#unconstitutional desantis map

[tomorrowusa]

A circuit judge in Leon County, which includes the capital of Florida, has struck down Ron DeSantis's gerrymandered US House map for Florida.

A judge in Florida has ruled in favor of voting rights groups that filed a lawsuit against a congressional redistricting map approved by Ron DeSantis in 2022. Voting rights groups had criticized the map for diluting political power in Black communities. In the ruling, Leon county circuit judge J Lee Marsh sent the map back to the Florida legislature to be redrawn in a way that complies with the state’s constitution. “Under the stipulated facts (in the lawsuit), plaintiffs have shown that the enacted plan results in the diminishment of Black voters’ ability to elect their candidate of choice in violation of the Florida constitution,” Marsh wrote in the ruling. The ruling is expected to be appealed by the state, likely putting the case before the Florida supreme court.

DeSantis had rejected a somewhat gerrymandered map his rubber stamp legislature had drawn and insisted that it pass his super-gerrymandered alternative instead. That's the map Judge Marsh threw out.

I don't know how independent the Florida Supreme Court is these days, but that looks like the next stop for this case.

The lawsuit focused on a north Florida congressional district previously represented by the Democrat Al Lawson, who is Black. Lawson’s district was carved up into districts represented by white Republicans. DeSantis vetoed a map that initially preserved Lawson’s district in 2022, submitting his own map and calling a special legislative session demanding state legislators accept it. Judge Marsh rejected claims from Florida Republicans that the state’s provision against weakening or eliminating minority-dominant districts violated the US constitution. “This is a significant victory in the fight for fair representation for Black Floridians,” said Olivia Mendoza, director of litigation and policy for the National Redistricting Foundation, an affiliate of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, in a statement. “As a result, the current discriminatory map should be replaced with a map that restores the fifth congressional district in a manner that gives Black voters the opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice.” In 2022, the Florida Legislative Black Caucus labeled the DeSantis-approved congressional map as voter suppression. The map resulted in Florida Republicans picking up four congressional seats in the state, increasing Republican representatives from 16 to 20 out of 28 seats and helping Republicans seal a slim majority in the House in 2022.

Of course DeSantis will complain that permitting fair representation is "woke" and may try to get Judge Marsh fired in retaliation for the ruling.

For fair representation nationally, consider supporting the National Democratic Redistricting Committee.

Home - National Democratic Redistricting Committee

[arpov-blog-blog]

..."Thirty years ago," Damon Linker told The Guardian, "if I told you that a bunch of billionaires and intellectuals on the right are waiting in the wings to impose a dictatorship on the United States, you would have said that I was insane."

Now, however, the senior lecturer at Penn State's Department of Political Science and author of the Notes From the Middleground Substack newsletter has reconsidered.

"But it's no longer insane," Linker writes. "It's now real. There are those people out there." And, Linker notes, "The question is: will they get their chance."

The simple reality is that they already have had their chance in multiple red states, and when we watch what they're doing with it we see that step by step, day by day, Republicans are inching towards full-blown fascism. Now they're calling to end democracy and replace our president with a "Red Caesar."

They no longer believe in elections, because the American people are rejecting their vision of more tax cuts for billionaires, hating on racial and gender minorities, and more fossil-fuel pollution to destroy our planet.

So instead of trying to get elected by presenting honest differences in policy from Democrats, Republicans have resorted to massive gerrymandering, purging voting rolls of millions of Americans who live in blue cities within red states and dark-money TV carpet-bombing campaigns often filled with lies and half-truths.

But that's just the beginning.

Wisconsin voters elected a Democratic justice to the state Supreme Court, Janet Protasiewicz, and Republicans are trying to impeach her before she's heard a single case because they believe (probably correctly) that she will vote to declare their gerrymandered legislative map — which overwhelmingly favors Republicans, out of proportion to their strength in the state — unconstitutional.

North Carolina is so gerrymandered that the majority of the state's residents vote for Democrats (which is why the governor is a Democrat) but, as in Wisconsin, Republicans hold a solid majority in the state House, the state Senate and the congressional delegation. So I guess it shouldn't surprise us that a committee co-chaired by Republican state Senate President Phil Berger and Republican state House Speaker Tim Moore just gave itself Gestapo-like powers.

The Republican-controlled Joint Legislative Committee on Government Operations — or, as Judd Legum notes at Popular.info, Gov Ops for short — now has the power to break into the home or office of anybody in the state who has worked for or with state government and go through their files and even personal phones and computers.

