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Friday, April 26, 2019

Controversial Rep. Rashida Tlaib Is A Plaintiff In Major Gerrymandering Lawsuit That Killed Michigan's Legislative Maps

Rep. Rashida Tlaib
By Brandon Hall
(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)

Controversial Democrat Rep. Rashida Tlaib is a plaintiff in the gerrymandering lawsuit brought by Mark Brewer and the League of Women Voters that has resulted in Michigan's legislative maps being thrown out by federal judges.

Tlaib, known for controversial statements like saying "impeach the mother f-cker!" regarding President Trump, represents Michigan's 14th District in Congress.

Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

>>>Email him at WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com
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Developing: Bombshell Court Ruling Severely Impacts Michigan's 2020 Elections After Legislative Maps Ruled Illegal



By Brandon Hall
(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)

A bombshell court ruling issued by a panel of three federal judges could severely impact 2020 elections in Michigan.

The decision, handed down Thursday afternoon, says that 9 of Michigan's 14 Congressional Districts drawn in 2011 are illegally gerrymandered, and must be re-drawn.The court also identified 10 State Senate districts, and 15 State House districts they say are illegal. 

The most shocking aspect of the ruling ordered Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to hold special State Senate elections in 2020, two years ahead of schedule. 

The judges say special elections are needed because the old maps egregiously hurt the rights of voters in those districts on a "historic" level. 

 This could mean State Senators will lose 2-4 years of time in Lansing. Michigan's Constitutional amendment enacting term limits, passed in 1992, says Senators can only be elected twice, the only exception being to fill a vacancy under two years.

New districts must be created by the legislature and signed into law by Governor Whitmer before August 1st, or the court will draw them.

The problematic districts, which you can view below, are "packed" and "cracked" to favor Republicans and disenfranchise Democrats, the panel said. 

"Packing" is when a political party is heavily grouped into one district to prevent them from being competitive in other neighboring districts. 

 "Cracking" is essentially when a district is carved up and rigged up without regard for aspects such as municipal boundaries in order to benefit or hurt a particular political party.

The lawsuit was filed against the Secretary of State at the time, Ruth Johnson, by Mark Brewer on behalf of the League of Women Voters. It is likely to be decided by the US Supreme Court.

 Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey has already announced the Senate will appeal the ruling.

PROBLEMATIC DISTRICTS

Senate:
8th, Senator Pete Lucido
10th, Senator Michael McDonald
11th, Senator Jeremy Moss
12th, Senator Rosemary Bayer
14th, Senator Ruth Johnson
18th, Senator Jeff Irwin
22nd, Senator Lana Theis
27th, Senator Jim Ananich
32nd, Senator Horn
36th, Senator Jim Stamas


House:
24th, Rep. Steve Marino
32nd, Rep. Pam Hornberger
51st, Rep. Mike Mueller
52nd, 52nd, Rep. Donna Lasinski
55th, Rep. Rebekah Warren
60th, Rep. Jon Hoadley
62nd, Rep. Jim Haadsma
63rd, Rep. Matt Hall
75th, Rep. David LaGrand
76th, Rep. Rachel Hood
83rd, Rep. Shane Hernandez
91st, Rep. Greg VanWoerkom
92nd, Rep. Terry Sabo
94th, Rep. Rodney Wakeman
95th, Rep Vanessa Guerra
Congress:
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Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

>>>Email him at WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com
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Michigan State Senate CHAOS: Federal Judges Order 2020 Senate Elections, Senators May See Their Time In Lansing Cut By 2-4 Years



By Brandon Hall
(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)

 Thursday's federal court ruling that Michigan must hold State Senate elections in 2020 has shaken Lansing to the core. 

 After 10 Senate districts were ruled illegal, a three judge panel is demanding the districts be re-drawn, and elections held in 2020 instead of waiting until 2022. Any Senate seats amended to accommodate the 10 under scrutiny must also vote in 2020.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey has already announced the Senate will appeal the ruling.

 It will be virtually impossible to re-draw so many districts without the domino effect impacting nearly every region in the state. A couple Senators far away from the districts at issue, like Ed McBroom in the Western corner of the UP, or someone like Roger Victory in Ottawa County, could perhaps escape. Maybe...
The court opined that "the fact that a special Senate election would truncate the four-year terms of senators is not ‘unduly intrusive’ given the gravity and extent of the constitutional violations at issue in this case. While senators may be disappointed that their four-year terms will be reduced to two years, the sentiment of the legislators elected under an unconstitutional apportionment plan does not outweigh the constitutional rights of millions of Michiganders to elect their senators under constitutional maps.” 
Also, here is an immensely interesting contention: State Senators who were just re-elected can't run again in 2020, limiting them to six years, and freshman Senators who won for the first time in 2018 won't be able to run again in 2022, limiting them to four years.
The Michigan Constitution is clear: "No person shall be elected to the office of state senate more than two times."
The only exception is to fill a vacant seat if it's under two years, which is not the issue here.

Senators Ananich, Hertel, Schmidt, Horn, MacGregor, Stamas, Shirkey, and Zorn could be ineligible to run again in 2020 if this ruling holds, creating 8 open seats.

The order to hold new Senate elections comes after Mark Brewer and the League of Women Voters sued Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, arguing many legislative districts at the state and federal level are gerrymandered to benefit Republicans.

 In the end, the case is likely to be decided by the US Supreme Court... Stay tuned!
>>>Read More About The Lawsuit Below:
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Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

>>>Email him at WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com
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Grot Announces President Trump's 2020 Campaign Manager Brad Parscale Is Coming To Michigan

Brad Parscale Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

10th By Brandon Hall
(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)

10th Republican Congressional District Chair Stan Grot has announced President Trump's 2020 campaign manager, Brad Parscale, is coming to Michigan.

Parscale is a tech wiz who has received rave reviews for successfully implementing a myriad of impressive digital strategies for President Trump during his historic 2016 campaign. 

 He is headlining the 10th's annual Reagan Day Dinner at Shelby Gardens on June 11th.

The event also includes Republican National Committee Chair Ronna Romney McDaniel, and Michigan Republican Party Chair Laura Cox.
10th District Chair Stan Grot greets Vice President Mike Pence during a recent visit to Michigan to promote the USMCA, President Trump's replacement for NAFTA. The proposal was highly supported by the Big 3 automakers.

Parscale's visit highlights the importance Michigan will play in 2020. 

Doing well in places like Macomb County is an absolute MUST in order for President Trump to win the Great Lakes State again, and make no mistake, he will have the resources to compete aggressively. Parscale recently announced the campaign will spend over $1 billion across the country to re-elect the President.

It shouldn't be surprising that Parscale is staying true to his digital roots as he runs the campaign.

It was immensely fitting that, when he took the stage in Grand Rapids last month during President Trump's rally, he was engaging with the crowd, imploring them to text TRUMP to 88022 to sign up for important text updates.

>>>Tickets can be purchased HERE for $75. VIP tickets are also available for $100.


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Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

>>>Email him at WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com
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