House Dems leader says Democrats should bring “a gun to a gunfight”
House Majority leader Steny Hoyer stated Wednesday that he agreed with comments made by the head of House Democrats’ re-election arm, that blue states should participate gerrymandering so long as it is legal, and Republicans do it too.
On MSNBC this Week, Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.), said that “We’d do absolutely nopartisan redistricting throughout the country.” We shouldn’t just do it where Democrats are strong. It is best to do it where Republicans have the strength.
Maloney said: “If we’re asking us unilaterally to disarm… I am a man that wants to bring to a gunfight, yes, you bet.”
Hoyer, D.Md. was asked about these comments and cited the Democrats’ election bill H.R. 1 “which stated that we should have fair redistricting.” He said that if that doesn’t happen, I believe Sean Patrick Maloney is right that states will not be placed in a position where there’s unfair competitors.”
Hoyer was recently diagnosed as having COVID-19 and participated in the conference call from his remote home.
This comment was made as New York’s new congressional map is being criticized for its narrow districts and heavy Democratic partisan lean. This comes after criticisms of Democrats in Maryland, Illinois and GOP gerrymanders from states like Texas. The DOJ is now suing them.
Gerrymandering is named after a former Massachusetts governor. Elbridge Gerry is when states draw congressional districts to help certain political parties or politicians win elections. This is especially relevant after every ten years’ Census, when states undergo a redistricting exercise to reflect changes in their populations.
After the 1810 Census, Gerry was elected governor of Massachusetts. He signed a bill that drew what are now known as the gerrymandered congressional district.
Recent years have seen lawsuits over gerrymandered areas reach the Supreme Court. Some voters and politicians claim they are being unfairly discriminated.
However, the Supreme Court ruled that federal courts cannot rule on partisan gerrymandering because it is a political issue outside their jurisdiction.
This leaves the question of gerrymandering to state politicians and courts. However, the DOJ is currently suing Texas on the theory that Texas’ redistricting plan violates The Voting Rights Act as it restricts representation for racial minority.