Washington, D.C. — Today, Eric H. Holder, Jr., the 82nd Attorney General of the United States and chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, released the following statement in response to the Iowa State Senate’s failure to pass the first set of maps put forward by the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency:  

“Iowans want and deserve a fair, nonpartisan process that leads to a map that accurately reflects the competitive nature of their state. From public hearings to comment portals, Iowans have made it clear that the longstanding, nonpartisan nature of their state’s redistricting process is a point of pride and should be maintained. If the Republican-led Legislature rejects the second set of maps put forward by the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency, it would be a move that could lead to the destruction of a nonpartisan redistricting process that has served as an example to the rest of the country for decades. Our demand is that the Legislature will ultimately uphold the longstanding nonpartisan redistricting process that Iowans value and refrain from making an unpopular move toward partisanship. Now is not the time for Iowa, which has led the country in fair redistricting, to turn away from a nonpartisan process that has been an exemplar for the nation. Unfair attempts at partisan gain must not be allowed to overcome traditional Iowa good government.”

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