Maine and Alaska each use ranked choice voting to determine the winners of their electoral votes for president, and with independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the ballot in Maine and aiming to qualify for access in Alaska, it’s more likely that this process will come into play.

Under the system, voters rank the candidates in order of preference. If someone wins a majority of first-choice votes, that candidate is elected. But if not, voters’ other choices are used to determine a winner.

Would you die for your country?

Selection of Smerconish daily headlines

Ilhan Omar Wins Primary in Minnesota, The Hill
Rep. Ilhan Omar secured a victory in the Democratic primary for Minnesota’s 5th District, defeating Don Samuels and solidifying her path to likely reelection in November.

$20 Billion More Military Aid for Israel, USA Today
The State Department approved a $20 billion sale to Israel, including F-15 fighter jets, tank shells, and other military equipment, reinforcing U.S. support amid the Gaza conflict.

Media Refusing To Publish Leaked Info, Associated Press
Multiple news outlets declined to publish leaked confidential material from the Trump campaign, opting instead to focus on the potential foreign hack that provided the documents.

Who’s Winning in 7 Battlegrounds, Yahoo! News
Harris and Trump are neck-and-neck in the latest polls across seven key swing states, with Harris holding narrow leads in the Rust Belt while Trump remains competitive in the Sun Belt.

Americans Want Companies To Stay Quiet, Gallup
Most Americans now prefer businesses to stay silent on public policy, as political endorsements and public stances risk alienating customers, especially in the lead-up to the election.

Top 10 Causes of Death In America, U.S. News & World Report
Heart disease and cancer remain the leading causes of death in the U.S. in 2023, with COVID-19 dropping to 10th place as overall mortality rates declined, according to CDC data.

Walz Responds to Vance on Military, USA Today
Over 1,000 veterans and military families have condemned Trump and JD Vance for their politically motivated attacks on Tim Walz’s military service, calling them disrespectful.

This Is for All the Lonely People, Vox
Loneliness in America affects all demographics, with men, young adults, and marginalized groups especially at risk due to social isolation, life changes, and mental health challenges.

Kamala Harris is officially the Democratic presidential nominee, but Donald Trump is continuing to describe the vice president’s elevation to the top of her party’s ticket as “unconstitutional” and accusing her of taking part in a “coup.”

No serious effort to challenge Harris’ status as the Democratic nominee is underway. But some of Trump’s critics warn that the former president could be laying the groundwork to question the outcome of the 2024 election if he loses a second time.

Democrats are set to gather next week in Chicago for a national convention at which they’ll rally around Harris as their new standard-bearer after President Joe Biden’s decision not to seek reelection.

The Democratic National Committee made it official last week: Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz are the party nominees for president and vice president, respectively. Convention delegates held a virtual roll call ahead of the convention, with Harris receiving 99% support from the participating delegates.