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☆ House GOP’s campaign boss sees Trump boost in pivotal swing districts
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Manu Raju | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

And so I think it’s a net positive.”Even if Trump is convicted of a felony, Hudson predicted it wouldn’t “have an impact” on his candidates in swing districts. There are a limited number of House districts truly at play in the 2024 elections – given many district lines are gerrymandered in a way to protect one party over the other. Democrats have their eyes set on the 17 Biden districts, which will take the race for the House from New York to California. A total of 170 Democrats voted against the legislation, accusing Republicans of exploiting the tragic death of a nursing student in order to score political points. “We’ve pretty much seen the Republicans, especially House Republicans, wait to hear from Trump in terms of deciding whether they even want to move legislation forward.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Trump, Biden, Richard Hudson, “ He’s, Hudson, ”, “ I’ll, Suzan, ” DelBene, “ That’s, Mike Lawler –, –, I’m, Tom Kean Jr, North Carolina –, ” Hudson, “ We’re, “, Riley, Gabe Vasquez, Pat Ryan, Andrea Salinas, Val Hoyle, Oregon, Laken Riley, “ They’re, Roe, Wade, Dobbs, DelBene, … we’ve, Laurie Buckhout, Don Davis, Republican David Valadao –, Mark Harris, Mark Robinson, Harris, Robinson, ” CNN’s Melanie Zanona, Christine Park Organizations: CNN — House Republican, GOP, ”, North Carolina Republican, CNN, Biden, Trump, Republican, Democratic Congressional, “, House Republican Party, Alaska –, Democrats, House, National Republican Congressional Committee, Republicans, House GOP, PAC, Congressional, Fund, Democrat, energize Locations: Washington, New York, United States, New Jersey, Trump, California, Maine, Alaska, Michigan, Louisiana, Alabama, North Carolina, New Mexico, Andrea Salinas of Oregon, Biden’s State

CNN —President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump took big steps toward making their seemingly inevitable rematch official, as both notched huge Super Tuesday wins. Here are takeaways from Super Tuesday:Trump wins bigThe former president continued his run of dominance in the Republican nominating contest, despite losing one state, Vermont, to Nikki Haley. His approval ratings remain low, and the general election horse race polling is worrisome for Democrats. But on Super Tuesday, like every other primary day, he has dominated his few rivals – typically winning around 80% of the vote. “Tonight’s numbers showed that President Biden cannot earn back our votes with just rhetoric,” Vote Uncommitted MN spokesperson Asma Nizami said in a statement.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Trump, “ uncommitted, Biden, suburbanites, Haley, Nikki Haley, CNN’s, there’s, ” Trump, Evan Vucci, Haley —, –, Marianne Williamson, Dean Phillips, who’s, Tapper, Warren, “, uncommitted ”, Uncommitted, Asma Nizami, ’, “ uncommitted ”, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Kennedy, he’s, They’ve, South Carolina Sen, Lindsey Graham —, —, CNN’s Dana Bash, ”, Nikki, ” Graham, Graham, Haley’s, Mark Levin, She’s, — Biden, Jason Palmer, Palmer, hasn’t, Michael Bloomberg, ” Phillips, Biden’s, Mark Robinson, Josh Stein, Roy Cooper, Bill Graham, “ Mark Robinson, Laurie Buckhout’s, Don Davis, Sandy Smith, Smith, Dan Conston, Buckhout, Davis, Nathan L, Gonzales Organizations: CNN, Biden, Tuesday, Trump, Republican, —, AP, GOP, Trump . College, South Carolina, South Carolina Republican, News, American Samoa —, Democratic, Democratic National Convention, New York City, Minnesota Rep, Democratic Party loyalists, Gov, Democratic Gov, North Carolina Republicans, North, Republicans, Congressional, Fund, House GOP, Freedom Caucus, Capitol, Air Force Locations: Vermont, Lago, Palm Beach, Mar, Fla, Gaza, North Carolina, Virginia, Michigan, Israel, Minnesota, Ilhan Omar’s, Minneapolis, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Carolina, … Vermont, American Samoa, New York, Congress, Tarheel State, state’s, North Carolina’s, Washington

☆ Alabama Democrats Swarm to a Rare Chance to Increase Their Power
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Emily Cochrane | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

When the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Alabama’s congressional map last year as an illegal dilution of Black voting power, the decision set in motion a heated redistricting battle. Now, voters on Tuesday will head to the polls for the first time in a newly reshaped Second Congressional District, which was redrawn to give Black voters a fair opportunity to elect a representative of their choice. The shake-up has drawn a field of nearly two dozen candidates, underscoring the rare political opportunity on offer: a primary without an incumbent, and because Black voters historically favor Democrats, a suddenly competitive race in ruby-red Alabama.

