BREAKING: Federal Court orders Michigan districts redrawn for 2020

[brooklynite]

Detroit — Michigan must redraw legislative and congressional districts for the 2020 elections because Republican lawmakers unconstitutionally gerrymandered current maps, a three-judge federal panel ruled Thursday.

The blockbuster ruling requires Michigan to conduct special state Senate elections for certain seats next year, cutting in half the four-year terms that current lawmakers are now serving.

The “predominate purpose” of the redistricting plan approved by the GOP-led Legislature in 2011 “was to subordinate the interests of Democratic voters and entrench Republicans in power,” said the unanimous decision written by U.S. Circuit Court Judge Eric Clay, an appointee of Democratic President Bill Clinton.

“Therefore, the enacted plan constitutes a durable partisan gerrymander.”

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2019/04/25/michigan-gerrymandering/3576663002/

[Siwsan]

1. I just hope I keep my current representation, which is 100% Democrats

Especially Dan Kildee. He's a great Congressman.

[Recursion]

2. Dale's son, I assume? (nt)

[Siwsan]

3. His nephew

He took up where Dale left off, and is doing a fantastic job. We couldn't wish for better representation.

[Recursion]

4. Awesome. I remember Dale from when I worked on the Hill back in the neolithic

Great guy, and glad to hear his district is still in good hands

[Siwsan]

5. The Kildee family and my family go back a long way - to the North end of Flint

Dale was a very close friend of one of my uncles. I always got a big hug, when ever I saw him at a political event.

Dan and his staff are just as involved and effective as was Dale's so we are in great hands.

[progressoid]

6. How long can the MI gop draw this out?

[diva77]

7. K&R

[former9thward]

8. This decision will be put on hold.

The Supreme Court currently has two cases on gerrymandering and they should be decided by the end of June. All other cases, including this one from Michigan, will have to follow whatever the SC decides in their cases.

[bluestarone]

11. Then they will all claim it's too close to election time right?

Wouldn't surprise me that they try to redraw map AFTER the 2020 election! Is this possible?

[former9thward]

18. Yes, those things may happen.

We will just have to wait until the June decisions.

[FakeNoose]

9. Congratulations to Michigan Democrats!

This was a tough battle, and now you've got the go-ahead. We did the same in Pennsylvania last year and it really made a difference for us. Several districts turned blue in 2018 because the new map was fairly (or almost fairly) drawn for the first time since before 2010.

[aidbo]

10. Awesome!

Link to tweet

?

[spanone]

12. K&R...

[llmart]

13. Great news!

When I first moved to Michigan, my district was strongly Democratic until the gerrymandering and we ended up with Repugs all the time.

[Wounded Bear]

14. Let's hope it wins on appeal...

[Turbineguy]

15. No Fair!

How can republicans get elected if they can't cheat?

[mahannah]

16. Yes (in Kalamazoo)!

[DFW]

17. Now THERE is some news worth breaking! n/t