John, This week the Supreme Court issued a surprising decision that will have significant implications for our elections going forward, and for the protection of one of our most sacred rights – the right to vote.
Allen v. Milligan is set to become a landmark decision with far reaching consequences. In their 5-4 ruling, our nation’s highest court upheld Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and determined that Alabama’s gerrymandered congressional maps resulted in denying the right to vote to Black Alabamians across multiple counties.
But this case is much larger than Alabama. More than 30 additional lawsuits are still pending in federal court citing violations of Section 2 of the VRA. Voting rights advocates predict as many as 10 states could see changes in their congressional districts as a result of this ruling. And the non-partisan think tank Cook Political Report has listed districts in Alabama, Louisiana, and North Carolina as being newly competitive for Democrats.
This ruling is tremendous news for the people of Alabama and voting rights advocates. It is also an important lesson for Democrats – one that should have been learned long ago.
For decades the Democratic Party has under-invested in states across the South and Midwest. Voters in so-called red states have been left to fend for themselves, struggling against increasingly brazen voter suppression tactics and politicians who don’t even pretend to represent their constituents’ interests.
Organizers in these states have never stood by and waited for anyone to defend their rights or save their democracy. They’ve been building relationships, infrastructure, and organizing capacity for decades – and they are getting results.
If Alabama was consigned forever to be a conservative state with far-right politicians, they never would have elected Doug Jones as their Senator.
If Georgia was doomed to be a bastion of right-wing politics, we wouldn’t have two Georgia Democrats in the Senate right now.
The organizers working to transform the South and defend our democracy at its very root are some of the most passionate, dedicated, brilliant and tenacious people you will ever meet. I know, because some of them are on my team.
My teams in Georgia, South Carolina, and other states likely to be impacted by this decision need your support today – as do I. Please give as generously as you can to make sure they are properly supplied and fully supported to deliver a new Democratic victory next year.
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