Posted on 02/27/2017 11:13:48 AM PST by Mozilla
Former President Barack Obama and other top Democrats are focused on winning majorities in state legislatures by fighting the reconfiguration of voting districts — known as gerrymandering — in an effort to win nationwide in 2020.
Fox News reported Obama is working with national committees like the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee and the National Democratic Redistricting Committee to conduct his new venture since leaving office.
“Where he [Obama] will be most politically engaged will be at the state legislative level, with an eye on redistricting after 2020,” said former White House political director David Simas, speaking on Obama’s plans late last year.
Gerrymandering refers to the reconfiguring of voting districts. Voting districts are redrawn after a federal Census to reflect changes in population and other demographics.
Because gerrymandering is controlled by the majority party, state legislative districts that were once thought to be “safe-Democrat” will be at risk of yielding to Republican control.
Prior to leaving office in October 2016, former Attorney General Eric Holder unveiled a plan to start an advocacy group focused on eliminating gerrymandering to retain current Congressional districts held strongly by Democrat representatives. Obama endorsed Holder’s group.
The NDRC went full steam ahead with funding from top Democrat donors, many of whom were pitched by the committee during the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee serves as a coordinating organization with the NDRC.
“A coordinated effort among Democrats to prevent another round of GOP gerrymandering is Republicans’ worst nightmare for the long-term health of their party,” says Carolyn Fiddler, communications director of the DLCC.
The concerted efforts of top Democrats is a direct response to the election of President Donald Trump last November.
Much of the work done by these groups attempts to resist “Trump-ism” and any pro-GOP political efforts, in terms of state legislative races and gerrymandering.
Over 32 state legislatures are controlled by Republicans, with 17 of those with veto-proof majorities. Twelve other states have Democratic-controlled legislatures while six have split legislatures.
Given the plan Obama and Holder’s groups will execute, the committees will focus on winning Democrat majorities in split legislatures in states like Colorado, Alaska, New York, and Maine, among others.
The DLCC is a 527 political committee with major donors including Wal-Mart and the National Education Association. NDRC is also a 527 political committee, also known as a Super PAC.
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YES!!!
Just like the Reid rule requiring a simple majority to confirm the president’s appointees, it was never meant to be use by Republicans.
I’m hard pressed to see where they think they might gain a seat.
I don’t see how to endanger Duffy (R-Northwest) without endangering Ron Kind (D-West).
Maybe Ryan could be endangered by connecting some of Milwaukee with some of the Madison area. But, as long as he’s speaker, he’s got a huge fundraising edge.
Gwen Moore’s district is 34% black - That’s close to a majority of Democrats. So splitting that one up could preserve a Democrat seat but make it harder for her (or any black candidate) to win the primary.
It’s not in our interest to get rid of them. You want those filthy dem voters spread out among normal districts so they can win a majority?
Democrats should be packed, period, so there as any many GOP districts as possible.
Yes, I agree, the Dems did this gerrymandering to themselves and it bit them in the butt, so now they can stick it..............
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