California under pressure again as partisan redistricting wars escalate

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WASHINGTON — When the U.S.Supreme Court sharply curtailed a key provision of the Voting Rights Act last week, Democrats in Washington had a message: The rules of redistricting have changed, and California — the nation’s biggest blue bastion — may have a further role to play.Rep.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said Democrats should “play by the same set of rules” as Republicans.House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) vowed to fight in “the Deep South and all over the country.” And Rep.

Terri Sewell, an Alabama Democrat, was blunt: “I’ll take 52 seats from California, I sure would.And 17 seats from Illinois.”The calls for action came as Republican governors in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississipppi and Tennessee called special legislative sessions to redraw congressional maps ahead of this year’s midterm elections.

Florida has also approved new maps that could give the GOP four more seats in the House, and President Trump urged other Republican states to follow suit.The Republican response has intensified the pressure on Democrats to act, including those in California — where the ruling could upend not just congressional maps, but also legislative and local races.“We can’t allow this national gerrymandering effort of Republicans to go unanswered,” said Rep.Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach).

“If Republicans go for it, I think we have to leave all options on the table.”For now, California’s response is far from settled.The chair of the California Democratic Party said there are no current plans to redraw maps — just months after voters approved a constitutional amendment authorizing a mid-decade redistricting backed by Gov.Gavin Newsom.The Democratic consultant who drew the state’s current congressional district boundaries says an all-blue map, while possible to create, would probably hurt Democrats more than help them in the long run.

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