Above: Michigan’s governor/secretary of state/attorney general will have “trifecta” control of the Michigan legislature for the first time in 40 years after a citizens initiative created an independent redistricting commission to create competitive fair districts. Despite Democratic gains in 2018 and 2020, turning Arizona into a “purple state,” The so-called Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission earlier … Read more
Ballots are still being counted in many races, but the overall national gestalt of midterm ’22 is clear: this is the weakest performance by the out party in the past two generations. There are a few main reasons, IMO, for the GOP’s historic misfire: They attacked women’s fundamental constitutional right to autonomy and full equality. … Read more
Note: A group photo with new Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson has not yet been published. The 2022-23 Supreme Court term begins the first Monday in October. The most consequential case on the court’s docket is ostensibly a redistricting case from North Carolina, Moore v. Harper, but it is so much more than this. The MAGA/QAnon … Read more
The Redistricting Commission in Ohio was created by an amendment to the Ohio Constitution, which was approved by 71% of Ohio voters in November 2015. Voters thought they were ending partisan gerrymandering. They were wrong. The Redistricting Commission was fatally flawed in its design. The Ohio Redistricting Commission is comprised of seven members: One individual appointed … Read more
In 2010 Florida voters approved the FairDistricts Amendments to establish constitutional limits on political gerrymandering. The Florida Constitution now contains standards for the legislature to follow when redrawing district lines: Districts must not be drawn with intent to favor incumbents or political parties. Districts must be compact and must respect county and city lines. Districts … Read more