Eric Holder Statement on Court Decisions to Leave in Place Fair Congressional Map in Pennsylvania

 

Washington, D.C. — Today, Eric H. Holder, Jr., Chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC) and the 82nd Attorney General of the United States, released the following statement on two court decisions, including one from the United States Supreme Court, that leave in place the fair congressional map drawn by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court:

“Today’s two court rulings, including one from the United States Supreme Court, are important victories for the citizens of Pennsylvania and the fight against gerrymandering. This November, Pennsylvanians will finally have the opportunity to vote for a congressional delegation on a fair map. By fighting against a fair map drawn by an independent court, Republicans have shown they are afraid of the very voters they claim they want to represent.”

There were two separate rulings today that left in place the new congressional map in Pennsylvania. The United States Supreme Court rejected an attempt to block the map drawn by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Earlier today, a three judge panel in the Middle District of Pennsylvania also left in place the map drawn by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. On March 6, the NDRC filed an amicus brief in the litigation in the Middle District of Pennsylvania defending the new map and the process that created it.

Pennsylvania is on the NDRC’s Electoral Target list for 2018. The targets include the states that were the most badly gerrymandered by Republicans in 2011 as well as states where Democrats have an opportunity to protect against Republican gerrymandering.

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 fairer redistricting process.

Our goal is to restore fairness to our democracy by undoing the Republican gerrymandering plaguing our country and creating fair congressional and legislative maps that reflect the will of the voters.

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