Eric Holder, chair of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, has expressed strong disapproval of Texas’ attempt to redraw its congressional maps for the second time in less than a decade, labeling it an “authoritarian move” by the White House.
As the former attorney general under President Barack Obama, Holder has been a long-time advocate for combating gerrymandering. In a recent interview on “This Week With George Stephanopoulos,” he stated that Democrats must consider taking action due to the perceived threat to democracy posed by Texas’ redistricting plans.
Holder urged responsible Democrats across the nation to act, saying, “I think that responsible Democrats in other states have to take into account the threat to our democracy, the need to preserve our democracy, so that we can ultimately try to heal it.” He believes that while some actions may be seen as drastic, they are necessary under the current circumstances.
Stephanopoulos questioned the viability of these actions, noting that discussions surrounding redistricting in states like California and New York remain longshots because of existing laws that protect against partisan gerrymandering.
While acknowledging the challenges, Holder maintained that these protections offer significant advantages compared to Texas, which is moving towards a new congressional map amid strong public opposition. He explained, “What they’re trying to do in Texas is simply impose a new map on, an unpopular new map, on the people of Texas.”
In California, he pointed out, the presence of an independent redistricting committee requires involving the public in the decision-making process, ensuring that citizens have a voice in the outcome. In contrast, Holder criticized Texas for not providing its citizens with a meaningful say regarding the changes.
The context of Texas’ redistricting efforts appears to be politically motivated, as President Donald Trump’s political operation indicated in June that redistricting could help solidify the GOP’s fragile majority in the House. Trump suggested that Texas could gain five seats through the revised maps but did not specify other states that might follow suit.
The Department of Justice also entered the fray in July, sending a letter to Texas that highlighted the need to redraw four majority-minority districts represented by Democrats, labeling them as “unconstitutional racial gerrymanders.”
During the interview, Holder was asked about his change in stance on gerrymandering. He responded, stating the nature of the threat to democracy had escalated due to actions taken in Texas, necessitating a fresh approach.
Stephanopoulos probed further, questioning whether there are viable means to halt the Texas redistricting efforts. Holder outlined that multiple avenues could potentially challenge this initiative, pointing to public sentiment as a critical factor.
He referenced significant opposition from the community, noting that at hearings, testimony against the redistricting was overwhelmingly in the majority, with approximately 100 individuals opposing it for every one in favor. In addition, editorial boards and polling data suggest that many Texans do not support the proposed changes, creating a compelling argument against the initiative.
Holder concluded the interview by addressing the topic of transparency in government, particularly regarding the release of files related to Epstein.
He affirmed that had he still been attorney general, he would advocate for the release of those files as part of a commitment to accountability and openness in government.
As the debate around gerrymandering continues, the focus remains on preserving democratic values while navigating the complexities of political strategy.
image source from：abcnews