Organizations: U.S, Supreme, Congressional, Black Locations: Alabama

☆ Van Jones: There’s hope and despair in what happened to my home state
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Van Jones | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Many were shocked last year when the Tennessee legislature dramatically expelled state representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson. When I was a legislative intern, the state of Tennessee was controlled by the Democrats and my boss was a man named Jimmy Naifeh. But even in my Southern home state, no opponent tried to score cheap political points based on his Arab background. Left-leaning or moderate Tennesseeans have virtually no say in their state legislature on the political matters that govern their lives. Van Jones, with Justin Pearson and Justin Jones CNNSo even on issues like gun violence — on which a large majority of Tennesseans in both parties would like “red flag” laws — nothing gets done.

Persons: Anderson Cooper ”, Van Jones, Justin Jones, Justin Pearson, Gloria Johnson, Pearson, Jones, —, Jimmy Naifeh, I’m, won’t, Odessa Kelly, Kelly, Matthew Shoaf, Shoaf Organizations: CNN, GOP, Tennessee House, Tennessee Capitol, Tennessee, Democrats, Democratic Party, Tea Party, Republican, Justin Jones CNN, Odessa, Democratic, Congressional District, The, The Tennessee General Assembly Locations: Tennessee, Nashville, Lebanese, American, . Tennessee, Democratic, Tennessee’s, The Tennessee, Odessa, Sumner County

☆ Democrats Reject Bipartisan Map and Will Redraw N.Y. House Districts
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Nicholas Fandos | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Democrats seized control over drawing New York’s congressional districts on Monday, rejecting a map proposed by the state’s bipartisan redistricting commission in favor of drafting new lines that could make key swing seats more Democratic. On a day of high drama inside the State Capitol in Albany, party leaders argued that the Senate and Assembly had no choice but to reject the commission map in lopsided votes because it improperly split counties, broke up naturally occurring communities and favored incumbents. But in private conversations, they made little effort to hide their true objective. The exact contours of the replacement districts remained to be seen Monday afternoon. State lawmakers were expected to release a draft of the replacement map as soon as Monday evening, teeing up a vote to approve it later this week.

Organizations: Democratic, Capitol, Assembly, Legislature, Republicans Locations: Albany, New York, Washington, Long Island, Syracuse

But it wasn’t until control of the state Supreme Court flipped in August after the election of liberal Justice Janet Protasiewicz that Democrats found a winning formula. The court accepted maps from the governor, Democratic and Republican lawmakers, as well as three other parties to the redistricting lawsuit. Facing a mid-March deadline from the state elections commission for new maps to be in place, the Legislature on Tuesday passed the Evers maps. “Republicans were not stuck between a rock and hard place,” Republican state Sen. Van Wanggaard said in a statement. The Wisconsin Supreme Court also has been asked by Democrats to take up a challenge to the state’s congressional district lines.

Persons: Tony Evers, Janet Protasiewicz, Protasiewicz, Evers, ”, Robin Vos, Sen, Van Wanggaard Organizations: — Wisconsin Democratic Gov, Republicans, Democrats, Republican, GOP, Democratic, Consultants, Legislature, Gov, Senate, . House, Wisconsin Supreme Locations: MADISON, Wis, Wisconsin

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York’s bipartisan redistricting commission approved a new congressional map Thursday that makes modest changes to three competitive districts but does not substantially change the rest of the state's lines. New York's congressional redistricting process has been closely watched this year as suburban races in the state could have outsize influence on which party controls the House after the November elections. The redistricting commission was tasked with coming up with new districts after the state's highest court in December threw out the map used in the 2022 elections. The panel's new map plan leaves the most of the current congressional districts largely in place, a move that could help head off legal challenges against the proposal. The Independent Redistricting Commission was created under a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2014.

