House Democratic Leader accuses Republicans, and their “puppet master” President Trump, of trying to “rig the midterm elections” by re-drawing Congressional districts. “It is completely and totally unprecedented to engage in mid-decade redistricting,” Jeffries told CNN this morning. “We believe in the principle of fair maps. Understand something, Manu-that Republicans wouldn’t even be in the majority right now if it wasn’t for Republicans in the North Carolina legislature last year stealing three congressional seats from the people of North Carolina.” “You just accused Republicans of rigging the election by changing the lines in the middle of the decade? Wouldn’t Democrats be doing the same thing? CNN’s Manu Raju asked.

HAKEEM JEFFRIES: They have no credible track record of success. That’s why House Republicans are afraid of the voters in 2026, in the midterm elections, and they’re trying to cheat to win. MANU RAJU: Cheat to win? I mean, but this is what majorities do. They redraw lines. JEFFRIES: It is completely and totally unprecedented to engage in mid-decade redistricting. That is only being done because House Republicans in Texas and beyond know they have no track record of success. The lines for Texas have already been drawn, and in fact, they are already heavily gerrymandered. They have been ordered by Donald Trump, who is their political puppet master, to try to do everything possible to avoid a free and fair election. That’s what this is all about in Texas. But we believe it may actually backfire-and that they may draw lines that endanger their Republican incumbents. RAJU: So it sounds like you think you can get back in the majority, even if they succeed in Texas? JEFFRIES: We are going to be successful regardless of what they do in Texas. But the principle of free and fair elections is one that we should fight for. And these Republicans are trying to disenfranchise millions of voters in Texas as part of a scheme to rig the midterm elections. RAJU: Now, we know that there’s talk now among Democrats of responding in kind, including in California-up to five seats, we’re hearing about this. Are you supportive of this effort in California, changing the lines in California to respond to what’s going on in Texas? JEFFRIES: I’m going to let the governor of California speak for himself and the people of California, as well as the leaders of the California delegation. But in my view, all options are on the table in terms of making sure that there are fair maps throughout the country. The people of Texas are at risk of not having fair maps. We have a responsibility to look at every single state of the union and do what we can to ensure that we maximize fairness in those jurisdictions. RAJU: Wouldn’t that be a risk, though, in California? Because you have to go through a ballot initiative to change the law. Is that a risk if Democrats go down that route? JEFFRIES: That’s an open question. And it’s my understanding that some of the best and brightest lawyers in the country are looking at every single aspect of what’s possible in these states throughout America. RAJU: In New York, I’ve talked to some members of your delegation-Democrats who want New York to change the maps to try to add seats, Democratic seats in New York. Would you support that effort in your state? JEFFRIES: Let me just simply say the maps in New York are not as fair as they could be. RAJU: That sounds to me like you’re open to changing it. JEFFRIES: I look forward to having a conversation with the governor about how do we ensure that New York maps are as fair as possible, in an environment where you’ve got extreme MAGA Republicans and Donald Trump doing everything they can to undermine the will of the voters and undermine the principle of free and fair elections across the country. RAJU: Have you talked to the governor yet about changing the maps before the midterms? JEFFRIES: I speak to the governor regularly, and at some point, I look forward to sitting down with her sooner rather than later-once we hit the August district work period. RAJU: You just accused Republicans of rigging the election by changing the lines in the middle of the decade. Wouldn’t Democrats be doing the same thing? JEFFRIES: It’s important to understand that in Texas, there’s already ongoing litigation-that the map that currently exists violates the Voting Rights Act of 1965. That’s litigation that we think we’re on the verge of winning. What we’re committed to doing as Democrats-in New York, in California, in New Jersey, across the country-is making sure that the congressional maps are as fair as possible. RAJU: Is New Jersey another option that you’re looking at too? JEFFRIES: I think that if you have a situation where Republicans are unleashing every malignant scheme possible to try to undermine the principle of free and fair elections and to disenfranchise millions of people in Texas and beyond, then it’s incumbent upon all of us to take a close look at how do we ensure that the congressional map writ large is as fair as possible in advance of the midterm elections. RAJU: But you don’t think this is the same thing as what the Republicans are doing? JEFFRIES: Of course it’s not. RAJU: Because of why? JEFFRIES: Because we believe in the principle of fair maps. Understand something, Manu-that Republicans wouldn’t even be in the majority right now if it wasn’t for Republicans in the North Carolina legislature last year stealing three congressional seats from the people of North Carolina.

RealClearPolitics Videos