Prosecutors recently announced that they'd seek capital murder charges in the Buffalo mass shooting case, despite a moratorium on the federal death penalty that's held for nearly three years. Alabama recently became the first state to perform an execution using nitrogen gas. Former President Donald Trump has drawn frequent applause at rallies when calling for drug dealers to be put to death. Capital punishment may not be dominating the 2024 presidential race, but it could quickly seize the political spotlight after November. Greater urgency could follow if Trump retakes the White House and hustles to resume federal executions, as promised.