Kelly Ward, Executive Director of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC), released the following statement opposing the proposed changes:
“The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission ensures a fair redistricting process and is used as a model for the rest of the country.  The proposal introduced by Republicans in the state legislature would unnecessarily politicize the current system and undermine the will of the voters. Their draft language would make it more difficult to ensure a fair map-drawing process and allow the legislature to sidestep the independent commission’s work on a whim.

“If the state legislature moves to weaken the Commission or sends a measure to the ballot in November that politicizes the redistricting process, NDRC will partner with local groups in Arizona and invest resources to expose this partisan power grab.”

Ward is a graduate of the University of Arizona and previously worked for former Governor Janet Napolitano.  She was also on the founding Board of Arizona Emerge and helped create Arizona List, organizations committed to recruiting and electing women to local office in Arizona.

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.