Former Legal professional Normal Eric Holder, who leads the Nationwide Democratic Redistricting Committee, will be part of Home Democrats on Wednesday because the get together plans a method to counter a wave of Republican-led redistricting efforts throughout mid-decade—an open try to safe the GOP’s slender Home majority earlier than the 2026 midterms.
A girl holds an indication throughout a rally to protest towards redistricting hearings on the Texas Capitol, on July 24, in Austin, Texas.
For years, Holder has supported nonpartisan reform, advocating for the institution of impartial commissions to take redistricting authority away from politicians. Now, nonetheless, with Republicans overtly working to redraw congressional maps for max benefit, he and different Democrats are shelving reform talks and making ready for a fierce battle.
Due to Trump, GOP-controlled states are appearing swiftly. Republicans are able to push via new maps in Texas, Missouri, Ohio, and presumably Florida, with the Trump administration additionally urging Indiana to hitch in. Not each state with redistricting authority is prepared, however stress from Trump’s camp is obvious.
Texas is the point of interest. Statehouse Democrats are of their second week of hiding out throughout state traces to disclaim Republicans the quorum wanted to move their gerrymandered map. Trump has claimed he’s “entitled” to 5 extra Texas seats, whereas Gov. Greg Abbott has recommended carving out as many as eight if Democrats proceed to interrupt quorum. As of Monday, the Texas Home nonetheless lacked a quorum, with sufficient Democrats out of state to dam Republicans from passing their gerrymandered congressional map.
Associated | Texas Republicans vow to go nuclear in redistricting row
Texas GOP Sen. John Cornyn, on Thursday, claimed state regulation enforcement is working with federal brokers to find the absent lawmakers. Abbott additionally threatened to maintain calling particular classes till Republicans get their gerrymandered map—or one thing shut. The truth is Abbott may lack the authorized instruments to pressure Democrats again to Austin, however the standoff has grow to be a political rallying level for either side.
Democrats, who’ve historically pushed for redistricting reform slightly than partisan retaliation, argue that the Texas case is totally different.
“Authoritarian moves are being made … and there has to be a response to that,” Holder warned on Sunday’s “Meet the Press.”
Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, the lead Democrat on the Home Judiciary Committee, was extra direct.
“I honestly don’t see any debate in the party over this,” he instructed Axios. “If [Republicans] are going to continue with the Texas chainsaw gerrymander, we have no choice but to fight fire with fire and use whatever legislative resources we have … to fight back.”
He added, “Ultimately, we will fight fire with water. But nobody is on the side of unilateral disarmament … we are not going to allow them to gerrymander us into oblivion.”
One of many Democrats’ strongest counterattacks may come from California, the place they’d doubtless acquire essentially the most new seats. However doing so would require sidelining or eliminating the state’s impartial redistricting fee—one thing get together leaders have lengthy resisted.
Holder’s background provides significance to the second. As lawyer normal beneath President Obama from 2009 to 2015, he noticed Republicans sweep state legislatures and leverage that energy to redraw Home districts of their favor. In 2017, he created the Nationwide Democratic Redistricting Committee, aiming to finish partisan gerrymandering altogether. Now, with the stakes in 2026 clearer, Holder is signaling he’s prepared to play by the foundations Republicans have established—at the least quickly.
Democrats might not at all times agree on how finest to oppose Trump and Trumpism, however right here, they’re united: they gained’t let Trump and the GOP redraw them into irrelevance.
