Past News Alerts
League of Women Voters Condemns Political Assassination of Minnesota Lawmakers
Political violence has no place in our democracy.
June 14, 2025
WASHINGTON & MINNEAPOLIS – The following is a joint statement from LWVUS CEO Celina Stewart and LWV Minnesota Executive Director Michelle Witte:
“The League of Women Voters is shocked and horrified by the tragic and targeted killing of public servant and Speaker Emerita of the Minnesota House of Representatives Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, as well as the shooting of State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman. We extend our deepest condolences to the Hortman and Hoffman families, their loved ones, and the communities they have served with dedication and integrity…
League of Women Voters Supports Right to Protest
June 12, 2025
Today, the League of Women Voters issued the following statement in support of the right to protest across the country.
“There is nothing more fundamentally American than protesting injustice. Protest is how our nation began, protest is how our rights were secured, and protest is the very foundation of a healthy democracy.
League of Women Voters Condemns the Violent Removal of Senator Alex Padilla from a DHS Press Conference
June 12, 2025
Los Angeles, CA — Following the violent removal of US Senator Alex Padilla at a press conference held by the Department of Homeland Security in Los Angeles, California, the League of Women Voters of the United States and League of Women Voters of California issued the following statement:
“The League of Women Voters strongly condemns the violent treatment of California Senator Alex Padilla for asking a question during a press conference. Senator Padilla was using his right as a US senator to question the appointed leader of a taxpayer-funded federal agency.
League of Women Voters Responds to Federal Indictment of NJ Representative LaMonica McIver
June 11, 2025
Newark, NJ — Today, the League of Women Voters of the United States and the League of Women Voters of New Jersey issued the following joint statement in response to the indictment of Representative LaMonica McIver on federal charges brought by the Department of Justice for an alleged altercation with immigration officers outside a New Jersey immigrant detention center.
“The announcement by US Attorney Alina Habba of the indictment of Representative McIver for conducting appropriate oversight function is troubling. These charges can be construed as a weapon…
League of Women Voters Condemns Use of Federal Force on Peaceful Protestors
June 8, 2025
LOS ANGELES, CA; WASHINGTON, DC — League of Women Voters of California Executive Director Helen Hutchison and League of Women Voters of the US CEO Celina Stewart issued the following joint statement in response to the deploying of National Guard troops against largely peaceful protestors in Los Angeles County.
“The President villainizing protestors is nothing but a performance to direct violence against the American people. By deploying the National Guard, against the wishes of state officials, the administration intends to cause fear and distract from their inhumane immigration raids…
League of Women Voters Files Briefs Opposing Executive Order Attacking Birthright Citizenship
June 6, 2025
In the past two weeks, the League of Women Voters, NAACP, and Equal Justice Society filed a series of amicus briefs urging federal courts to invalidate an illegal executive order issued by President Trump seeking to revoke birthright citizenship. The briefs, identical to one filed in April by the same organizations in Washington v. Trump, were filed in New Jersey v. Trump, Casa v. Trump, and New Hampshire Indonesian Community Support v. Trump – other cases challenging the executive order.
Represented by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, these filings reinforce that birthright citizenship is a right rooted in the purpose of the Reconstruction Amendments, which were established to end slavery, ensure due process, and fortify voting rights. Collectively, these amendments protect the full personhood and civil rights of Black Americans and other historically excluded communities.
The brief also makes the case that the executive order would erode American democracy by diminishing the ability for Black Americans and other communities of color to meaningfully participate in democracy. The order would drastically reshape the electorate and reimpose a racial hierarchy previously abolished by the Reconstruction Amendments.
“The Fourteenth Amendment is unequivocal and clear: any person born in the United States is a US citizen,” said Celina Stewart, chief executive officer of the League of Women Voters of the United States. “The intent of the Fourteenth Amendment laid the groundwork for civil rights advancements in this country while securing a legal framework for equality in America. The League of Women Voters of the US will continue pushing this administration to honor the Constitution, push back on direct attacks on Black Americans and fight to ensure the promise of American democracy and personhood.”
Read the press release from Washington v. Trump, here.
