Category Archives: redistricting

“Federal judges strike down SC’s 1st Congressional District as racial gerrymandering” (With Link to 33-page unanimous ruling)

January 6, 2023, 9:06 amredistrictingRick Hasen

Post & Courier: A panel of federal judges in South Carolina has concluded that the state’s coastal 1st Congressional District was drawn in such a way that it discriminates against Black voters and must be redesigned before the end of… Continue reading

“In the End, Redistricting Didn’t Hurt (And May Have Even Helped) House Democrats”

January 6, 2023, 7:06 amredistrictingRick Hasen

Dave Wasserman for Cook Political Report: Amid this week’s chaos, an occasional TV sound byte has been that House Republicans might not even have won their razor-thin majority without a boost from redistricting. After all, our pre-election estimate was a… Continue reading

“Chief justice in Ohio map flap: Court attacks harm democracy”

December 21, 2022, 2:59 pmjudicial elections, redistrictingRick Hasen

AP: Ohio Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor isn’t rattled on a personal level by the political attacks she endured from fellow Republicans during Ohio’s protracted redistricting fight. She’s confident she “did the right thing” in ruling their proposed political maps… Continue reading

“Civil Rights Advocates File Federal Lawsuit Over Mississippi’s Racially Gerrymandered Maps”

December 20, 2022, 3:36 pmredistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Release: Civil rights advocates today challenged Mississippi’s 2022 state legislative district maps for unlawfully diluting the voting strength of Black Mississippians. The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Mississippi, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP,… Continue reading

The Profound Ahistoricism of Moore v. Harper

December 6, 2022, 1:43 pmredistrictingIndependent State Legislature Doctrine, Moore v. HarperTabatha Abu El-Haj

The Supreme Court will hear arguments tomorrow about the scope of state legislative authority to determine “the time, place, and manner” of federal elections. Petitioners’ position is that state legislatures are freed from state constitutional constraints when they make decisions… Continue reading

“Republicans’ Supreme Court argument on redistricting could backfire”

December 2, 2022, 7:01 amredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Sam Wang oped for WaPo: But if the Republicans win in the U.S. Supreme Court, the result on a national scale would almost certainly benefit Democrats. Why? Because outside North Carolina, only swing states and blue states have curbed… Continue reading

“How redistricting shaped the midterms”

November 25, 2022, 12:33 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Politico: Both parties entered the latest redistricting cycle seeking to press their advantages where they could. The first election held under the new lines showed both succeeded — though Democrats had their most ruthless gerrymanders thrown out in the courts… Continue reading

“Democrats lost their House majority due to Independent Redistricting Commissions; Are IRCs ineffective because they are trumped by Winner Take All elections? Have they outlived their usefulness?”

November 22, 2022, 6:28 pmalternative voting systems, redistrictingRick Hasen

Steven Hill ponders.

“Flip of Michigan Legislature highlights role of fair maps”

November 22, 2022, 10:45 amredistrictingRick Hasen

AP: Democratic candidates for the Michigan House and Senate won a majority of votes this year, translating into their party winning control of both legislative chambers. That may seem like a natural result, but it hasn’t been in previous… Continue reading

“House Democrats’ path back to the majority could run through the Supreme Court”

November 22, 2022, 6:36 amredistrictingRick Hasen

WaPo: Democrats are suing to overturn congressional maps in six states they weren’t able to undo before the midterm elections: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Ohio and Texas. If courts side with them, Democrats believe it could be the difference between… Continue reading

“Did Republicans Gerrymander Their Way to Victory?”

November 21, 2022, 10:27 amredistrictingRick Hasen

Sam Wang for The Atlantic: Republicans have gained control of the House of Representatives, but their majority will be tiny. Such close division has triggered many what-if discussions. Some have focused on New York, where Democrats performed poorly. The… Continue reading

“Supreme Court dismisses challenge to Texas state legislative maps”

November 21, 2022, 8:29 amredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

CNN: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a challenge to Texas state legislative maps that critics say intentionally dilute minority voting power and result in an illegal racial gerrymander. At the center of the dispute is Senate District 10, which… Continue reading