redistricting

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Senator: FBI Has Granted Request on 'Runaway' Dems

Cornyn says agency will help state find lawmakers who fled Texas, though their location is known

(Newser) - Republican Sen. John Cornyn says the FBI has granted his request to locate and investigate Democratic Texas lawmakers who fled the state to block a redistricting plan that would give the GOP more US House seats. The lawmakers' whereabouts aren't a secret—they regularly give press conferences from various...

Abbott Asks Top Court to Remove Democratic Leader

He claims Gene Wu forfeited his seat with walkout

(Newser) - Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday asked the state's highest court to remove the Democratic House leader from office, escalating efforts to end the holdout that is blocking redrawn US House maps sought by President Trump.
  • Bypassing lower courts, Abbott filed a rare emergency petition straight to the
...

Abbott: Democrats Can't Stop Us
Abbott: Democrats
Can't Stop Us

Abbott: Democrats Can't Stop Us

Texas governor dismisses 'crazy bluster' as his state aims to redraw congressional maps to benefit Republicans

(Newser) - The Texas political showdown over new congressional maps is on the brink of turning into a national showdown. Already, Democratic Govs. Gavin Newsom of California and Kathy Hochul of New York are threatening to redraw their own state maps to give Democrats a bigger advantage, to counter what Republicans are...

Newsom Threatens Texas With Redistricting Showdown

Plan could give Democrats a major edge in congressional seats in California

(Newser) - California Gov. Gavin Newsom is considering a bold move to redraw the state's congressional map, setting the stage for a nationwide redistricting battle if Texas Republicans push forward with their own partisan plan . Newsom said Monday the redistricting plan is akin to "fighting fire with fire,"...

Democratic Lawmakers in Texas Just Fled Their State

Move is intended to deny House Republicans a quorum in redistricting vote

(Newser) - Democratic lawmakers announced Sunday they're leaving Texas to try to prevent passage of a new congressional map President Trump wants drawn to win more GOP seats in the 2026 elections. The decision, designed to deny House Republicans a quorum, exposes Democrats to fines and other civil penalties, the AP...

Supreme Court Puts Off Ruling on Louisiana Districts

Justices call for new arguments on whether state will have one majority-Black seat or two

(Newser) - The Supreme Court on Friday put off ruling on a second Black majority congressional district in Louisiana, instead ordering new arguments in the fall. The case is being closely watched because at arguments in March, several of the court's Republican-appointed justices suggested they could vote to throw out the...

Judges Decide Election Can't Wait for Supreme Court

South Carolina will use congressional map already found to be unconstitutional

(Newser) - A federal court on Thursday ruled that this year's congressional elections in South Carolina will be held under a map that it had already deemed unconstitutional and discriminatory against Black voters, with time running out ahead of voting deadlines and a lack of a decision on the case by...

Wisconsin's Top Court Tosses GOP Redistricting Map

Justices will accept new legislative plans and have a consultant review them

(Newser) - The Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned Republican-drawn legislative maps on Friday and ordered that new district boundaries be drawn as Democrats had urged in a redistricting case they hope will weaken GOP majorities. The ruling comes less than a year before the 2024 election in a battleground state where four of...

NY Court's Decision Could Decide Control of the House

Court orders state to draw new congressional districts

(Newser) - New York's highest court on Tuesday ordered the state to draw new congressional districts ahead of the 2024 elections, giving Democrats a potential advantage in what is expected to be a battleground for control of the US House. The 4-3 decision from the New York Court of Appeals could...

Judges Reject Redistricting Map Misnumbered by Republicans

Democrats call decision a victory for Tennessee's constitution

(Newser) - A Republican-drawn map for Tennessee's Senate seats violates the state Constitution because lawmakers incorrectly numbered the legislative districts in Democrat-leaning Nashville, affecting which years those seats are on the ballot, a panel of judges ruled Wednesday. The ruling centers on maps passed by the Republican-supermajority Legislature in 2022 during...

Dems Should Like Alabama's New Congressional Map

Black voters will have a majority or near-majority in 2 districts

(Newser) - Federal judges on Thursday selected new congressional lines for Alabama to give the Deep South state a second district where Black voters comprise a substantial portion of the electorate, the AP reports. The new map sets the stage for potentially flipping one US House of Representatives seat from Republican to...

Alabama's Congressional Map Is Again Rejected, With Scolding

Latest redistricting doesn't comply with court order on racial makeup, panel says

(Newser) - Federal judges threw out Alabama's newest attempt to redraw its congressional districts on Tuesday, chastising the state for not complying with the Voting Rights Act as mandated by a court order. The plan approved by the legislature provides for a single district that has, barely, a Black majority, the...

SCOTUS Delivers Big Voting Setback to GOP

6-3 ruling says states don't have absolute power to set federal election rules

(Newser) - The Supreme Court on Tuesday put a major check on state powers when it comes to setting federal election rules. In its 6-3 ruling, one of the most closely watched of this term, the justices rejected the controversial "independent state legislature" doctrine , reports Politico . The doctrine, advanced by conservatives,...

Surprise SCOTUS Ruling Hands Victory to State's Black Voters

Decision orders creation of second Black-majority district in Alabama

(Newser) - The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a surprising 5-4 ruling in favor of Black voters in a congressional redistricting case, ordering the creation of a second district with a large Black population, per the AP . Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh joined with the court's liberals in...

In North Carolina, GOP Scores Big Court Wins

Rulings may give Republicans an edge in next congressional elections

(Newser) - In massive victories for Republicans, the North Carolina Supreme Court on Friday threw out a previous ruling against gerrymandered voting maps and upheld a photo voter identification law that colleagues had struck down as racially biased. The rulings likely give the GOP-controlled legislature the ability to rework the state's...

On Supreme Court Docket This Week: Big Elections Case

Decision on congressional maps in North Carolina could be wide-reaching

(Newser) - The Supreme Court is about to confront a new elections case, a Republican-led challenge asking the justices for a novel ruling that could significantly increase the power of state lawmakers over elections for Congress and the presidency. The court is set to hear arguments Wednesday in a case from North...

Supreme Court Heads Off Second Black District for State

Justices block lower court ruling over Voting Rights Act issues in Louisiana

(Newser) - The US Supreme Court on Tuesday put on hold a lower court ruling that Louisiana must draw new congressional districts before the 2022 elections to increase Black voting power. As a result, Louisiana's November congressional elections will be held using a Republican-drawn map with white majorities in five of...

Supreme Court Gives Democrats a Victory

Rejects GOP redistricting plans in NC, Pennsylvania

(Newser) - In a victory for Democrats, the Supreme Court has turned away efforts from Republicans in North Carolina and Pennsylvania to block state court-ordered congressional districting plans, the AP reports. In separate orders late Monday, the justices are allowing maps selected by each state's Supreme Court to be in effect...

Justice Department Sues Texas Over New Maps

Attorney general says redrawn districts discriminate against minorities

(Newser) - The Department of Justice sued Texas over new redistricting maps Monday, saying the plans discriminate against voters in the state’s booming Latino and Black populations, per the AP . The lawsuit, filed in the Western District of Texas, claims the state violates part of the Voting Rights Act. It is...

GOP Rebuilds House Districts to Win for Years

New lines set up Republicans to take control next year

(Newser) - The redrawing of congressional district lines is not only giving Republicans a shot at flipping five or more House seats, it's taken another step toward making elections less competitive and the nation more divided. With approval ratings already down for President Biden and Democrats, the GOP could be unbeatable...

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