Friday, January 30

THIS WEEK

Redistricting efforts take a hit in Virginia while advancing in Maryland
North Carolina cut voting sites at the largest Black college. Students are suing
AG Bondi demands access to Minnesota voter rolls after fatal shooting

REDISTRICTING

Redistricting efforts take a hit in Virginia while advancing in Maryland

In the latest round of the redistricting battle President Donald Trump provoked last year, Virginia Democrats’ efforts to counter GOP gerrymandering gains took a hit in court. Meanwhile in Maryland, Democrats are taking tentative steps forward with their own redistricting plan.

So what’s going on?

Unlike in GOP-controlled states (Texas, Missouri, North Carolina) that passed new maps before voters could even blink, redrawing the congressional map in Virginia requires a legislative marathon – a constitutional amendment must pass twice in the General Assembly, then be approved by voters. That’s proving to be a challenge.

This week, a state court judge blocked* Virginia Democrats’ plan, ruling that the General Assembly failed to follow proper procedures and, therefore, the first vote on the redistricting amendment was null and void.

Democrats quickly appealed the order, calling the decision “legally flawed, unprecedented, and the product of court-shopping designed to block Virginians from voting on their own Constitution.”

Now the case goes before the state court of appeals. If Democrats are successful, they plan to send the proposed amendment to Virginia voters in April. Read more about Virginia redistricting here.

Across state lines, Gov. Wes Moore is still pushing hard for Maryland to become the third Democratic-controlled state to enter the fray and help counter Trump’s mid-decade gerrymanders. A Maryland House committee advanced a redistricting proposal this week, sending it to the full House of Delegates for a vote. But the path ahead is uncertain. Senate President Bill Ferguson (D) has made his opposition clear. Read more about Maryland redistricting here.

Democrats could gain up to five more seats in Congress if both Virginia and Maryland manage to enact new maps. But that is far from guaranteed and the stakes are high — especially with GOP-controlled Florida set to redraw its maps in April.

*Intervening defendants are represented in the lawsuit by the Elias Law Group (ELG). ELG Chair Marc Elias is the founder of Democracy Docket.

STUDENT VOTING

North Carolina cut voting sites at the nation’s largest Black university. Students are suing

North Carolina students are fighting back with a lawsuit* after Republican election officials rejected requests to bring back early voting sites at three college campuses – including North Carolina A&T State University, the country’s largest historically Black college.

The college students are seeking a court order to block the elimination of campus early voting sites for the upcoming 2026 primary. They argue that the officials’ decision places an unconstitutional burden on students’ — and particularly Black students’ — right to vote.

The fight is only the latest hurdle North Carolina voters have faced since Republicans took control of the state election board last year. Read more about the North Carolina lawsuit here.

*The Elias Law Group (ELG) is representing the plaintiffs in the case. ELG Firm Chair Marc Elias is the founder of Democracy Docket.

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VOTER DATA

AG Bondi demands access to Minnesota voter rolls after fatal shooting

The killing of Alex Pretti at the hands of Customs and Border Protection officers last weekend has sparked outrage across the country and drawn national — and global — attention to the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration raids in Minnesota.

To make matters even worse, following Pretti’s killing, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi attempted to use the immigration enforcement operations as leverage to demand access to Minnesota’s voter rolls — a first in the Trump administration’s quest for access to voters’ unredacted personal data.

Minnesota is one of dozens of states where the Department of Justice (DOJ) is seeking access to statewide voter rolls. So far, their efforts have failed in court. But that doesn’t mean the battle is over. Read more about Bondi’s demands here.

OPINION

Lies, violence and the American state

Trump’s lies are nothing new, of course. But the way he’s now deploying them against ordinary people in Minnesota is unnerving on a different level.

“The lies are no longer about shadowy figures wielding great power and influence. They are now targeting everyday citizens — people standing in their own communities, in front of their homes, protecting their neighbors,” Marc wrote this week. Read more here.

NEW EPISODE

Trump is blackmailing Minnesota for its voting records

Trump's DOJ is using the recent tragedies in Minneapolis to demand access to Minnesota’s voter rolls. Marc exposes why Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice are targeting voter data nationwide ahead of the 2026 midterms, and how election denialism is driving violence, intimidation, and democratic backsliding. Watch on YouTube here.

What we’re doing

The eyes of the world are still on Minnesota. Like everyone else, we’re deeply worried about Minnesotans bearing the brunt of ICE enforcement. This Vox story does a great job rounding up ways you can help, from rent relief to volunteering and legal aid support.