Meanwhile, down in Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis has created two new armed organizations answerable to himself: a new "state guard" militia and a police agency that is supposed to provide for "election integrity" (GOP code for preventing Black people in blue cities from voting).

As former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist (now a Democrat) said of DeSantis' new armed officers: "No governor should have his own handpicked secret police."

Across the country, Republicans are threatening and intimidating teachers and librarians into stripping from their collections any books that positively portray Black or queer people.

Armed fascist militias supportive of those efforts show up at school board and other meetings with assault rifles strapped across their backs to heckle and threaten elected officials.

Dozens of white supremacist militia groups nationwide — modern versions of the old Ku Klux Klan — openly embrace Republican politicians while parading with Nazi and Confederate flags.

Donald Trump, the American fascist movement's current standard-bearer, has said that if he again gains the White House he will immediately lock up and then prosecute high-profile Democrats and the judges and prosecutors who have tried to hold him to account for his decades of criminal activity.

When last in office he tried to stop and then to overturn an election; should he get elected again it will almost certainly be the last free and fair election in the nation.

Trump uses racial slurs — calling the Black prosecutors who have gone after him "Riggers" and "racists" — to crank his white supremacist base into stochastic terror violence.

He has also said that — like Vladimir Putin and Viktor Orbán — he will investigate for "treason" and then presumably shut down network television news outlets that don't echo his talking points and unquestioningly broadcast his lies.

Not a single Republican of national stature has stood up to condemn any of this rhetoric. The entire party is terrified of this 77-year-old who recently told an audience that he'd beaten Barack Obama in the 2016 election and he was worried that Democrats might "start World War II."

Our corporate media, of course, buried those stories while obsessing on concerns that President Biden is too old for his job. It's almost as if the network executives are already looking forward to another tax cut when Trump gets back in."

[dohicky]

DeSantis' redistricting map in Florida is unconstitutional and must be r...

[nedsecondline]

DeSantis' Florida redistricting map unconstitutional, judge says - Los Angeles Times

A judge says that a Florida redistricting plan pushed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis violates the state constitution. — Read on www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2023-09-03/desantis-redistricting-map-in-florida-is-unconstitutional-and-must-be-redrawn-judge-says

[the-sayuri-rin]

A circuit judge sent the plan back to the Florida Legislature with instructions that lawmakers should draw a new congressional map that complies with the Florida Constitution.

[shahananasrin-blog]

[ad_1] The Florida redistricting plan that Gov. Ron DeSantis supports is unconstitutional and cannot be used, a state judge ruled Saturday.Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh ruled that the redistricting plan diminishes the ability fo black voters to elect their chosen candidates, particularly in the state's northern region. Marsh's order mandates that the state government begin producing a new map for congressional elections, though DeSantis' administration is likely to appeal the decision.Central to the case is former U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, D-Fla., whose district splintered under the new map. The lawmaker, who is black, had previously enjoyed support from a wide base of black voters in the district, but he lost his race by 20 points under the new map.Republicans in the Florida legislature had previously introduced a redistricting map that likely would have allowed Lawson to win re-election, but the DeSantis administration put forward its own version of the map and vowed to veto any other.DESANTIS SAYS ‘SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE’ IN FLORIDA FROM HURRICANE IDALIA, DOZENS OF RESCUES The Florida redistricting plan that Gov. Ron DeSantis supports is unconstitutional and cannot be used, a state judge ruled Saturday. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)The legal battle comes as DeSantis manages disaster response from Hurricane Idalia as well as a 2024 presidential campaign.The governor snubbed President Biden during his visit to Florida this weekend. Biden's administration had indicated that they thought the pair would meet to survey disaster recovery efforts on Saturday, but no such meeting occurred.TROPICAL STORM IDALIA IMPACTS NORTH CAROLINA AFTER BARRELING THROUGH SOUTHEASTERN STATES"In these rural communities, and so soon after impact, the security preparations alone that would go into setting up such a meeting would shut down ongoing recovery efforts," said DeSantis spokesman Jeremy Redfern. The governor snubbed President Biden during his visit to Florida this weekend. Biden's administration had indicated that they thought the pair would meet to survey disaster recovery efforts on Saturday, but no such meeting occurred. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)DESANTIS SAYS ‘SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE’ IN FLORIDA FROM HURRICANE IDALIA, DOZENS OF RESCUESThe president announced his intention to visit Florida during a press conference from the Washington, D.C., headquarters of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Biden has demanded Congress pass more disaster relief funding as soon as possible — upping his original request of $12 billion to $16 billion. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"There was just no indication that he was not going to be there," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said of DeSantis on Saturday.Fox News' Timothy Nerozzi and the Associated Press contributed to this report. Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events. Send tips to Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com, or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders. [ad_2]

