Dear Lawmaker,
We write to you as stakeholders in our democracy recognizing the significance of the moment we are facing and the incredible need for urgent action amongst our elected leaders. Our organizations collectively represent millions of voters nationwide who are counting on you to fight for our communities and our democracy.
In normal times we would be coming to you emphasizing the importance of nonpartisan, independent districts that improve the representation of all voters throughout our democracy. These are not normal times. As leaders we are calling on you to meet the moment and use your power in support of communities nationwide.
We are seeing the beginnings of a multi-state strategy to rig our democracy with states like North Carolina and now Texas gearing up to rewrite the rules to consolidate impenetrable power at the behest of an authoritarian regime. We believe that the only way to prevent the ever-accelerating descent into fascism is for leaders in the 15 Democratic trifectas to act boldly and leverage their redistricting power immediately to redraw maps and secure voter representation and power at both the congressional and state legislative levels. We cannot wait for the normal, 10 year cycle based on what is already guaranteed to be a rigged 2030 census.
As believers in democracy and fair representation, we do not take lightly the threats to our rights and freedoms posed by the current authoritarian and lawless Trump-Vance Administration. After watching them steal seats during the 2024 cycle in North Carolina, we know that the current attempts to rig the rules in their favor will not stop at Texas. Indeed, we are already seeing pushes by top administration officials, including Vice President Vance, in states like Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, and Florida. Based on Republicans’ own stated goals, we are firm in our belief that they will attempt to redraw state legislative districts to cement power at the state level in all 23 states where there is a Republican trifecta, before moving on to states with divided governments.
Project 2025 and the neo-segregationist agenda have levied direct attacks at civil rights progress and infrastructure: distorting the truth by attacking the press and erasing history, attacking diversity, equity, and inclusion and overturning Roe, overtaking courts and dismantling agencies. The urgency of the moment is clear: once they achieve control of two-thirds of state legislatures, they will be able to force a constitutional convention to complete the project of eliminating civil rights and civil liberties, and specifically repealing the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments.
Let’s be clear: we are not asking you to abandon the values of democracy and fair representation. We are asking you to stand up for democracy using the tools at your disposal in a time of impending crisis to save our nation from descent into fascism. Republicans have historically used redistricting to strip Black and brown voters of fair representation; you have the opportunity to use the process to ensure fair representation and send a message to your Republican counterparts: we refuse to stand aside and allow them to cheat. Now is the time to meet the moment.
It is imperative that you leverage all possible options to undertake the redistricting process now. We recognize the lift, political capital, and financial cost it will take to make this happen, however, the cost of our democracy is far greater and must take precedence. This is not a drill.
Signed,
Portia Allen-Kyle, Interim Executive Director, Color Of Change
Dorian Warren, Co-President, Community Change Action
Cliff Albright, Cofounder/Exec Director, Black Voters Matter Fund
Hon. Rev. Michael Blake, Founder/CEO, Kairos Democracy Project
Quentin James, Vote to Live Action Fund
Pastor Michael McBride, Black Church Freedom Fund
Bishop Leah Daughtry, Black Church Freedom Fund
Khalil Thompson, Win With Black Men: Civic Action Fund
Bishop Talbert Swan, Greater Springfield NAACP
Holli Holliday, Sisters Lead Sisters Vote
Frank White, Black Men Vote Civic Action Fund
Rhonda Briggins, Delta 4 Women in Action
