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☆ 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

(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

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

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

(AP) — With bipartisan support, a proposed Louisiana congressional map that would create a second majority-Black district sailed through the state Senate on Wednesday and will advance to the House chamber for debate. A second majority-Black district could also result in another Democratic seat in Congress. Officials have until Jan. 30 to pass new congressional boundaries with a second majority-minority district in Louisiana. A judge on the district court signaled that she will create a map by herself if lawmakers don't complete the task. On the Senate floor Wednesday, Democrats raised concerns that under the proposed map, the Black voting-age population in Carter's district would decrease to 51%.

Persons: “, Garret Graves, Graves, Glen Womack, Mike Johnson, Steve Scalise, Julia Letlow, Troy Carter Organizations: —, Democrats, Black, Democratic, U.S, Supreme, U.S ., Appeals, Fifth, Republicans, GOP, Republican U.S . Rep, U.S . Rep, Republican Locations: BATON ROUGE, La, Louisiana, Black, Congress . Louisiana, Alabama, Womack’s, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Carter's

The new lawsuit says that decision warrants replacing the congressional district maps that were drawn under the “least change” requirement. In 2010, the year before Republicans redrew the maps, Democrats held five seats compared with three for Republicans. “Wisconsin is a purple state, but our current congressional district maps don’t reflect that,” he posted. Doing that “will fulfill this Court’s constitutional duty to independently adjudicate the validity of Wisconsin’s congressional maps,” the lawsuit states. Tony Evers and approved by the state Supreme Court.

Persons: Abha Khanna, Derrick Van Orden, Ron Kind, Bryan Steil, Mark Pocan, ”, “, Brian Schimming, Mike Marinella, Tony Evers, Marc Elias, Elias, John Kerry's, Hillary Clinton's, Joe Biden's, Donald Trump Organizations: Elias Law Group, Democratic, . House, Wisconsin Supreme, Wisconsin, Republicans, Western, Republican U.S . Rep, Republican Rep, Democrats, Democratic U.S . Rep, ” Wisconsin Republican, GOP, Supreme, Wisconsin Supreme Court, National Republican Congressional, Wisconsin Democrats can’t, Democratic Gov, U.S, Elias Law, Democratic National Committee Locations: MADISON, Wis, Washington, Wisconsin, Western Wisconsin's, Wisconsin's, Madison, ”, U.S

The court ordered new maps with contiguous districts, but also said the maps must not favor one party over another. Following Friday's map submissions, a pair of consultants hired by the Supreme Court will analyze the proposals and issue a report by Feb. 1. The consultants could choose to ignore all of the maps submitted last week and put forward their own plan. The 50-49 Republican majority map was submitted by Law Forward, the Madison-based law firm representing Democratic voters that brought the lawsuit. 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 occur.

Persons: Tony Evers, Evers, “, ” Evers, “ I’ve, I’d, John D, Johnson, Robin Vos, Janet Protasiewicz Organizations: Court, GOP, Gov, Democratic, Senate, Republican, ” Marquette University Law School, Law, Republicans, Senate Democrats, U.S, Supreme Locations: MADISON, Wis, Wisconsin, Madison, Evers

☆ Wisconsin Supreme Court, now under liberal control, overturns Republican-favored legislative maps
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-22 | by ( Andrew Menezes | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Friday ruled that the state’s legislative maps, which give Republicans the advantage, are unconstitutional and ordered new lines drawn for the 2024 election. “We are hopeful that the legislative process will produce new legislative district maps,” the ruling stated. During the campaign, now-Justice Janet Protasiewicz, the liberal-favored candidate, called the legislative maps “rigged” and “unfair” and suggested courts should evaluate their constitutionality. After she was seated in August, Democratic-backed groups filed two lawsuits asking the Wisconsin Supreme Court to throw out the Republican-drawn maps. “Fortunately, the U.S. Supreme Court will have the last word.”This story has been updated with additional details.

