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 By Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch

As the campaign season progresses, some Republican supporters are predicting a shake-up in candidates leading the 2024 presidential race. 

• Some analysts say U.S. Sen. Tim Scott could gain momentum in the race, potentially catching up to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, according to CNN.
• Meanwhile, DeSantis' campaign is hoping to "reboot" in the coming weeks to make a bigger splash in the 2024 campaign field per the New York Times.
• As candidates vie to gain ground, former President Donald Trump remains the clear frontrunner — giving so-called "Never Trumpers" a "brutal wake-up call," the Guardian reports.

TOP IMPACT What to read this week

Amid push for hand-counting ballots, Republican senators emphasize legality, not practicality

As they tour the state to try to convince county decision-makers to hand-count ballots in the upcoming presidential election, Republican lawmakers in Arizona are emphasizing one point: They believe it’s legal here.

A trial studying the resources hand-counting ballots would take in Arizona's Mohave County is the latest in a series of attempts from GOP activists to use a lack of specificity in state law to challenge time-tested procedures and create doubts about the accuracy of elections. But the debate over legality is pulling attention from the well-known problems that crop up when trying to hand-count ballots, an especially challenging task in a presidential election with dozens of contests on each ballot and high turnout. | Read more

Trump claims election investigations are themselves ‘election interference’

Former President Donald Trump — who might face criminal charges for attempting to interfere with the outcome of the 2020 presidential election — claimed Tuesday afternoon in Iowa that he is the victim of election interference by federal prosecutors.

Trump announced earlier Tuesday he has received a letter from Special Counsel Jack Smith saying he is a target of the federal investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Typically, such a notice precedes an indictment. | Read more

BIG PICTURE Election coverage across the country

Polls

• Fox Business Poll: Trump leads in Iowa, as DeSantis and Scott round out the top 3 | Fox Business

• Suffolk University Ohio poll shows Sherrod Brown and Trump with narrow leads in 2024 | Ohio Capital Journal

• In new state polling, Ron DeSantis falls back into the 2024 pack | Washington Post

Candidates

• Reynolds invites GOP presidential candidates to event at Iowa State Fair | Iowa Capital Dispatch

• DeSantis isn't the only presidential contender traveling the country while doing a government job | Florida Phoenix

• Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley Are Leading In Early State Visits So Far | FiveThirtyEight

• Jill Biden touts 'Bidenomics' in Pittsburgh stop | Pennsylvania Capital-Star

• 2024 GOP candidates forced to grapple with Iowa's 6-week abortion ban | NBC News

Voting

• Voting rights group files lawsuit against DeSantis on felon voting eligibility | Florida Phoenix

• New Alabama congressional map headed to final votes in Alabama Legislature | Alabama Reflector

• Recall petition bill meets final end after author waives override attempt | Louisiana Illuminator

• ‘Mama bears’ may be the 2024 race’s soccer moms. But where the GOP seeks votes, some see extremism | Associated Press

Commentary

• Campaign rules for the Iowa caucuses have evolved but not changed | Iowa Capital Dispatch

• Amendment is clumsy way to keep Legislature from manhandling voter initiatives | South Dakota Searchlight

• Protecting the sacred right to vote for Native Americans | Source New Mexico

COMING UP Calendar of events

Follow state-level coverage of Election 2024 anytime at News From The States. Send tips and thoughts to ropsahl@iowacapitaldispatch.com, and follow them on Twitter @robinlopsahl.

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