Texas voter ID law “will take effect immediately,” says Attorney General Greg Abbott  —  update: The Texas DPS will start issuing voter IDs on Thursday.  More below  —  WASHINGTON — The implications of today's landmark ruling could be swift and stunning.

On Voting Rights, A Decision As Lamentable as Plessy or Dred Scott  —  Splitting 5-4 along ideological lines, today the Supreme Court ruled a key provision of the Voting Rights Act unconstitutional.  —  Let's be clear about what has just happened.  Five unelected, life-tenured men …

Rep. John Lewis: Supreme Court put a ‘dagger’ in Voting Rights Act  —  (CNN) - Longtime congressman and veteran civil rights icon John Lewis said the Supreme Court's ruling on the Voting Rights Act dealt a major blow to minorities in the United States.  —  “It is awful, it's a sad day …

Justice Ginsburg Slams Supreme Court's ‘Hubris’ In Fiery Dissent On Voting Rights Act  —  Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg penned the fierce dissent against the Supreme Court's 5-4 decision Tuesday to invalidate a key section of the Voting Rights Act, accusing the conservative justices of displaying “hubris” and a lack of sound reasoning.

DFL Rep. Winkler tweets and deletes “Uncle Thomas” referencing Supreme Court Justice  —  State Rep. Ryan Winkler has deleted and apologized for using a racial epithet in a tweet about Tuesday's Supreme Court ruling on the Voting Rights Act.  —  “VRA majority is four accomplices …

RECENT MASSACHUSETTS SENATE ELECTIONS  —  Massachusetts has had five US Senate elections in the last seven years, more than any other state.  —  Year Results  —  Democrat Elizabeth Warren polled strongly in heavily Democratic greater Boston, and in cities statewide, to defeat incumbent Republican Scott Brown 54 to 46 percent.

Markey tops Gomez for Senate seat  —  Democrat Edward Markey defeated Republican Gabriel Gomez in the Massachusetts special Senate election, confirming consistent polling that had shown him ahead and calming Democratic fears of another special election upset.

Weiner Leads Democrats in Race for NYC Mayor: Poll … Former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner leads City Council Speaker Christine Quinn in the race for New York City's Democratic mayoral nomination for the first time, snatching the frontrunner mantle as the contest heads into the final months before the primary …