Persons: nix, Brandon Williams, Marc Molinaro, Pat Ryan, George Santos, Tom Suozzi, ”, Charles Nesbitt, ___ Izaguirre, Michael Hill Organizations: Democrat, Republicans, Republican Rep, New, Independent, Democrats, Associated Press Locations: ALBANY, N.Y, Syracuse, Auburn, Cortland, Woodstock, Molinaro's, Albany, New York City, Long, York, Lindenhurst , New York

☆ A Redistricting Surprise in New York: A Map That Plays Few Favorites
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Nicholas Fandos | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

When New York’s top court ordered the state to redraw its congressional map late last year, the state’s ruling Democrats were widely expected to exploit the opening to aggressively reshape district lines in their favor. But on Thursday, a bipartisan state commission created to guide the redistricting process overwhelmingly approved a new proposed map that looks a lot like the current court-drawn map that helped Republicans pick up seats in 2022. The panel’s 9-to-1 vote now thrusts a politically and legally thorny choice on legislative leaders in Albany who have the final say on any plan. They can rubber-stamp the compromise, dashing the hopes of Representative Hakeem Jeffries and other powerful Democrats in Washington, or reject it and risk sending the whole process back to court by pushing for a more favorable alternative.

Persons: Hakeem Jeffries Organizations: Republicans Locations: Albany, Washington

(AP) — A divided Missouri Supreme Court upheld voting districts drawn for the state Senate on Wednesday, rejecting a legal challenge that claimed mapmakers should have placed a greater emphasis on keeping communities intact. The high court's 5-2 decision means the districts, first used in the 2022 elections, will remain in place both for this year's elections and ensuing ones. While a Republican Senate committee supported the Senate map enacted in 2022 by a panel of appeals court judges, a GOP House committee sided with Democratic-aligned voters suing for the districts to be overturned. The third prioritizes “contiguous” and “compact” districts, and the fourth requires communities to be kept whole in districts if possible under the equal population guidelines. The Supreme Court said a trial judge correctly decided that the constitution makes “compact” districts a higher priority than keeping communities intact.

Persons: Judge Kelly Broniec, Mike Parson's, Judge W, Brent Powell, Judge Paul Wilson, ” Powell, Chuck Hatfield, ” Hatfield, I’m, Pro Tem Caleb Rowden, ” Organizations: JEFFERSON CITY, Republicans, Republican, GOP, Democratic, Republican Gov, Pro Locations: Mo, Missouri, Buchanan, Louis, Hazelwood, ”

Turnout tends to be lower, and holding an election during a February snowstorm doesn't make voting any more attractive. The fact that the seat in New York’s 3rd Congressional District was scandal-tainted by Santos means the GOP had an extra burden to motivate their voters. Republicans, meanwhile, tend to show up more on Election Day, and Nassau County Republicans have an unusually good turnout machine. Not only did Suozzi win the election, but he was winning in the Nassau County part of the district by 6 percentage points with 93% of the vote in. That margin would mark a massive shift from 2022, when Santos won the county by 10 percentage points over Democratic foe Robert Zimmerman.

Persons: George Santos, Santos, Tom Suozzi, Republican Mazi, Joe Biden's, Pilip, Donald Trump, weren't, Sen, Chris Murphy, Tom Bonior, Bonior, Robert Zimmerman, There's Organizations: Congressional, GOP, Republican, Republicans, Democratic Congressional, Biden, House Republicans, Senate, Democratic Locations: New York’s, New York, Connecticut, Snowplows, TargetSmart, Nassau, Nassau County, Blue America

Democrat Tom Suozzi flipped a New York congressional seat blue Tuesday night, narrowing the GOP's already razor-thin majority in the House and boosting the spirits of Democrats fretting about President Joe Biden's strength in the fall elections. A centrist Democrat, Suozzi was seeking to get back the job he had before he left to run, unsuccessfully, for the gubernatorial nomination in 2022. Suozzi also faced an electorate unhappy with Biden in general and, in particular, the influx of immigrants over the border. A little-known Nassau County legislator, Pilip is a registered Democrat who was running on the Republican and Conservative Party lines. Democrats also scored a big win in Pennsylvania on Tuesday night, retaining control of the state House with Jim Prokopiak's unexpectedly lopsided victory over Republican Candace Cabanas.

