidence of patient health and safety benefits. Republican lawmakers have set a special election next month to raise the threshold for passing the amendment from a simple majority to 60%. Ohio's anti-abortion network has vowed to oppose the proposal, while opponents argue that it could potentially override Ohio's parental consent laws.
The Coalition to Regulate Alcohol Like Marijuana in Ohio has submitted over 222,000 signatures for a proposed law that would legalize recreational marijuana in the state. The measure would allow adults aged 21 and older to buy, possess, and grow cannabis, with certain limits. The proposal also includes a 10% tax on products, with revenue allocated to administrative costs, addiction treatment programs, municipalities with dispensaries, and a social equity and jobs program. The signatures will be verified by July 20 to determine if the proposal will make it onto the November ballot.