Persons: “, Sam Hirsch, Tony Evers, Friday’s, ”, ” Evers, Annette Ziegler, Janet Protasiewicz, Protasiewicz, Robin Vos, Vos, CNN’s Eric Bradner, Brad Parks Organizations: CNN, Wisconsin Supreme, US, Badger State, Legislature, ”, ” Wisconsin Gov, Democratic, Republican, U.S, Supreme Locations: Wisconsin, ” Wisconsin, ” “ Wisconsin

N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Black and Latino voters sued in federal court on Monday seeking to strike down congressional districts drawn this fall by Republican state legislators that they argue weaken minority voting power in violation of the U.S. Constitution. Under the iteration of the congressional map that had been drawn by state judges for the 2022 elections, Democrats and Republicans each won seven seats. Meanwhile, the number of minority voters grows in the 12th, which is represented by Rep. Alma Adams of Charlotte. Rep. Jeff Jackson, a Mecklenburg County Democrat, already said he’s running for state attorney general, saying he can’t win reelection under the new congressional map. The latest congressional map “continues North Carolina’s long tradition of enacting redistricting plans that pack and crack minority voters into gerrymandered districts designed to minimize their voting strength," the plaintiffs' lawyers write.

Persons: gerrymanders, Tim Moore, Kathy Manning, Republican mapmakers, Don Davis, Alma Adams, Charlotte, Jeff Jackson, Moore Organizations: —, — North Carolina, Republican, U.S . Constitution, General, Republicans, Capitol, U.S . House, Black Democrats, 6th, GOP, Democratic, Rep, Mecklenburg County Democrat, Supreme Locations: RALEIGH, N.C, — North, U.S ., U.S, Charlotte, District, North, Greensboro, Pitt County, South Carolina, Mecklenburg County

Jones mandated Black majorities in one additional congressional district, two additional state Senate districts and five additional state House districts. Political Cartoons View All 1277 Images“A minority opportunity district must be a district where a single racial group is a majority," Echols said Monday. “District 7 was a minority opportunity district in our view. Besides congressional districts, minority coalitions could also be an issue in Georgia’s new state legislative maps, which are moving toward final passage. “And it’s all over this map from District 10 to congressional District 7.

Persons: Rep Lucy McBath, Steve Jones, Jones, Shelly Echols, Echols, ”, Ken Lawler, McBath, Carolyn Bordeaux, Sen, Tonya Anderson Organizations: ATLANTA, Georgia Republicans, U.S, Supreme, Democratic U.S, Rep, District, Gainesville Republican, Circuit, Appeals, Democratic, Republicans, Democrat Locations: Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia's, ”, Gainesville, U.S, Florida, Alabama, Hardee County , Florida, Gwinnett County, Fulton County, Cobb, Douglas, Fulton, Fayette counties, “, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Galveston County , Texas, Michigan, Atlanta’s, Five

Baton Rouge-based U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick issued a two-week extension Thursday afternoon, giving lawmakers extra time to construct a congressional map, the American Civil Liberties Union confirmed to The Associated Press. Louisiana is among the list of states still wrangling over congressional districts after the U.S. Supreme Court in June ruled that Alabama had violated the Voting Rights Act. Republicans say the map is fair and argue that Black populations in the state are too dispersed to be united into a second majority Black district. Another mostly Black district could deliver a second congressional seat to Democrats. In June 2022, Dick struck down Louisiana’s map for violating the Voting Rights Act.

Persons: Shelly Dick, John Bel Edwards, Eric Holl, Jeff Landry, Edwards, Dick, ” Dick, Obama, Landry, Landry won’t, “ Organizations: GOP, Capitol, American Civil Liberties Union, Associated Press, ACLU, Democratic Gov, Republican, U.S, Supreme, Black, Republicans, U.S ., Appeals, Fifth District Locations: BATON ROUGE, La, Louisiana, Baton Rouge, Alabama, Black, New Orleans

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