Gerrymandering hypocrisy is back in the spotlight after former Obama Attorney General Eric Holder blasted Republican redistricting while defending Democratic efforts to do the same. Speaking to NBC’s Kristen Welker, Holder said, “There’s no question that gerrymandering is a threat to our democracy,” accusing Texas Republicans of “authoritarian moves” and calling for Democrats to respond.
Holder endorsed California Governor Gavin Newsom’s push for a ballot measure that would allow the Democrat-controlled legislature to temporarily seize power from the state’s independent redistricting commission. If passed, the move could net Democrats up to five extra congressional seats, according to Politico. “Taking the reasonable steps that have been proposed in California, I think, it makes a great deal of sense in this moment,” Holder said.
This position stands in sharp contrast to Holder’s National Democratic Redistricting Committee, which claims to oppose “mid-decade map redraws” and to “combat ongoing gerrymandering.” The group condemned Texas Republicans’ proposed maps and even threatened lawsuits, while ignoring California’s openly partisan plan.
California joins Illinois and New York in considering Democrat-led gerrymanders to offset GOP gains in Texas. Unlike Texas, where lawmakers can redraw maps at will, these blue states require structural changes such as ballot measures to act mid-decade.
Holder’s remarks came as more than 50 Texas Democrats fled to Illinois to stall the GOP’s redistricting vote. FBI officials confirmed they are assisting local authorities in locating the lawmakers. Holder insists Democrats must “protect our democracy now if we ultimately want to be able to save it,” a statement critics say reveals the partisan nature of his so-called reform agenda.
