Wednesday, March 29, 2017

National Democratic Redistricting Committee Update




Republican Gerrymandered Districts after the 2010 Census have put Democrats at a massive structural disadvantage. That’s why the most important turning point for the future of the Democratic Party will take place in 2021: when States redraw their Congressional and State Legislative lines.

The National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC) is an organization of Democratic Leaders enacting a comprehensive, multi-cycle Democratic Party Redistricting strategy over the next 5 years and beyond.

Chaired by former Attorney General Eric Holder, the NDRC was created in 2016 to build a targeted, State-by-State strategy that ensures Democrats can produce fairer Maps in the 2021 Redistricting process. With fairer Maps, Democrats can rebuild the Party from the State level, and secure a stable Federal majority for the decade to come.

The NDRC will set strategic priorities for Democrats to impact the 2021 Redistricting process. This redistricting strategy has three main components:

ELECTORAL – The NDRC will focus on winning critical State Elections that impact Redistricting. The NDRC will coordinate and support State-based Electoral work led by the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, Democratic Governors Association, while supporting other key down-ballot Races with Redistricting implications.

LEGAL – The NDRC will ensure that Democrats have the necessary resources to fight for better Maps. The NDRC will support ongoing infrastructure to guide a proactive Legal strategy using data, technical, and map-drawing resources.

BALLOT INITIATIVES – The NDRC will invest in targeted initiative Campaigns, in States where Ballot Reforms are an effective means to changing Maps.

Starting in 2017, the NDRC will enact these strategies on a year-by-year, cycle-by-cycle basis, providing a framework by which Democrats can take action to undo GOP Gerrymandering and reshape the 2021 Maps.

Georgia House Redistricting Plan

Georgia House Republicans made a last second effort to Re-Gerrymander 9 Districts to protect previously vulnerable Republicans. The Bill, HB 515, moves some predominantly Minority Precincts out of Republican-held Districts and into Democratic Districts.

NDRC Chairman Eric Holder, the former U.S. Attorney General, released the following statement on the Georgia House redistricting plan, calling on the Senate and Governor to reject the maneuver:

“The Georgia House’s last-minute power grab is political map-rigging at its worst. In a brazen political move, the House moved African-American voters out of swing districts to protect incumbents. Voters should choose their elected representatives, not the other way around. Instead, politicians in the Georgia House chose their voters behind closed doors in a secretive process without voter input. Governor Deal and the Georgia Senate should reject this attempt to rig the political system.”

NDRC Statement on Texas Redistricting Ruling

The National Democratic Redistricting Committee released the following statement in response to the Federal Court Ruling on the Racial Gerrymandering of Congressional Districts in Texas:

“This Texas ruling is another major legal victory for fairer maps in America,” said NDRC General Counsel and Senior Advisor Marc Elias, Chair of Perkins Coie’s Political Law Practice. “Yet again, courts have sent a clear message that unconstitutional racial gerrymandering and violations of the Voting Rights Act will not stand in the United States of America. The National Democratic Redistricting Committee will act quickly on a proactive legal strategy that will build upon these recent victories.”

Holder, Elias Statement on Supreme Court’s Virginia Redistricting Ruling

The National Redistricting Committee released the following statements in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling in Bethune-Hill v. Virginia State Board of Elections:

“This is a major victory in the fight to overturn gerrymandering in Virginia and around the country. Racial gerrymandering in Virginia has left minority voters underrepresented in government. This ruling opens the door for the National Democratic Redistricting Committee to take proactive legal action against the gerrymandering that has rigged the American political system.” – NDRC Chairman Eric Holder

“The ruling in Bethune Hill overturns a lower court decision and sends a clear warning ahead of the 2020 Census to Republicans who engage in illegal racial gerrymandering. This significant step forward will lead to more racial gerrymandering litigation in other states. Bethune Hill sets important legal precedent and will lead to fairer maps for the voters of Virginia.” – NDRC General Counsel and Senior Advisor Marc Elias.

Holder, the former U.S. Attorney General, made Voting Rights a hallmark of his tenure as Attorney General. Elias, Chair of Perkins Coie’s Political Law Practice, argued the Case before the Supreme Court on December 5th.











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