Category Archives: redistricting

“What We Lose When We Lose Competitive Congressional Districts”

June 23, 2022, 6:59 amredistrictingRick Hasen

Lee Drutman for 538: Competitive congressional districts have been steadily disappearing for decades. In the current redistricting cycle, six highly competitive districts in the House of Representatives were drawn out of existence. The Cook Political Report estimates that … Continue reading

“Pennsylvania’s congressional map returns to the court”

June 20, 2022, 7:28 amredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

SCOTUSBlog: Much attention has been devoted recently to the increased calls for emergency relief from the Supreme Court in fast-paced ligation on the shadow docket. When the justices deny an emergency application, however, that is not necessarily the end… Continue reading

With Florida’s Maps in Place, 2022 Redistricting Cycle Basically Done

June 3, 2022, 5:00 amredistricting2022 Redistricting cycleTabatha Abu El-Haj

N.Y. Times offers this summary of the 2022 redistricting cycle. Key points: Litigation over congressional maps continues, but it is unlikely to change the maps before November.This redistricting cycle “has created a much less competitive House map than before.”The Democrats… Continue reading

Breaking–Florida Supreme Court won’t block DeSantis redistricting map

June 2, 2022, 9:45 amredistricting2022 Redistricting cycle, Florida, state courtsTabatha Abu El-Haj

The Florida Supreme Court has declined to block the state’s new congressional map on the ground that it lacks jurisdiction. The congressional map that will go into effect is the one backed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and previously struck… Continue reading

“Supreme Court Spurns Texas GOP Lawmakers on Voting-Map Testimony”

May 31, 2022, 8:02 amredistricting, Voting Rights ActTabatha Abu El-Haj

Bloomberg Law–The U.S. Supreme Court has rebuffed a request to protect “three Republican lawmakers from being questioned under oath in lawsuits by the Biden administration and civil rights groups that claim new voting maps in Texas are racially discriminatory.”… Continue reading

NY Times Profiles Jonathan Cervas, the Special Master Who Drew New York’s Congressional Districts

May 28, 2022, 1:03 pmelection law biz, redistrictingRick Hasen

Great profile of Jonathan, who was an excellent student of mine at UCI in my election law course.

“Florida redistricting lawsuit: Appeals court rejects court-ordered maps”

May 27, 2022, 10:51 amredistrictingRick Hasen

Andrew Pantazi: A Florida appeals court ruled against an attempt to use new court-ordered congressional maps in the state’s 2022 elections.The 1st District Court of Appeal found that a lower court’s injunction was “unlawful on its face” because it… Continue reading

Special Master Persily’s Proposed NH Congressional Redistricting Plan Posted

May 27, 2022, 8:42 amredistrictingRick Hasen

You can find it here.

Ohio Supreme Court Rejects Legislative Maps Again; Chief Justice O’Connor, a Retiring Republican, Calls Out Redistricting Commission Members and Republican Judges on 6th Circuit Panel

May 25, 2022, 2:41 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Extraordinary: The commission’s refusal—on four occasions—to abide by this court’s rulings has created a crisis that it has the ability to resolve. Yet, despite the federal court majority’s feigned interest in “buy[ing] Ohio more time to both make… Continue reading

Supreme Court Poised to Decide within Weeks Whether to Take Up Case Raising “Independent State Legislature” Theory–with Potential Big Implications for 2024 Elections

May 22, 2022, 2:22 pmlegislation and legislatures, redistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

The Supreme Court is poised to decide before it breaks for the summer whether to hear Moore v. Harper, a case raising the question whether the North Carolina Supreme Court had the power to rein in the North Carolina… Continue reading

“A GOP power grab shatters 30 years of political progress for Black voters in Galveston County “

May 21, 2022, 7:14 pmredistricting, Voting Rights ActShelby County's impactTabatha Abu El-Haj

Texas Tribune reports that “Republicans dismantled the only Galveston County commissioners precinct in which voters of color held political clout.” “Carver Park in Texas City, created during segregation, is considered the first African American county park in the state. It… Continue reading

“House Democrats scramble after redistricting lessens competitive edge”

May 21, 2022, 7:07 pmredistricting2022 redistrictingTabatha Abu El-Haj

Washington Post Court rulings in Florida and New York have Democrats working harder to keep their seats. The article offers a round up of the likely political effect of the new maps. Two tidbits stand out: First, “Redistricting . .… Continue reading

2022 Redistricting Likely to Undercut Strides Made by Women in Recent Elections

May 21, 2022, 8:11 amredistricting2022 redistricting, Gender EquityTabatha Abu El-Haj

The AP reports on new analysis from the Center for American Women in Politics at Rutgers University which looks at the likely negative impact of new congressional maps on female incumbents. It appears that being the last to the table… Continue reading

“Final New York maps released and lead to midnight shuffle of congressional delegation”

May 21, 2022, 7:58 amredistrictingRick Hasen

Politico: A court released final maps for New York’s 26 congressional and 63 state Senate districts in the midnight hour on Saturday morning, setting in motion a flurry of campaign activity as candidates quickly jockeyed for position in critical seats.The… Continue reading