Common Cause’s Position on Redistricting
Common Cause, a watchdog group traditionally against partisan gerrymandering, revealed on Tuesday that it would not resist efforts to promote mid-cycle redistricting in Democratic-led areas like California, while criticizing Republican initiatives in Texas.
In a policy statement, the organization, which identifies itself as “a nonpartisan grassroots entity dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy,” refrained from condemning redistricting actions in Democratic states. At the same time, they accused President Trump and his Republican allies of engaging in a “calculated asymmetric strategy” in Texas, describing it as part of a “broader march towards authoritarianism.”
California’s Democratic Governor, Gavin Newsom, along with other Democrats, has hinted at reshaping the state’s congressional map to counteract the GOP’s potential gain of up to five seats due to their efforts in Texas.
“At this pivotal moment, we recognize why several states, including California, are contemplating corresponding counterbalancing actions,” Common Cause stated in its policy. They also emphasized, “We won’t endorse partisan gerrymandering, even if it’s intended to counteract more extreme abuses by the opposing side. Nonetheless, outright condemnation at this juncture suggests political disarmament in the face of legitimate expression and authoritarian tactics that seek to undermine democracy.”
This seems to mark a notable shift for Common Cause. Recently, they ran a fundraising initiative on their website, mentioning attempts to “copy the GOP playbook to enhance visibility.” Previously, in July, they called the mid-cycle redistricting efforts “anti-democracy.”
Common Cause faced setbacks in a 2019 Supreme Court case, Rucho v. Common Cause, which challenged what was labeled as a partisan and unconstitutional congressional map in North Carolina. The ruling determined that federal courts could not address issues concerning partisan gerrymandering.
In their recent statement, Common Cause indicated it wouldn’t decry mid-cycle redistricting undertaken to meet “equity standards.” This would necessitate redrawing maps proportionate to the gerrymandering threats from other states and would be applicable until the 2030 census.
Common Cause did not respond to requests for comments pertaining to the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Meanwhile, California’s redistricting efforts have encountered significant legal obstacles, as the state has employed an independent commission mandated by its constitution for electoral districting since 2008. Newsom’s administration has indicated a special election in November could facilitate the approval of a new congressional map.
Furthermore, Democratic governors like JB Pritzker from Illinois and Kathy Hochul from New York are also showing interest in modifying congressional maps in response to Republican initiatives. Illinois’ approach to redistricting allows adaptability for mid-term adjustments, although the state is already rated as having a highly partisan mapping system, leaving limited room for further gerrymandering.
