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‘Nightmare scenario’: Analysis warns Supreme Court may ‘clear path’ for one-party rule
A Democratic voting rights group was "sounding the alarm" Wednesday, warning of a "nightmare scenario" wherein the U.S. Supreme Court could "clear the path for a one-party system" and give Republicans control of Congress.
The high court is slated to rehear Louisiana v. Callais on Oct. 15, and in a new Politico report, Fair Fight Action and Black Voters Matter Fund signal that removing Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act could give Republicans a path to redraw up to 19 House seats to benefit their party.
The Voting Rights Act — the landmark Civil Rights-era legislation — has been targeted by Republicans, aiming to remove this particular section, Politico reports.
The move would "clear the path for a one-party system where power serves the powerful and silences the people,” Black Voters Matter Fund co-founder LaTosha Brown said in a statement.
The ruling could also ultimately remove 30% of Congressional Black Caucus seats and 11% of Congressional Hispanic Caucus seats, according to Salon.
This could leave limited options for Democrats.
"Democrats could also find ways to use any changes to the VRA to their benefit. The party could redraw maps in heavily-blue areas with VRA protections to try and expand their margins, but there will be fewer opportunities," Politico reports.
The law has been used to offer protections against racial gerrymandering in redistricting, a topic that's become a key move ahead of midterm elections amid President Donald Trump's push to maintain GOP control in Congress, putting pressure on Republicans to redraw district lines and saying "there could very well be consequences" if they don't take action.
