The Court's Constitutional Decision
The Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship on constitutional grounds on the final day of its term, ruling in Trump v. Barbara that the 14th Amendment grants citizenship to nearly everyone born on American soil, including children of parents who are unlawfully present or hold temporary legal status. The 6-3 decision dealt a major setback to President Trump's immigration agenda and has been welcomed by civil rights groups.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson admonished fellow Justice Clarence Thomas for his dissent, accusing him in a 20-page concurring opinion of applying a "narrow vision" of the 14th Amendment. The great-grandson of Wong Kim Ark, the Chinese American at the center of the historical case that established the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship, called Tuesday's ruling a victory for all Americans, saying it reaffirmed that precedent.
Justice Department's Response to the Ruling
The Justice Department responded to its loss by directing federal prosecutors to prioritize fraud charges in alleged cases of birth tourism. A memo from the office of the deputy attorney general on Tuesday instructed staff to bring such charges as a response to the Supreme Court's decision. The court did not decide whether birthright citizenship is good policy, leaving that debate to lawmakers and voters.
Colorado's Democratic Primary Upsets
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser won the Democratic nomination for governor Tuesday, defeating U.S. Senator Michael Bennet in a primary upset that underscored voter frustration with Washington. Weiser led Bennet 55% to 45%, according to early returns posted by the Secretary of State's Office, with the Associated Press calling the race less than an hour after polls closed at 7pm.
Weiser cast himself as the "fighter" against Trump, pointing to more than 65 lawsuits his office filed against the administration. The race hinged on who Democrats trusted most to fight Trump, with little ideological daylight between the candidates. Weiser gained momentum late by shifting to a more progressive posture. Democrats have dominated statewide elections for more than a decade, making Weiser the early favorite for November.
Left-Wing Victories in House Races
The 29-year-old Democratic Socialist Melat Kiros ousted Rep. Diana DeGette, one of Colorado's longest-serving Democrats, in the primary for the 1st District. Kiros, a former attorney who is now a doctoral student, represents the latest candidate to rise from the party's left flank and boot establishment-backed candidates. Her victory is sure to delight Republicans while worrying House Democratic leadership ahead of November.
In Colorado's 8th Congressional District, state Rep. Manny Rutinel defeated former state Rep. Shannon Bird in the Democratic primary to take on Republican Rep. Gabe Evans, who is considered one of the most vulnerable Republicans up for reelection this year. Rutinel, an attorney and former economist for the U.S. government, will face Evans in a battleground district in November.
