FROM WASHINGTON EXAMINER: The Democrats’ aggressive response to the redistricting war with the GOP has helped the party stave off dramatic losses of congressional districts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, as they seek to retake control of at least one chamber in Congress.
Yet the successful counterattacks against the GOP could be wiped out next year if the Supreme Court strikes down Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits racial discrimination in voting, in the case of Louisiana v. Callais.
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) successfully lobbied Californians to pass Proposition 50, which will help Democrats net up to five favorable seats to counter the mid-decade map Texas Republicans enacted, which netted five favorable seats for the GOP.
Democrats are likely to gain another seat in Utah after a district judge approved a new congressional map on Monday that includes a solidly blue district in Salt Lake City. Lawmakers in Virginia are attempting to muscle in a new map that could net Democrats two or three more seats after passing a constitutional amendment that still needs voter approval.
Separately, Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins declined to call a special session to move forward on a new map, and Ohio’s bipartisan redistricting commission gave its approval on a map that gives the GOP an edge but does not completely decimate Democratic districts.
The report notes that all of these results could be meaningless, depending on the results of the Supreme Court case.
The Court will hear arguments about whether Louisiana’s creation of a second majority-minority congressional district violates the 14th or 15th amendments.
According to the report, some advocacy groups claim that if Section 2 is struck down, 19 new safe GOP House seats would be created in addition to the eight seats Republicans gained in redistricting efforts.
Other experts claim it will also affect black representation.
“African American seats in the Deep South could be lost in Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, and Florida,” said Shawn Donahue, a professor of political science at the University of Buffalo who focuses on redistricting, said, referring to what would happen if the Supreme Court strikes down Section 2.
READ MORE AT WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The Dennis Michael Lynch Podcast archive is available below, with the most recent on top. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the show by downloading The DML News App or go to Apple Podcasts.
