HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is imposing a new congressional district map for the state’s 2018 elections, meeting its deadline to do so and likely setting up a challenge from Republicans.
Monday’s order means a new map is to take effect in the May 15 primary. Republican lawmakers are expected to quickly challenge it in federal court, arguing legislatures and governors, not courts, have the constitutional responsibility to draw congressional maps.
If it stands, the revised map is almost certain to improve Democrats’ chances in more seats this year.
The Democratic-majority state high court ruled last month that Pennsylvania’s district boundaries were unconstitutionally gerrymandered. Republicans have won 13 of Pennsylvania’s 18 seats in three elections under the invalidated map, although statewide elections are often closely contested.
The new map won’t apply to March’s special election in southwestern Pennsylvania’s 18th District.
A bigly Fuck You to Jim Crow’s cousin, Gerry Mander
Then there’s this…
Is Conor Lamb the Next Big Democratic Upset?
This 33-year-old Marine has a chance at winning one of the GOP’s most reliable districts.
Must. Save .Goofy!
This is a good thing…and, it’s bad optics for Republicans to try to stop this, especially once the facts start being reported more openly. No one likes a cheater, and with PA split so closely in vote but their political system strongly weighted towards Republicans the only explanation is they are cheating. Defending their cheating is only going to make people more mad, and work harder to throw them out of power.
This is why it’s important to do it right when the pendulum swings back…I hear lots of people saying “screw the Republicans” when Democrats have power, but it’s far better, and going to get far more people on the road to making things better, if Democrats try to be honest and fair instead of doing the same things Republicans do. All that does is encourage “they are all the same” attitudes and keep the current disaffection going. At every juncture, liberals have to show that we are the better choice, morally and otherwise…that’s how we win the hearts and minds of middle of the road and apathetic Americans who think nothing matters.
Whatever happened to the GOP’s reverence for states’ rights? The PA Supreme Court held that voters had the right to fair districting under the Pennsylvania constitution. This is a matter in which the state has the final say. They tried to go to the Supremes before and were correctly turned down. Doubt they fare any better this time.
Now if the Pennsylvania Court would hold that all voting machines had to have an auditable paper trail…