Dangerous and Unprecedented: LWVUS Responds to the President Directing DOJ to Investigate Political Rivals
June 5, 2025
Washington, DC — President Trump directed the Department of Justice to work with his White House counsel to investigate "the circumstances surrounding Biden's supposed execution of numerous executive actions during his final years in office," according to a statement from the White House. In response, Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters of the United States, issued the following statement:
“In yet another dangerous and unprecedented move, President Trump has overstepped the power of his office. The president of the United States should never direct the attorney general or any government official to investigate political opponents…
US Senate Sidestepping Rules Opens a Dangerous Door for Attacks on Checks and Balances
May 30, 2025
Last week, the US Senate majority officially obstructed the ruling of the Senate Parliamentarian and weakened the filibuster rule by expanding the application of the Congressional Review Act in a vote intended to undo California’s electric vehicle mandate. This action could have ramifications for other bills the Senate is considering. In response, Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters, released the following statement:
“Senate Republicans ignored Senate rules to advance their own political agenda, most recently undermining the body’s parliamentary process to block a state-specific environmental rule…
Federal Court Approves a Consent Agreement To Protect Citizens from the Use of AI Technology to Intimidate, Threaten, Coerce, or Deceive Voters
Court-Approved Settlement Resolves League of Women Voters’ Robocall Lawsuit Against Voice Broadcasting Corporation and Life Corporation
May 29, 2025
Concord, NH — On May 29, 2025, the US District Court in New Hampshire approved a consent judgment resolving claims brought by the League of Women Voters of New Hampshire (LWVNH), the League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS), and three individual voters against Voice Broadcasting Corporation and Life Corporation.
The lawsuit, filed in March 2024 by plaintiffs represented by Free Speech For People, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, and local counsel Preti, Flaherty, Beliveau & Pachios, Chartered, LLP, alleged that thousands of New Hampshire voters received robocalls using artificial intelligence to mimic then-President Biden’s voice. The calls, which spoofed a prominent New Hampshire Democrat, falsely warned voters that participating in the primary would forfeit their right to vote in the general election, urging them to “save” their vote. The complaint named political consultant Steve Kramer and three corporations, including Voice Broadcasting Corporation and Life Corporation, as orchestrating and disseminating the message.
Under the consent judgment, Voice Broadcasting Corporation and Life Corporation acknowledge that the robocall, orchestrated by their former client Steve Kramer, “had the potential to intimidate voters.” The companies have agreed to refrain from intimidating, threatening, or coercing voters in connection with U.S. elections and will implement a compliance plan to prevent the transmission of such messages in the future.
For more information about the consent judgment, click here.
To learn more about the case, click here.
League of Women Voters Files Brief Opposing Executive Order Attacking Birthright Citizenship
May 29, 2025
Yesterday, the League of Women Voters, NAACP, and Equal Justice Society filed an amicus brief urging a federal court to invalidate an illegal executive order issued by President Trump seeking to revoke birthright citizenship. This brief, identical to one filed in April by the same organizations in Washington v. Trump, is being filed in New Jersey v. Trump – another case challenging the executive order.
Represented by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, this filing reinforces that birthright citizenship is a right rooted in the purpose of the Reconstruction Amendments, which were established to end slavery, ensure due process, and fortify voting rights. Collectively, these amendments protect the full personhood and civil rights of Black Americans and other historically excluded communities.
The brief also makes the case that the executive order would erode American democracy by diminishing the ability for Black Americans and other communities of color to meaningfully participate in democracy. The order would drastically reshape the electorate and reimpose a racial hierarchy previously abolished by the Reconstruction Amendments.
“The Fourteenth Amendment is unequivocal and clear: any person born in the United States is a US citizen,” said Celina Stewart, chief executive officer of the League of Women Voters of the United States. “The intent of the Fourteenth Amendment laid the groundwork for civil rights advancements in this country while securing a legal framework for equality in America. The League of Women Voters of the US will continue pushing this administration to honor the Constitution, push back on direct attacks on Black Americans and fight to ensure the promise of American democracy and personhood.”
Read the press release from Washington v. Trump, here.
Take Action to Protect Our Constitutional Rights
A Constitutional Convention — an “Article V Convention” — can be called for by a state for any reason. BUT – even a convention called for a specific purpose could spin out of control. There are no rules to limit what can be proposed or changed, giving powerful special interests free rein to rewrite the Constitution behind closed doors. Former Chief Justice Warren Burger warned: “There is no way to effectively limit or muzzle the actions of a Constitutional Convention.”
