Dear Colleague on Combating Voter Suppression and the GOP Gerrymandering Scheme
Dear Colleague:
I write in connection with the vicious Republican assault on the right to vote, free and fair elections and Black political representation in the South.
Over the weekend, the American people celebrated the love and support of mothers throughout the nation. At the same time, Republican extremists spent the last few days applauding their ongoing effort to rig the midterm elections based on two egregious judicial decisions dripping with far-right partisanship.
We remain undeterred.
The cost of living is out of control, grocery bills are skyrocketing, gas prices are surging, healthcare has been ripped away from millions and a reckless war of choice is raging in the Middle East. Donald Trump is deeply unpopular and Republicans have failed to make life better for the American people. Instead of changing direction, GOP extremists are scheming to change the electoral composition of districts throughout the country.
Republicans only hold a three-seat majority in the House of Representatives. This is the narrowest margin of any party since 1930. During Donald Trump’s first midterm election in 2018, House Democrats flipped 40 seats. To take control this Fall, we only need to flip a fraction of that total. That is why right-wing extremists have been in full panic mode since they passed their historically unpopular One Big Ugly Bill last July.
Our effort to forcefully push back against the Republican redistricting scheme will not slow down. We are just getting started.
Led by the Congressional Black Caucus and national civil rights groups, Democrats are battling Jim Crow-era racial gerrymandering throughout the Deep South. Simultaneously, there is pending litigation in Virginia, Florida, Missouri and Wisconsin. States like New York, Maryland, Colorado, Washington and several others are taking steps to decisively respond to what the U.S. Supreme Court has unleashed.
Given the highly unfavorable political environment confronting House Republicans, the extremists will not meaningfully benefit from their scandalous gerrymandering scheme. Quite the opposite. Democratic enthusiasm and resolve have grown more intense. Even after being aided and abetted by blatantly undemocratic court decisions, the failed GOP majority will not be able to gerrymander themselves back into power.
Democrats will take control of the House of Representatives in November.
In the majority, we will fight to lower the high cost of living, fix our broken healthcare system and clean up corruption wherever it is found. Our agenda will decisively address dramatic electoral, campaign finance and judicial reform. Finally, in connection with the ongoing Republican effort to cheat in advance of the 2028 election, we will bury the GOP gerrymandering scheme with a massive Democratic redistricting counteroffensive.
On Thursday, May 14, at 11:00 a.m., in partnership with House Administration Committee Ranking Member Joe Morelle, we will host a Caucus-wide briefing to discuss the steps Democrats are taking to advance the largest voter protection effort in modern American history. We will ensure the people decide who controls the Congress, not MAGA extremists desperate to rig the midterm elections.
Thank you for your continued leadership as we march onward to victory.
Sincerely,
Hakeem Jeffries
Democratic Leader