A political organization led by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder from the Obama administration has set its sights on the Texas Supreme Court seats in the upcoming 2024 election. This group has already claimed responsibility for successfully flipping the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
The National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC), chaired by Holder, has announced its focus on state-level and down-ballot races in 11 states, including Texas, as part of a Democratic Party redistricting initiative.
According to the NDRC’s website, they have identified a set of electoral priorities for the upcoming elections. These priorities primarily focus on state-level offices that play a crucial role in preventing Republican gerrymandering. The NDRC emphasizes that these elections are significant as they could influence the redistricting cycle in 2031. With the NDRC and its affiliates already established, there is a unique opportunity to have a longer period to make a substantial impact.
The group is making investments in what it calls “critical” races that could have an impact on the 2031 redistricting process. One such race is taking place in Texas, where three incumbent Republicans are running for reelection in the Texas Supreme Court. As the highest court in the state for civil cases, the Texas Supreme Court sees three seats up for grabs in every general election.
In the upcoming elections, the Republican incumbent justices Jimmy Blacklock, John Devine, and Jane Bland are facing tough challenges from their Democratic opponents. DaSean Jones, Christine Weems, and Bonnie Lee Goldstein are vying for the positions held by Blacklock, Devine, and Bland, respectively. It will be interesting to see who emerges victorious in these highly contested races.
According to the NDRC, State Supreme Courts have the authority to examine and potentially invalidate redistricting plans that are deemed unfair or unconstitutional. They claim that their support played a significant role in shifting the majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The NDRC asserts that their financial contributions and campaign assistance for Democrat Janet Protasiewicz contributed to her victory in the 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court race. Consequently, Democrats secured a majority on the court, leading to a favorable ruling in a Democratic redistricting case.
Multiple lawsuits were filed challenging the Texas Legislature’s 2021 redistricting law and the subsequent maps. However, these lawsuits did not reach the Texas Supreme Court as a district court dismissed all of them.
According to Holder, Republicans are responsible for the creation of “undemocratic” redistricting maps. He believes that their tactics involve voter suppression, as well as partisan and racial gerrymandering, all in an effort to maintain power. In response to this, the NDRC is committed to actively opposing this agenda and ensuring that it does not succeed in undermining democracy. They are devoting considerable time and resources to combat these tactics and protect the integrity of the electoral process.
The Texas Ethics Commission reports that the NDRC is currently in possession of $286,000 in cash. Most of its expenditures in the latter half of 2023 seem to have been allocated to its National Redistricting Action Fund.
Holder’s group is not only focusing on the Texas Supreme Court but also targeting the state supreme courts of Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, and Ohio.
The organization is also focusing on state legislative seats in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Additionally, they are involved in the governor’s race in New Hampshire and supporting an Ohio redistricting reform ballot initiative.
