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REACTION: Democrat, Republican leaders criticize Supreme Court for partisan gerrymandering ruling

The Supreme Court decided it would let partisan gerrymandering go unchecked. But the courts aren’t the only path to fair districts. Leaders on both sides of the aisle are chiming in on the issue, and calling out the Supreme Court for its historically bad decision.

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The U.S. Supreme Court issued a bad 5-4 decision in two landmark gerrymandering cases—giving politicians the green light to draw rigged maps in states across the country. The cases, Common Cause v. Rucho and Lamone v. Benisek, hoped to fix partisan gerrymanders in North Carolina and Maryland, respectively—where both Democrats and Republicans had rigged electoral maps in their favor. 

Activists assembled on the court’s steps, advocates made waves in the press, and some politicians have sounded off to call out the Supreme Court on its disastrous decision.

As the justices hang up their robes for the summer, the fight for fair maps and representation continues—with quite a few Democrats and Republicans stepping into the fray. Let’s take a look at what some of the big names are saying. 

Among the crowded 2020 Democratic presidential field, Sen. Elizabeth Warren started her own mini-thread, where she called out the Supreme Court and called for more independent redistricting commissions in the states. Sen. Kamala Harris took a firm stance too, and declared that “banning partisan gerrymandering will be a top priority” for her as president.

Sen. Michael Bennet answered the call when asked by Common Cause what he would do to end partisan gerrymandering too–coming out firmly against the court’s decision.

Former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders had tweets of their own, calling out the Supreme Court for letting state politicians for “rig our democracy.” 

As did former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, referencing the disproportionate impact gerrymandering has on communities of color.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for action as well. Pelosi issued a statement connecting the issue back to H.R.1, the For the People Act, which would require states to set up independent citizens redistricting commissions.

Eric Holder, the former Attorney General under President Obama who has since made gerrymandering his top issue, tweeted out his own message—reminding us that the states and the people can still fix redistricting without the court.

But it wasn’t just Democrats calling out the court on for ducking its responsibility to bring justice to North Carolina and Maryland voters. Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenneger tweeted out a thread of his own, pointing out that “this isn’t the end of our fight to terminate gerrymandering.”

He even threw in a gif for good measure.

Former Ohio Governor and GOP presidential candidate John Kasich took to Twitter as well, pointing out the power states have to end gerrymandering, regardless of the Supreme Court’s decision.

As did two Republican officials from Maryland, where Democratic maps were recently challenged. Governor Larry Hogan and U.S. Congressman Andy Harris pointed out how both parties are guilty of gerrymandering today.

As the Twittersphere erupted following the Supreme Court’s decision, one thing was made especially clear: the bipartisan push to stop gerrymandering and draw fair maps is far from over. 

Learn more about what we’re doing to end gerrymandering, and sign our pledge to tell your lawmakers that fair maps matter.

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