"Some states, for instance, are taking steps to bypass their independent redistricting commissions in order to embark on mid-decade redistricting. What could lie ahead is a never-ending, zero-sum arms race to squeeze every last drop of partisan advantage out of every congressional map. "Left to their own devices, the partisans in these different states have sort of already told us where they're going with this," Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) told Axios."
"House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) was in Illinois on Monday to encourage Democratic lawmakers in the state to try to squeeze one more blue seat out of their already heavily gerrymandered map. At the same time, Indiana state lawmakers are convening a special session to consider drawing out one or both of the remaining House Democrats in their state. Virginia Democrats are pitching a victory in next Tuesday's state legislative and gubernatorial elections as an opportunity to draw out two or three of their state's House Republicans."
"This all began over the summer, when Republicans in the Texas state legislature, egged on by President Trump, redrew their maps to draw out five more Democrats. It was a brutal move that prompted an in-kind response from Democrats in California, who are trying to pass a ballot initiative temporarily curtailing the independent commission mandated by their state constitution. Many more states could follow, with Jeffries and Trump both trying to get reluctant state legislators on side in their respective redistricting pushes."
State lawmakers and party leaders are pursuing mid-decade redistricting to extract additional partisan seats from congressional maps. Democratic and Republican leaders are actively urging state legislators to redraw maps to gain seats in Illinois, Indiana, Virginia, and elsewhere. The push accelerated after Texas Republicans redrew maps to target additional Democrats and prompted Democrats in California to seek a temporary curtailment of an independent commission. National leaders are attempting to persuade reluctant state legislators to support their redistricting efforts. Some state officials and caucus leaders have resisted, citing insufficient votes or concerns about diluting minority voting strength. The dynamic risks an escalating, zero-sum arms race over mapmaking.
Read at Axios
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