Zach Montellaro

Louisana asks Supreme Court to gut Voting Rights Act and ban use of race in redistricting The case could strike a major blow to the landmark civil rights-era law.

Louisiana is asking SCOTUS to overturn precedent and entirely ban the use of race in redistricting, making the unusual decision to not defend its own map. It represents an existential challenge to the Voting Rights Act. My latest: www.politico.com/news/2025/08...

Trump’s elections power grab

Trump's assertion that he has the authority to issue national election policy by decree is an audacious power grab, one that crosses a significant red line on elections — a line that Republicans have vigorously defended in the past. My latest for Nightly www.politico.com/newsletters/...

It’s been 60 years since the Voting Rights Act was signed. Will it make it to 61?

The Voting Rights Act recently celebrated its 60th anniversary. But will it make it to 61? My latest on the significant legal challenges the landmark civil rights law is facing in front of the Supreme Court, for POLITICO Nightly www.politico.com/newsletters/...

The Supreme Court just dropped a hint about its next big Voting Rights Act case In a pending case on Louisiana’s congressional map, the justices ordered briefing on whether it’s constitutional to intentionally draw majority-Black districts.

Last night, the Supreme Court might have dropped a big hint about how it will handle the Voting Rights Act, a law the Roberts court has long been hostile to. More from me and @joshgerstein.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2025/08...

The WrestleMania presidency

Do you want to understand American politics? Watching this weekend's #WrestleMania is a pretty good place to start. My latest on the lessons the president has learned from pro wrestling, in POLITICO Nightly www.politico.com/newsletters/...

my spam work emails are getting a little too philosophical for my tastes

I've finally made it

thank you!!

thanks bud!!

thank you!!

Some personal news, as they say: Excited that I am now the breaking news editor at @politico.com. I've loved my time with the POLITICO Florida team, and can't wait for this new challenge in this urgent moment for news.

And ... we're hiring: recruiting.ultipro.com/PER1013PCLL/...

I'll remember this, Playbook

So does this count as a Ronaissance or a ReSantis? Asking for a friend who may or may not be @zachmontellaro.bsky.social

Supported some nonprofit journalism today for #GivingTuesday from @bolts.bsky.social, @planetmoney.bsky.social and my alma mater The GW Hatchet. Please consider supporting what you read/listen to!

I hate seeing pilots in their full uniform on the metro ... it is unnatural

did john thune even have time to call his family to tell them about the exciting new promotion he got at work

My job has changed since I last logged on here! I am now deputy national editor at @politico.com. I am largely a lurker on Twitter and plan to do the same here, but will try to do my best to cross post on both sites.

Louisiana Legislature spurns Johnson, enacts new House map he opposed The new map means an all-but-certain pickup for House Democrats.

Louisiana has a new congressional map. The Legislature passed lines that will add a second majority-Black district in the state, sacrificing GOP Rep. Garret Graves' home base in the process. Democrats will almost assuredly net one seat. More from me www.politico.com/live-updates...

Why 2023 was a ‘very, very’ good year for voter access

Millions of Americans will be heading to the polls this year. And with 2023 serving as the set-up, it was a "very, very" good year for voter access. A first look at the Institute for Responsive Government's 50 state (and D.C.) scorecard from me, in tonight's Nightly www.politico.com/newsletters/...

These voters will pick the next president. They’re frightened about American democracy. “I almost feel numb to it,” one focus group participant said of the violence on Jan. 6.

Regular voters were asked about the health of American democracy. To say they were discouraged would be an understatement. My report from a focus group in Northampton County, Pa., on Americans' fears of political violence (and more) in 2024 www.politico.com/news/2024/01...

Louisiana could be getting a new congressional map. But we get some fun parochial fights between Gov. Jeff Landry and Bayou State native Speaker Mike Johnson first. A little explainer for what comes next from me, in our Inside Congress newsletter! www.politico.com/newsletters/...

The problem with the caucuses is there's no polls closing time, and the state party started releasing results. Kinda like how some states with multiple timezones will release results before last polls close.

(That being said, I am Team Wait here.)

More: www.politico.com/live-updates...

‘We just hit rock bottom on chaos’: Battleground state GOPs besieged with leadership fights Michigan, Florida, and Nevada are facing leadership crises heading into the 2024 elections.

Republican state parties in several battlegrounds are besieged by leadership fights, from a battle in Michigan over who actually is in charge to Nevada's chair being charged for being a fake elector. Madison Fernandez and I round up what's been going down www.politico.com/news/2024/01...

The changing congressional map is shifting the fight for control of the House With primaries in some states just weeks away, there are still big unresolved questions of what some districts will look like.

We're just weeks away from some congressional primaries, but the House battleground is far from set. Here's a guide from me on all the redistricting changes that have happened since the midterms — and where to watch before November www.politico.com/news/2024/01...

Trump asks Supreme Court to keep him on Colorado ballot The petition asks the justices to reverse last month's decision from Colorado that deemed him ineligible to return to office under the 14th Amendment.

The 14th Amendment ball is really in SCOTUS' court now. Trump has appealed the Colorado decision declaring him ineligible for the presidency to the nation's top court. It is unclear on when they'll act. More from the team www.politico.com/news/2024/01...

Trump appeals Maine decision deeming him ineligible to run for president He is contesting last week's ruling from the Maine secretary of state. A similar case out of Colorado has already reached the U.S. Supreme Court.

Trump has filed an appeal in Maine state court after the state's top election official deemed him ineligible to run for president because of Jan. 6. But in reality, everyone's just waiting for SCOTUS. More from me on the day's filings www.politico.com/news/2024/01...

Everything you need to know about Trump and the 14th Amendment It’s ok to feel confused. It’s confusing. But we’ve got you covered.

And if this whole 14th Amendment/insurrection clause thing is confusing (and that's okay!), you're in luck. The great Kyle Cheney and I wrote a whole explainer earlier today to get you up to speed www.politico.com/news/2023/12...

I spoke with Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows about her decision finding Trump ineligible to run for president under the 14th Amendment. She said it was her duty to do so, and that she doesn't get an out because it is complex. Read more here www.politico.com/news/2023/12...

Maine kicks Trump off ballot under 14th Amendment Bellows, a Democrat, made the call in Maine because state law requires the secretary to adjudicate ballot challenges to candidates’ eligibility. Her decision can be appealed through the state judici...

BREAKING: Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows has determined that Trump is ineligible to be on the ballot in the state, saying he engaged in an insurrection on Jan. 6 and was disqualified under the 14th Amendment. More from me soon www.politico.com/news/2023/12...

Court locks in Georgia's new map that draws Rep. Lucy McBath out of her district The map carved up her "coalition district" to create a majority Black district to Atlanta's west.

A federal court approved Georgia's new congressional lines, which creates another majority Black district by drawing out Lucy McBath's coalition district. (Same partisan balance: 9R, 5D.) Challenges will continue, but this may be it for 2024. More from me www.politico.com/news/2023/12...