Persons: Tom Suozzi, Joe Biden's, Republican Mazi Pilip, ” Suozzi, ”, Biden, Donald Trump, Alejandro Mayorkas, impeaching, – Suozzi, Democratic Sen, Claire McCaskill, Suozzi, George Santos –, Santos, –, Grace Meng, Pilip, Jim Prokopiak's, Republican Candace Cabanas Organizations: Associated Press, Suozzi, Republican, Nassau, Nassau County Republican, Congressional, Republicans, Homeland, Democratic, MSNBC, Democrat, –, Democratic New York Rep, Conservative Party, Nassau County Republicans, Democrats Locations: York, Nassau County, Israel, Gaza, New, New York, impeaching Mayorkas, Pennsylvania

Special elections Tuesday could provide a high-stakes assessment of how suburban voters feel about the border, abortion rights, the two leading presidential candidates and whether the House of Representatives should be led by Democrats or Republicans. In another race, to fill a vacant seat in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, Democrat Jim Prokopiak is in a close race against Republican Candace Cabanas. But it’s the New York race that has the attention of election-watchers because of its amplified importance in the closely divided House of Representatives. Should Democrats prevail in the toss-up election, they'll flip the seat held by Santos and give themselves some momentum heading into November. Pilip has cast Suozzi as weak on border security, a powerful issue in a state where migrants have been transported after coming over the southern border.

Persons: George Santos, Democrat Jim Prokopiak, Republican Candace Cabanas, Santos, Don Levy, Tom Suozzi, Mazi, Levy, Pilip, Suozzi, Bill Cunningham, Tom Bonier, Bonier, Cunningham, Joe Biden Organizations: Democrats, Voters, Republican, Assembly, Democrat, York, GOP, Siena College Research Institute, Democratic, Rep, Federal, Commission Locations: , New York, Pennsylvania, York, New York

☆ Why the race for the House is the one to watch in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Simone Pathe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

CNN —It won’t suck up anywhere near the oxygen of the presidential election, but the race for the US House of Representatives may be the most exciting campaign to watch in 2024. But in the House, Republicans’ shrinking majority has underscored the importance of the balance of power in Washington. House Republicans currently control 219 seats to Democrats’ 212, with four vacancies. Santos was expelled from the House last year, but he’s not absent from the race. Seats Republicans are targetingThe House GOP campaign arm releases a similar target list, which includes 37 offensive seats this year.

Persons: they’re, Democratic Sen, Joe Manchin’s, –, George Santos ’, Santos, he’s, Joe Biden, Biden, ”, “, Cam Savage, Nathan L, Gonzales, Nick LaLota, Anthony D’Esposito, Mike Lawler, Marc Molinaro, Brandon Williams, John Duarte, David Valadao, Mike Garcia, Young Kim, Michelle Steel, David Schweikert, Juan Ciscomani, Don Bacon of Nebraska, Tom Kean of, Lori Chavez, Brian Fitzpatrick, Jen Kiggans, Tom Suozzi, Donald Trump, Mary Peltola of, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Jared Golden of, Matt Cartwright of, Marcy Kaptur, Kaptur, Elissa Slotkin –, Dan Kildee, Kildee –, don’t, Dale Kildee, Abigail Spanberger, Susan Wild, Emilia Sykes, Yadira, there’s, There’s, Ron DeSantis, Savage, Ron Brownstein, Trump, he’ll, Suozzi, Achim Bergmann, Bergmann, Gavin Newsom, Kathy Hochul, Eric Adams, Roe, Wade, Meredith Kelly Organizations: CNN, US, Democratic, House, Washington . House Republicans, ’, GOP, Santos, PAC, House Democratic, Republican, Congressional, Fund, Blue States Project, Republicans, Biden, New, Democratic Congressional, National Republican, Washington . Rep, –, Democrats, Rep, Independent, GOP Gov, Trump, Democrat, White, California Gov, New York Gov, New York City Locations: West Virginia, Washington, New York, Tuesday’s, York, California, “ California, Republican, Blue States, Michigan, New Mexico , Colorado, North Carolina, Arizona, Tom Kean of New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Iowa, Arizona , Colorado , Montana , Nebraska , Oregon , Texas, Arizona , California, Florida , Michigan, Wisconsin, Mary Peltola of Alaska, Jared Golden of Maine, Matt Cartwright of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan’s 8th, –, Texas, Alabama, It’s, Louisiana, Florida, South Carolina, Charleston, Biden, Long, New

A special election in the suburbs of New York to replace disgraced former Rep. George Santos could offer clues about the mindset of suburban voters everywhere as 2024 election contests ramp up across the country. “This is a big concern for my district,” Pilip said. He had a comfortable victory in his last race in the district in 2020, defeating Santos, then a relatively unknown Republican. Another question that has loomed over the race has been whether the district will exist in its current form for much longer. The ruling was a major win for Democrats in the state who have angled for more favorable congressional districts.