Tell your state Senator to vote YES on SJR-1
Senate Joint Resolution 1 (Wiener), sponsored by the League of Women Voters of California, would rescind all of California’s prior calls for an Article V Constitutional Convention. In today’s political climate, where extremist forces are actively seeking to undermine democracy, California’s open calls for a convention offer a direct pathway to chaos. California has seven open calls on the books—each one an open invitation to dismantle the Constitution. SJR-1 is our chance to close that door before it’s too late.
ACT NOW! STAND WITH THE LEAGUE. STAND UP FOR DEMOCRACY. SUPPORT SJR-1
Read more about SJR-1 by taking a look at the bill’s fact sheet here.
TODAY: League of Women Voters Launches ‘Unite and Rise 8.5’ Initiative
LWV Launches New Initiative to Mobilize 8.5 Million Voters Through Advocacy, Civic Education, and Engagement
May 1, 2025
Washington, DC — Today, the League of Women Voters of the United States, a century-old nonpartisan organization, launched a powerful new initiative, Unite and Rise 8.5, which aims to engage and mobilize 8.5 million voters through advocacy, civic education, and community engagement. On April 17, 2025, Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters, and Dianna Wynn, president of the League of Women Voters, took the serious step of labelling our current moment a constitutional crisis, and concurrently announced the Unite and Rise 8.5 initiative.
“In first 100 days of the Trump administration, as our constitution and rule of law have been assailed, the democracy movement has been on the defensive,” said Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters of the United States. “Today, that changes. Unite and Rise 8.5 embodies a proactive, positive vision of what America can be — something that anyone who cares about democracy, no matter their party affiliation, can participate in. More than 105 years ago, women of all political leanings fought together for the freedom to vote, and the unprecedented political moment we find ourselves in today demands we take action to lead a movement again.”
Over the next year and a half, Unite and Rise 8.5, which expands the League’s existing power-building work, will encourage Americans to reinvigorate our civic life through education and engagement, public mobilization, partnership-building, and policy advocacy.
Unite and Rise 8.5 builds on LWV’s pro-democracy actions of the past three months. For example, on April 30, League members from Washington DC, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia gathered at the US Capitol to meet with their representatives in a coordinated all-member lobby day to demand that Congress protect the rule of law, defend the Constitution, and end the overreach by the executive branch of government.
To learn more and be part of the movement, check out our Unite and Rise 8.5 landing page.
Background: LWV launched Unite and Rise 8.5 because our country is in a constitutional crisis — and it is up to all Americans, no matter their political leaning, to engage, mobilize, and push back against anti-democratic threats.
According to Harvard political scientist Erica Chenoweth, 3.5 percent of a population can successfully pressure a government to accommodate their movement, leading to policy change. Approximately 245 million Americans were eligible to vote in the 2024 general election; 3.5 percent of these eligible voters is roughly 8.5 million voters. The League’s initiative will test the theory that it takes 3.5% of a population to protect democracies.
The Unite and Rise 8.5 initiative is a part of LWV's Women Defend Democracy campaign.
League of Women Voters of California Seeks to Protect Mailed Ballots in California
April 21, 2025
San Diego, CA — Hundreds of thousands of California voters could have their ballots wrongfully discounted, according to a motion to intervene filed by the League of Women Voters of California (LWVC) on Friday, April 18 against a lawsuit seeking to block counting mailed ballots received after Election Day.
The LWVC, represented by the ACLU and the ACLU Foundations of Northern California, Southern California, and San Diego & Imperial Counties, seeks to intervene in a lawsuit brought last month by California Congressman Darrell Issa. Issa’s suit alleges that the state is violating federal election laws by allowing voters who cast and mail their mail ballots by Election Day to have those ballots counted if they are received within seven days after Election Day. Issa’s lawsuit, if successful, would require voters to mail their ballots well in advance of Election Day or risk that their vote will not be counted…
Contact Us
League of Women Voters ® of Torrance Area
Email: League@LWVTorranceArea.org
Phone: (310) 223-6897
Mailing address: P.O. Box 964
Torrance, CA 90508
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