Yes, there was plenty of terrible news to process. But thanks to courts in Pennsylvania, Utah, California and Maryland, we also have some big wins to celebrate.
Friday, August 29
View in browser ([link removed] )
NL-Header_OTD-4 ([link removed] )
Sponsored-by-ACLU_2025.05-1 ([link removed] )
THIS WEEK
- Pennsylvania leads a week of pro-voting legal victories
- California, Texas redistricting battles go to court
- Louisiana, Alabama target the Voting Rights Act in latest filings
PENNSYLVANIA
The Keystone State leads an eventful week for voting wins
Following the news right now honestly feels like being trapped in a relentless living nightmare. So we’re excited to be able to offer you lots of positive updates this week.
A Pennsylvania state law required election officials to reject undated or wrongly dated mail-in ballots. But in a win for voters, a federal circuit court ruled ([link removed] ) this week that the law violated the First and 14th Amendments.
A gerrymandered congressional map in Utah was struck down ([link removed] ) after a judge determined state lawmakers unconstitutionally repealed a voter-approved proposition that created an independent redistricting commission. It’s a major win for fair representation, and the result could be to give Democrats an additional seat in the House.
And a federal judge dismissed ([link removed] ) the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)’s lawsuit against every federal district judge in Maryland – calling the Trump administration’s legal maneuver to overturn an immigration court order “novel and potentially calamitous litigation.”
All in all, not a bad week (at least, in voting news. Lots of other bleak ([link removed] ) news, though). Read more about the Pennsylvania case here. ([link removed] )
A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR
ACLU_ListBuilding_AlligatorAlcatraz_DailyKos_Display_750x275@2x (1) ([link removed] )
People detained at Florida’s immigration detention center “Alligator Alcatraz” are being held in mosquito ridden, flood-prone facilities built on swamp land in the middle of hurricane season. Reports of maggot-infested food, 24/7 lighting, and no access to legal or medical services are just the start. This is inhumane, state-sponsored cruelty. Tell Congress: Shut down Alligator Alcatraz now. ([link removed] )
REDISTRICTING
California, Texas redistricting battles hit the courts
This week — in another court win that deals a blow to President Donald Trump’s power grab — the California Supreme Court denied Republicans’ attempt to block Democrats’ redistricting plan – not just once ([link removed] ) , but twice ([link removed] ) .
With the GOP gerrymandering the Texas congressional map to squeeze out five more Republican seats in Congress at Trump’s behest, California is the first blue state to step forward with a counter move.
California Democrats put together their own proposed congressional map to even the playing field. They’re asking voters in November to approve a ballot measure allowing the state to respond to the Texas scheme by redrawing five seats.
California Republicans quickly sued to stop lawmakers from voting on the legislation, then to block the measure from the ballot. Both efforts were denied by the state Supreme Court.
Notably, the law firm representing the GOP in both filings was founded by U.S. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who runs DOJ’s civil rights division.
Meanwhile, two separate groups of Texas plaintiffs have filed ([link removed] ) motions asking a federal court to issue a preliminary injunction against the GOP gerrymander and order the state to use the current 2021 map (which is also being challenged as a racial gerrymander) for next year’s election. Read more about the redistricting battles here. ([link removed] )
LOUISIANA
Louisiana, Alabama endanger the Voting Rights Act in latest filings
Louisiana and Alabama both submitted legal filings this week that not only risk diluting the voting strength of minority voters in those states, but also pose grave threats to the Voting Rights Act (VRA) for the country as a whole.
Louisiana filed ([link removed] ) a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in the ongoing, massively consequential Callais v. Landry ([link removed] ) case.
The state will no longer defend its own map, now arguing that race-based redistricting under Section 2 of the VRA is unconstitutional and violates the Equal Protection Clause. Louisiana said the map should be struck down under the same reasoning the Supreme Court used to end race-based college admissions.
"These violations of basic equal protection principles ended race-based admissions programs. They should also end race-based redistricting,” the state argued, ultimately concluding: "Louisiana wants out of this abhorrent system of racial discrimination.”
Louisiana also made the case that racial discrimination in voting is no longer a serious problem in the state, calling itself “one of the great stories in America’s fight for equality.” Louisiana currently has no non-white statewide elected officials, despite a non-white population of around 40%.
Meanwhile, Alabama filed ([link removed] ) a petition this week asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review and reverse a lower court’s ruling in a federal case that found the state’s congressional map violated Section 2 of the VRA.
Alabama’s argument is another existential threat to the VRA, claiming it’s in conflict with the 14th Amendment. Both states are betting a Supreme Court majority will agree and strike down that essential section of the law. Read more about the Alabama case here. ([link removed] )
OPINION
The Last Line of Defense Against GOP Gerrymanders: Dem Governors
Screenshot 2025-08-28 at 3.57.19 PM ([link removed] )
We’re watching a redistricting war play out between red states and blue states — launched by Trump and Texas — that will have serious consequences in the 2026 midterm election.
In an opinion piece, Meghan Meehan-Draper, executive director of the Democratic Governors Association, gave us the bottom line: “We’re living in a scary moment for our democracy.”
Meehan-Draper made the case that one of the best ways to fight is by electing Democratic governors.
“Democratic governors are on the frontlines of the redistricting fight. They have the power to veto rigged maps, pass fair ones and go on offense to counter Republican extremism in places like Texas. They’re also key to winning back a Democratic majority in Congress and delivering on the issues that Americans care about most,” she wrote. Read more here. ([link removed] )
NEW VIDEO
Why is Trump's DOJ Arresting Democrats?
Donald Trump is weaponizing the Department of Justice to target Democrats. Rep. Rob Menendez joins the podcast to discuss Trump’s threat to the immigrant community, the federal takeover of Washington, D.C., and the GOP’s refusal to do their job. Watch it on YouTube here. ([link removed] )
What We’re Doing
Our latest book rec comes to us courtesy of Democracy Docket reporter Jim Saksa, who has been reading “Nine Black Robes: Inside the Supreme Court’s Drive to the Right and Its Historic Consequences” ([link removed] ) by journalist Joan Biskupic.
Jim says it’s “a good look at how the Roberts Court has systemically dragged jurisprudence to the right, and how Trump's three Supreme Court picks have turbocharged that shift, with lots of insider details and anecdotes about the justices themselves and the people around them.”
This may not sound like a Labor Day weekend beach read. But Jim did start reading the book when he was on vacation, so never let it be said the Democracy Docket team doesn’t know how to kick back and relax.
Maggot-infested food. No showers. No medical care. The ACLU is suing the Trump administration for detaining immigrants at the detention center “Alligator Alcatraz.” Tell Congress to shut it down. ([link removed] )
Facebook ([link removed] )
X ([link removed] )
Instagram ([link removed] )
Bluesky_Logo-grey (2) ([link removed] )
YouTube ([link removed] )
Website ([link removed] )
TikTok ([link removed] )
This is one of our free weekly newsletters. If you were forwarded this email, you can subscribe to our newsletters here ([link removed] ) . For questions or help with your subscription, please visit our Help Center ([link removed] ) .
Unsubscribe ([link removed] ) | Manage Preferences ([link removed] ) | Donate ([link removed] )
Democracy Docket, LLC
250 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 400
Washington, D.C., 20009