Persons: George Santos, Santos, Tom Suozzi, Mazi Pilip, “, ”, Larry Levy, hasn’t, Pilip, Operation Solomon, Israel, hasn't, Joe Biden, ” Pilip, Suozzi, Biden, “ She’s, I'm, I’m, Donald Trump, Robert Zimmerman Organizations: Republicans, . Rep, Democrat, Republican, National Center for Suburban Studies, Hofstra University, New York City, Democratic, Wall, Democrats Locations: New York, New York City, Queens, Long, Ethiopia, Operation, Horn of Africa, Israel, Ukrainian, Nassau, New, U.S, Mexico, Suozzi

Vying to replace him are former U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi, the Democratic nominee, and Nassau County legislator Mazi Pilip, the nominee for both the Republican and Conservative parties. He has held other elected office on Long Island dating back to the mid-1990s, first as mayor of Glen Cove and later as Nassau County executive. Pilip is an Ethiopian-born former Israeli paratrooper who has served in the Nassau County legislature since her election in 2021. Here’s a look at what to expect on election night:SPECIAL ELECTION DAYThe special election in New York’s third congressional district will be held Tuesday. On Tuesday, the shortest, most direct path to victory would be to win in Nassau County.

Persons: Republican George Santos ’, Santos, Tom Suozzi, Mazi Pilip, Suozzi, Pilip, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Robert Zimmerman, Lee Zeldin, Kathy Hochul, Zeldin, it’s, Rhonda Shafner Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republican, New, U.S, Representative, U.S . Rep, Democratic, Conservative, Democrats, U.S . House, Republicans, Press, WHO, Suozzi, Democratic Gov, Pilip, AP, Queens Locations: Nassau County, Congress, Long, Glen Cove, Ethiopian, Nassau, U.S, New, New York, District, Queens

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Republicans urged the state Supreme Court on Thursday to ignore a report from redistricting consultants that determined GOP-proposed legislative maps were unconstitutional partisan gerrymanders. The liberal-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in December that the current Republican-drawn legislative maps were unconstitutional because not all the districts were contiguous. The court ordered the parties involved in the lawsuit to submit new maps that a pair of consultants then reviewed. While those talks continue, the Supreme Court accepted responses Thursday from Republicans and Democrats to the consultants report. Attorneys for the Legislature argued in their court filing Thursday that the consultants' report was about finding a political remedy to redistricting, not addressing the continuity issue.

Persons: Tony Evers, Evers, Tyler August, Janet Protasiewicz, “, ” Organizations: — Wisconsin Republicans, GOP, Republicans, Assembly, Republican, Democratic Gov, Democrats, U.S, Supreme, Democratic, Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty Locations: MADISON, Wis, Wisconsin

Since most Americans last voted for Congress, thousands of people have been added to certain voting districts — and subtracted from others — under new political maps enacted following court rulings. Here's a look at how voting districts have changed — or could change — before the November elections and what affect that could have on the battle for control of Congress. Perhaps the most notable is Florida, where a trial judge in September ruled that U.S. House districts pushed by Republican Gov. Litigation over congressional districts also is lingering in Arkansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin. The reshaping of voting districts matters, but doesn't necessarily pre-determine the outcome of elections.

