Virginia: McAuliffe doubles down on felons’ voting rights. In response to the state Supreme Court 4-3 ruling that declared unconstitutional Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s (D) blanket granting of voting rights to some 206,000 ex-felons, the governor not only will appeal the ruling, but has instructed his staff to begin the process of granting individual pardons to some 13,000 ex-felons who had already registered ……. Texas: GOP margins shrinking. In a Washington Post column last week, conservative columnist George Will noted that, despite winning every election for statewide office since 1994, Lone Star Republicans are facing a decline in support. In 2000, Republican top-of-the ticket statewide candidates averaged 60%; in 2008, 53%. And in 2008, GOP candidates for down-ballot offices averaged only 51% ……. North Carolina: Burr waging last campaign. Second-term US Sen. Richard Burr (R) told the state’s GOP convention delegation that this is his last hurrah. He said if reelected in November, he will not seek reelection in 2022. Burr cited age (60) as the reason, telling the News & Observer that he wants to return to the private sector before he fully retires …….