The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for March 20, 2024
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
A Washington State fight over Latino voting rights may still not be over, but March 15th, a federal judge approved new state house and senate maps for central Washington State. The previous Washington State Redistricting Commission maps were thrown out as diluting Latino voting power.
U.S. District Court Judge Robert Lasnik chose a map submitted by the plaintiffs which he said QUOTE “… provides Latino voters with an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice to the state legislature.” Remedial Map 3 stretches from the town of Pasco in Franklin County to the East Yakima area of Yakima County, which the judge noted would meet the requirements of the Voting Rights Act.
The opportunity district was also made an even-numbered district, which under Washington’s staggered election system means candidates there would face election during higher turnout Presidential election years.
Five Republican legislators elected under the former maps, find themselves in different districts, and are crying foul. The Washington State Standard quotes the GOP’s Senate Minority Leader John Braun as saying, “This is an unjust outcome,” and he claims that the decision was about electing more Democrats. An attorney for the Campaign Legal Center said, “This map gives the Yakima Valley Latino community at long last the opportunity to have a fair shot at electing the candidate of their choice.”
Republicans have already appealed to the federal Ninth District Circuit Court.
We have links to more reporting on Washington’s new maps, the groups taking action, and a sign-up to receive free daily updates by email, at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
U.S. District Court, Western District of WA via Democracy Docket – Order in Palmer v. Hobbs
Washington State Standard – Federal judge sets new boundaries for Yakima Valley legislative district
Washington State Standard – Redistricting ruling stirs partisan uproar
Oregon Public Broadcasting/Northwest News Network – Judge approves Washington’s new legislative district maps after court battle over Latino voting rights
Groups Taking Action:
Campaign Legal Center, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), UCLA Voting Rights Project
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