Persons: George Santos, Ron DeSantis, “, ”, Chris Warshaw, Warshaw, Jeffrey Wice Organizations: Republicans, GOP, George Santos of New, Supreme, Republican, Assembly, Democratic, New, New York Legislature, Republican Gov, Florida Supreme, George Washington University, Voters, New York Law, Redistricting Locations: November’s U.S, Alabama , Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina . New York, New, George Santos of, George Santos of New York, U.S, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, New York, Florida, Arkansas , South Carolina , Tennessee , Texas , Utah, Wisconsin

Republican U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz announced Monday that she intends to seek reelection for Indiana's 5th Congressional District, reversing an announcement a year ago that she would forgo another run. Last February, Spartz said she wanted to spend more time with her family and would not be running in 2024. But the two-term congresswoman now says she doesn't want her work in the Capitol to end in January. In January, Republicans U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon of Indiana and U.S. Rep. Greg Pence, brother of former Vice President Mike Pence, both announced their decision to forgo reelection in 2024. U.S. Rep. Jim Banks is running for Indiana's U.S. Senate seat vacated by GOP Sen. Mike Braun, who is running for Indiana governor.

Persons: Victoria Spartz, Indiana's, Spartz, ” Spartz, Larry Bucshon, Greg Pence, Mike Pence, Jim Banks, GOP Sen, Mike Braun Organizations: Republican U.S . Rep, Congressional, Washington , D.C, Hoosiers, Republicans, Republicans U.S . Rep, U.S . Rep, Indiana's U.S, Senate, GOP, Indiana Locations: Washington ,, Republic, Indiana

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Eagerly awaited redistricting reports that will recommend new maps expected to reshape the balance of power in the Wisconsin Legislature are due to the state Supreme Court on Thursday. Republicans have indicated that they plan an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing due process violations, but it’s not clear when that would come. It ultimately will be up to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, with a 4-3 liberal majority, to decide which maps to enact. Evers on Tuesday vetoed a last-ditch effort by Republicans to enact new lines to avoid the court ordering maps. The Wisconsin Supreme Court has also been asked by Democrats to take up a challenge to the state's congressional district lines.

Persons: —, Tony Evers, ”, Evers Organizations: Republicans, GOP, Gov, Democratic, Wisconsin Supreme, U.S, Supreme, Senate, Marquette University, . House Locations: MADISON, Wis, Wisconsin

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Louisiana Legislature's redrawn congressional map giving the state a second mostly Black district is being challenged by 12 self-described “non-African American” voters in a new lawsuit. At least one person, state Sen. Cleo Fields, a Black Democrat from Baton Rouge, has already said he will be a candidate in the new district. It is not clear how the lawsuit will affect that district or the 2022 litigation, which is still ongoing. Louisiana's Legislature drew a new map in 2022 that was challenged by voting rights advocates because only one of six U.S. House maps was majority Black, even though the state population is roughly one-third Black. As the case was appealed, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an unexpected ruling in June that favored Black voters in a congressional redistricting case in Alabama.

Persons: Sen, Cleo Fields, John Bel Edwards, Shelly Dick, Jeff Landry, Edwards, Garrett Graves, Landry's, Nancy Landry, David Joseph, Donald Trump Organizations: ORLEANS, American, Republican, Democrat, Louisiana's, ., U.S, Supreme, Black, Circuit, Appeals, Gov, GOP, Republicans Locations: Louisiana, Lafayette, Baton Rouge, Alabama, Shreveport, Black, Western

(AP) — Missouri's high court entertained arguments Thursday on whether to force changes to the state's Senate districts in a case that has divided majority-party Republicans over how to apply new voter-approved redistricting criteria. The lawsuit brought by voters contends that Senate districts in suburban St. Louis and western Missouri's Buchanan County violate the state constitution by needlessly splitting cities or counties into multiple districts. The outcome of the case won't affect immediate control of the Senate, where Republicans hold a 24-10 majority over Democrats. Deputy Solicitor General Maria Lanahan told judges that various other Senate districts — though not challenged by plaintiffs — also split counties while not following political subdivision lines. "Compact, contiguous territory is the first and most powerful line of defense against political and racial gerrymanders,” Senate Republicans wrote in a brief filed by attorney Eddie Greim.

Persons: Chuck Hatfield, Hatfield, Maria Lanahan, —, ”, Eddie Greim Organizations: JEFFERSON CITY, Republicans, Republican, GOP, Democratic, Senate, Democrats, Missouri House Republican, ” Locations: Mo, St, Louis, Missouri's Buchanan, Missouri, Buchanan, Hazelwood

Circuit Court of appeals denied the request for the case to go before the full 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals after a panel ruled 2-1 last year that only the U.S. attorney general can enforce Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesThe 8th Circuit ruling applies only to federal courts covered by the district, which includes Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. “The decision by the Eighth Circuit to not revisit the case is a serious blow to the rights of Arkansas voters," Holly Dickson, executive director of the ACLU of Arkansas, said in a statement. The Arkansas lawsuit challenges the state House redistricting plan, which was approved in 2021 by the all-Republican state Board of Apportionment.

