CBS host presses former AG Eric Holder on defending partisan redistricting efforts in Virginia
CBS anchor Margaret Brennan under pressure Eric Holder As debate Sunday raged over whether Democratic-backed redistricting efforts in Virginia amounted to partisan “stacking the decks,” a former Barack Obama official defended the proposal on “Face the Nation” as a response to the Republican-led nationwide map drawing.
“So how do you ensure that by holding this referendum and changing the maps, this is temporary and will not continue like this?” Brennan asked after questioning that drawing maps along partisan lines isn’t just “stacking the deck.”
Holder, who chairs the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, framed the push as part of a broader effort. Against Republican gains In states like Texas, North Carolina and Missouri.
“This is truly a national fight. This isn’t just a fight about Virginia,” Holder said. “What Virginia is doing, what California is doing, is just a response to what the Republicans started in Texas.”
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger’s rebuttal of SOTU sparked a strong backlash from conservatives.
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Brennan noted Virginia’s current situation bipartisan redistricting commissionHe argues that it already provides a fairer system and questions why Democrats are trying to change it.
“Virginia already had a bipartisan commission set up to do this work… that sounds fair,” Brennan said.
Holder said the current proposal is limited in scope and directly dependent on voter approval.
“The measure itself says it is time-limited,” Holder said. “Just for this cycle, for an additional cycle, and after the census it can be changed again.”
Former President Barack Obama urged Virginians to vote “yes” on the redistricting measure in a video message released as early voting began, saying it would help “level the playing field.”
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Brennan also weighed in on whether the move signals Democrats’ lack of confidence in winning under current conditions, noting historical midterm trends and the political headwinds facing the president’s party.
“Why do Democrats need to do this? He seems to recognize that the Democratic Party can’t win alone,” said Brennan.
Holder rejected that characterization, framing the effort as a necessary countermeasure.
“If it’s a fair fight, Democrats can definitely win,” Holder said. “If you try to steal seats in Texas, North Carolina and Missouri, it’s not going to be a fair fight at the national level.”
Brennan also touched on Holder’s past statements opposing partisan gerrymandering; these included warnings that this was leading to governments not reflecting voters’ preferences, contributing to political stalemate.
“If we don’t respond to what they’re trying to do, we could lose our democracy,” Holder said. “And I don’t have the ability to go back to that fight for justice.”
Brennan also addressed criticism from redistricting advocates, including concerns that proposed maps in Virginia could reduce Black political influence.
“What’s in it for us?” Brennan said, citing criticism from the National Black Nonpartisan Redistricting Organization.
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“That’s absolutely not true,” Holder responded. “Do you think two more years of Trump’s unchecked power would be in the interest of African Americans in this country? No.”
“Hopefully we will pass federal legislation that will completely ban partisan gerrymandering and eliminate it completely,” Holder said.
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Original article source: CBS anchor presses former AG Eric Holder on defending partisan redistricting efforts in Virginia
