Former Legal professional Common Eric Holder spoke with Home Democrats on Wednesday about methods to fight what’s rapidly changing into a nationwide redistricting battle.
In line with CBS Information, Eric Holder appeared together with Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries in a digital name hosted by the Democratic Congressional Marketing campaign Committee. A supply informed CBS Information that Holder supplied “a high-level overview to the Home Democratic Caucus on the newest within the combat towards Donald Trump’s gerrymandering scheme in Texas and throughout the nation,” through the name.
Eric Holder is the chair of the Nationwide Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC) and has been a staunch opponent of gerrymandering for years. My curiosity in gerrymandering really stems from seeing Holder converse at my church in regards to the situation a number of years in the past. Up till that time, I didn’t notice how one thing as boring as drawing a map might have such a pronounced impact on democracy.
The redistricting battle started final month when President Trump requested Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to set off a uncommon, mid-decade redistricting forward of the 2026 midterms. Democrats solely want a web acquire of three seats to flip management of the Home of Representatives subsequent 12 months. Gov. Abbott used the devastating floods that hit the state over the Fourth of July weekend to name a particular legislative session. As an alternative of debating laws that would supply flood reduction, Texas Republicans started drafting new electoral maps.
Texas’ redistricting effort resulted in a brand new map that provides 5 Home seats in districts Trump received by double digits in 2024. Texas Democrats left the state two weeks in the past to interrupt quorum and forestall the map from going by means of. The particular session ended with out a vote on the map, with the Texas Democrats returning to the state this weekend. Gov. Abbott has already said his intent to right away begin one other particular session to cross the brand new map by means of.
Holder’s name with Home Democrats got here solely a day earlier than California Gov. Gavin Newsom introduced the Election Rigging Response Act. California will maintain a particular election on Nov. 4, the place voters will resolve whether or not or not maps designed to counter Texas’s redistricting effort will go into impact. Ought to voters approve California’s redistricting effort, the state legislature will management California’s electoral maps in 2026, 2028, and 2030, at which level management will revert to the state’s impartial fee.
Texas’ redistricting effort has triggered a nationwide redistricting battle in each Blue and Purple states. The New York state legislature launched a invoice permitting it to set off a mid-decade redistricting if one other state did so first. Ohio is at present redrawing its electoral maps, and officers in Florida and Missouri have publicly said they intend to affix the redistricting fray. It’s no exaggeration to say a battle for American democracy is at present underway.
Eric Holder issued an announcement final month in assist of Democratic efforts to fight the Texas redistricting effort. “On this second, steps have to be taken to reply to the authoritarian measures being thought-about in sure states and now so openly taken in Texas,” Holder stated in an announcement. “We should protect our democracy now to be able to in the end heal it.”
SEE ALSO:
Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom Counters Texas Redistricting Effort
Texas Democrats Will Return To State After Particular Session Ends
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