Persons: weren't, ”, David Stras, Donald Trump, Holly Dickson, ’, Tim Griffin, “, Arkansans, Griffin, Steven Colloton, Colloton, George W, Bush, Barack Obama, ” Colloton, Lavenski Smith Organizations: —, U.S, Supreme, Circuit, The, Arkansas State Conference NAACP, Republicans, American Civil Liberties Union, Eighth Circuit, Black, Republican Locations: The Arkansas, Arkansas, Arkansas , Iowa, Minnesota , Missouri , Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Southern

Now Republicans are making similar arguments in calling for her to not hear the congressional redistricting challenge. The current congressional maps in Wisconsin were drawn by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and approved by the state Supreme Court. The U.S. Supreme Court in March 2022 declined to block them from taking effect. The Wisconsin Supreme Court is under an extremely tight deadline to consider the challenge.

Persons: Janet Protasiewicz, ”, Protasiewicz’s, ” Protasiewicz, “, Scott Fitzgerald, Glenn Grothman, Mike Gallagher, Bryan Steil, Tom Tiffany, Derrick Van Orden, Tony Evers Organizations: Republican, GOP, Elias Law Group, Democratic, Republicans, U.S . Constitution, Wisconsin Democratic Party, Wisconsin Legislature, Republican U.S, Reps, U.S, Rep, Congressional District, Democratic Gov, Supreme Locations: MADISON, Wis, U.S ., Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Republicans made a last-ditch effort Tuesday to avoid having the liberal-controlled state Supreme Court put in place new legislative district boundaries for the November election. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesThe Wisconsin Supreme Court last month tossed the current Republican-drawn district boundaries as unconstitutional and ordered new maps. This is their last-ditch, disingenuous attempt to hold on to power.”All maps under consideration by the Wisconsin Supreme Court are expected to shrink Republican majorities. LeMahieu said the changes Republicans were proposing to Evers' maps would not affect the partisan breakdown of each district. It was that bill that Senate Republicans proposed amending before passing it Tuesday.

Persons: Devin LeMahieu, Tony Evers, LeMahieu, Evers, ” Evers, Britt Cudaback, ” Cudaback, “, “ It’s, Republican gerrymander, Dianne Hesselbein, John D, Johnson, he’s Organizations: — Wisconsin Republicans, Senate, Republican, Associated Press, Democratic Gov, Assembly, Wisconsin Supreme, Republicans, Democratic, Marquette University Law School Locations: MADISON, Wis, Wisconsin

☆ Louisiana lawmakers approve a congressional map with a second Black-majority district
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Fredreka Schouten | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Louisiana lawmakers on Friday approved a new congressional map that gives the state a second Black-majority US House district and likely puts at risk a Republican-controlled seat. The new map creates a second majority-Black district, slicing through the middle of the state, in a district currently held by Republican Rep. Garret Graves. And, in drawing the new lines, Louisiana’s GOP lawmakers rebuffed a public entreaty from House Speaker Mike Johnson, a fellow Louisiana Republican, to continue fighting the court order. Republican state lawmakers and Landry this week warned that if legislators failed to draw the map themselves, they would hand over the power to a federal judge. The new maps approved Friday protect Johnson’s seat, along with that of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, another Louisiana GOP congressman.

Persons: Jeff Landry, “, ” Ashley Shelton, Justice –, Eric Holder, Black, Troy Carter –, –, Garret Graves, Graves, Mike Johnson, Johnson, ” Graves, Landry, ” Landry, Shelly Dick, Barack Obama, Steve Scalise Organizations: CNN, Republican, Democrats, Louisiana’s Republican, Louisiana’s Black, Republicans, Representatives, Gov, Black, Power Coalition for Equity, Justice, US, National Democratic, Republican Rep, Louisiana Republican, Louisiana GOP Locations: Louisiana, Washington, , Louisiana, Black, Congress

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