Democrats need to capture three House seats or six Senate seats currently held by Republicans to eliminate the GOP’s veto-proof majorities. That would enhance the power of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.
A panel of three federal judges in North Carolina that struck down the districts as illegal racial gerrymanders had ordered the drawing of new districts in time for special elections this year. But the Supreme Court blocked the order for the new districts. The matter is back in the hands of the lower court.
The high court’s action follows last month’s ruling in which the justices struck down two North Carolina congressional districts because they diminished the voting strength of the state’s black residents.
The districts were initially drawn in 2011 when Republicans controlled the legislature and the governor’s office. Civil rights groups and black voters challenged the districts, complaining that they packed too many black voters into some districts to make surrounding districts whiter and thus more likely to elect Republicans.
Cooper defeated Republican Gov. Pat McCrory in November.
What was the number? We’re Clarence and gorsuch the holdouts?
So who redraws the districts? Will the GOP be able to litigate and push it past 2018?
Scotusblog said it was a “per curium” disposition, and they didn’t mention any dissents. In plainer English, the judgement was issued in the name of the court, and none of the justices chose to offer additional comment.
It is mind-boggling, but appears the NC GOP has won a delay yet again, so that they can still incorporate illegal court-acknowledged gerrymandering in the next special election. I really doubt they could delay yet again with another SC appeal for 2018, but they are like pit bulls in a dogfight- bite, hold, and shake.