Eric Holder Endorses 67 State Legislative Candidates and NDRC Invests More Than $300,000 Ahead of November Elections

This investment is NDRC’s largest contribution given directly to state legislative candidates

Washington, D.C. — Today, Eric H. Holder, Jr., the 82nd Attorney General of the United States and Chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, endorsed 67 candidates running for office in the North Carolina Senate, North Carolina House, and Texas House. The NDRC is also investing more than $300,000 in direct, individual contributions to many of the endorsed candidates’ campaigns to bolster their efforts amid COVID-19 and ahead of November’s elections.

This more than a quarter-million-dollar investment is the NDRC’s largest contribution directly into state legislative candidate campaigns. This investment builds on the National Democratic Redistricting PAC‘s $150,000 investment in February to North Carolina and Texas — both key NDRC electoral target states that contain major opportunities to shift political power. Later this summer, the NDRC intends to follow up this first wave of endorsements with a second round and additional contributions ahead of the fall elections. 

The full list of endorsed candidates in North Carolina can be found here; the full list of endorsed candidates in Texas can be found here. All of the endorsed candidates have signed the NDRC’s Fair Districts Pledge which calls for candidates and elected officials to support fair redistricting and commit to end map manipulation.

“The nation faces an existential national election in the fall. But we must never forget that the state legislative races taking place across the country are also critical to the future of our democracy,” said Eric H. Holder, Jr. “Our democratic process is being tested by the health crisis and so the NDRC is investing early in order to ensure that these candidates have every opportunity to be heard and to run successful campaigns. North Carolina and Texas have had to endure some of the worst gerrymanders in the nation, but are on the cusp of needed political shifts that would lead to fair maps. I’m proud to endorse these candidates, who will be instrumental in taking power from the special interests and returning power to the people — where it belongs.”

North Carolina Senate Democratic Leader Dan Blue said: “We are grateful for the NDRC’s endorsement of so many great candidates, and for their support as we work to take the majority in the NC Senate this fall.  We look forward to continuing to work with them to ensure North Carolina has fair maps — and that starts with ensuring these candidates win in November.”

North Carolina House Democratic Leader Darren Jackson said: “Fair maps are fundamental to a government accountable to the people. NC House Democrats have pledged to pass fair maps.  We appreciate all NDRC is doing to make fair maps a reality in North Carolina.”

Texas House Representative Celia Israel said: “A fair and equitable redistricting process is a priority for Texas Democrats. With these endorsements, the National Democratic Redistricting Committee is investing in candidates who truly represent the diversity of our state and will fight to ensure all Texans are represented. We are excited to partner with the NDRC to ensure Democratic State House candidates in Texas are victorious in November.”

North Carolina

The NDRC is investing $113,400 in contributions to North Carolina House candidates and $81,000 in contributions to North Carolina Senate candidates. In North Carolina, the governor does not sign or veto the maps, which means the process is completely controlled by the two chambers of the General Assembly.

The elections this fall will be the first on newly-drawn maps following a lawsuit supported by the National Redistricting Foundation, an NDRC affiliate, in state court that found the old maps were partisan gerrymanders that violated the state constitution. 

Texas

The NDRC is investing $115,000 in contributions to Texas House candidates. Democrats are nine seats from flipping the House, which would prevent Republicans from having total control of the redistricting process in 2021.

The NDRC is the first-ever strategic hub for a comprehensive redistricting strategy that includes winning targeted elections, reforming the system, advancing legal action, and building the infrastructure needed to achieve a fair redistricting process. Our goal is to restore fairness to our democracy and ensure every American has an equal say in our government.

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