[dnaamericaapp]

There’s No Surprise DeSantis' Florida Redistricting Map Is Unconstitutional, Judge Says It Must Be Redrawn

A Florida redistricting plan pushed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis violates the state constitution and is prohibited from being used for any future U.S. congressional elections since it diminishes the ability of Black voters in north Florida to pick a representative of their choice, a state judge ruled Saturday.

Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh sent the plan back to the Florida Legislature with instructions that lawmakers should draw a new congressional map that complies with the Florida Constitution.

The voting rights groups that challenged the plan in court “have shown that the enacted plan results in the diminishment of Black voters’ ability to elect their candidate of choice in violation of the Florida Constitution,” Marsh wrote.

The decision was the latest to strike down new congressional maps in Southern states over concerns that they diluted Black voting power.

Every 10 years — following a once-a-decade census — lawmakers in all 50 states, including Florida, redraw political boundaries.

DeSantis, a candidate for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, was criticized for essentially drawing Democratic U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, who is Black, out of office by carving up his district and dividing a large number of Black voters into conservative districts represented by white Republicans.

In an unprecedented move, DeSantis interjected himself into the redistricting process last year by vetoing the Republican-dominated Legislature’s map that preserved Lawson’s district. He called a special session, submitted his own map and demanded lawmakers accept it.

The Florida judge rejected defense arguments from Republican lawmakers that the state’s provision against weakening or eliminating minority-dominant districts violated the U.S. Constitution. -(source: nbc news)

DNA America

“It’s what we know, not what you want us to believe.”

#dna #dnaamerica #news #politics

[balancednewssummaryapp]

Florida judge rules DeSantis' redistricting map is unconstitutional, orders it redrawn Are you interested in this story? Download the Balanced News Summary app to read more! Link in our bio. For breaking news and updates follow @balancednewssummaryapp or visit our website https://balancednewssummary.com/ #BalancedNewsSummary #Americafirst #Billofrights #Breakingnews #Campaign #Celebritynews #Cybernews #Differentview #Differentviews #Freedom #Freethought #Headlines #Hiddenknowledge #Itshappening #Journalism #Justice #Makeyourvoiceheard #Questioneverything #Southamerica #Startupnews #Vote #Wethepeople

[npi]

DeSantis' gerrymandered congressional map in Florida is unconstitutional and must be redrawn, state judge says

DeSantis’ gerrymandered congressional map in Florida is unconstitutional and must be redrawn, state judge says From the Associated Press via ABC: “A Florida redistricting plan pushed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis violates the state constitution and is prohibited from being used for any future U.S. congressional elections since it diminishes the ability of Black voters in north Florida to…

[qudachuk]

A judge says that a Florida redistricting plan pushed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis violates the state constitution

[somethingusefulfromflorida]

I had confidence in the 2024 election because Democrats had a better than expected midterm (they only lost the House by a slim margin, gained a seat in the senate, and held all the improtant secretary of state and attorney general races), but going state by state it's much closer than I'm comfortable with.

Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming are solid red (127/438)

California, Colorado, Connecitcut, Delaware, DC, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington are solid blue (195/438)

Arizona is likely to flip red because Krysten Sinema is unpopular and will split the senate vote as an independent spoiler making the Democrats appear disorganized and distressed, very likely siphoning votes from the presidential candidate (138/438)

Florida is solid red no matter how you slice it. 60-40 if it's DeSantis, 55-45 if it's Trump (168/438)

Georgia could go either way, but I see Republicans flipping it back red because the state legislature will do everything in its power to disenfranchise black voters after they flipped it blue four times, once presidential, thrice senatorial (184/438)

Maine splits its electoral college votes by congressional district. I think three will go blue (198/438) and one red (185/438)

Michigan will probably go blue because Democrats made massive gains in 2022, flipping both houses of the state legislature and maintaining control over the important statewide positions (213/438)

Minnesota is the only state to vote against Ronald Reagan twice, having not gone red since 1972. Republicans made gains in the state legislature, but Democrats were able to flip it back in 2022, so I think the statewide race is solid blue for sure (223/438)

Nebraska, like Maine, splits its votes by district. Even though one district is nominally bluer than the others, I have a feeling all five Nebraska votes will go red (190/438)

Nevada could go either way. Democrats held the senate and secretary of state races but lost the governorship. I'd tentatively call it blue, but we won't know the results until a week or two after election day, so let's instead say it's undecided.

New Hampshire could go either way, but leans blue even though both houses of the legislature and the governorship went red. it's very small, so it's unlikely to play kingmaker one way or the other (227/438)

North Carolina is red. it'll be close, maybe 49-51, but close only counts in horseshoes. it has a blye governor, but the legislature is gerrymandered deep red and the regularly override his vetoes. The NC Supreme Court said its electoral maps were unconstitutional in 2022, but the legislature used them anyways, so not even the highest authority in the state could stop them from fucking over the people. It'll be red with very lower turnout (206/438)

Ohio is deep red, not even a contest. It's the worst of Florida and North Carolina, illegal maps, deep red gerrymander, total clusterfuck shitshow (223/438)

Pennsylvania will probably go blue because Democrats flipped the senate and one house of the legislature in 2022 (246/438)

Texas is red. See Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Ohio (263/438)

Virginia is entirely up in the air. I can't make a prediction one way or the other until we see how the state legislature races go this fall. Democrats have a razor thin majority in the senate, Republicans have a razor thin majority in the house, so this November will decide who has the advantage going into 2024. They have a deep red governor, but two blue senators and a consistently blue presidential track record sine 2008. I don't know.

Wisconsin will probably go blue because Democrats managed to hold onto the secretary of state and attorney general seats in 2022, and flipped the state Supreme Court blue just a few months ago. Republicans have majorities in both houses due to gerrymandering, but statewide the Democrats have the advantage (256/438)

Oh dear. Neither party had 270 votes, and Nevada and Virginia are going to be the kingmakers.

If Dems win both, they win 275-263.

If Republicans win both, they win 282-256.

If Republicans win Virginia but not Nevada, they still win 276-262

If Democrats win Virginia but not Nevada, the electoral college is tied 269-269. It would be up to the House to pick a president in a contingent election, though there's no telling how many faithless electors would flip either way.

This is going to be a real nailbiter. No two presidential elections have ever gone the exact same way. There's no way it'll be a repeat of 2020; one or more state will flip, it's just a matter of which. If Dems can hold Arizona or Georgia, they're golden. That's really what it's gonna come down to, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and Virginia. Democrats could take back the House, but Republicans will almost certainly take back the Senate, which means Game Over no matter who wins the presidency.

If Biden wins, he gets no more judges, zero, zilch, nada.

If Trump or DeSantis win, God have mercy on us all.

[blackvotersmatterfund]

Statement on Florida Court Ruling Overturning Racist Voter Maps

Today, a 2nd Circuit Court Judge in Florida sided with Black Voters Matter, Equal Ground Education Fund, League of Women Voters of Florida, and Florida Rising and agreed that our position, that DeSantis’ Map diminished the voting power of Black voters in violation of the Florida Constitution, would likely succeed on the merits.  Today’s decision means that DeSantis’ racially gerrymandered map, which re-configured Florida’s Congressional District 5, will not be used for the 2022 election.  While the State will appeal the decision, we consider this a major victory for Black Voters in Florida’s Congressional District 5, and we, along with the other co-plaintiffs will continue to fight to have DeSantis’ entire unconstitutional and racist map thrown out.   

Today and going forward, Black Voters Matter remains committed to using every democratic tool to increase political power for Black people in this country. Litigation has been and remains one of those tools, but a multi-pronged threat needs a multi-pronged solution. That’s why we are continuing to mobilize our communities, pressuring Congress to pass much-needed voting rights legislation, and demanding that the President use all of his executive power to protect the rights of Black voters. And it’s why we’re urging voters to join the fight for voting rights by signing our One Million For Voting Rights petition. In southern states like Florida, where the rights of Black people are constantly under attack, the need for federal action on voting rights simply could not be clearer.  

Now, we must keep the faith. We firmly believe that the cause to expand political rights in this country to all people, which will allow us to share in power and resources is a just cause, and if we faint not, we will win.

Tonight at 6:00 p.m. ET, Black Voters Matter and the co-plaintiffs in the case will hold a Twitter town hall space to discuss next steps in the Florida case. You can join on Twitter by following @BlackVotersMtr.