KQED's Forum Voting Rights Under Scrutiny as Redistricting Wars Escalate
Oct 29, 2025
Hansi Lo Wang, NPR correspondent focused on voting rights, and Erin Covey, editor at The Cook Political Report, delve into the escalating redistricting battles and the implications for upcoming elections. With California's Prop 50 on the horizon, they discuss how partisan map changes could reshape Congress. Wang highlights a crucial Supreme Court case affecting Section 2 protections, while Covey outlines potential House seat shifts favoring Republicans. The conversation tackles the impact of these decisions on minority representation and the overall political landscape.
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Prop 50 Likely To Pass And Help Democrats
- Prop 50 polling, ad spending, and party activity indicate it is likely to pass by a comfortable margin.
- Erin Covey says a passing measure would likely produce a more favorable map for Democrats in 2026.
Mid-Decade Maps Could Tilt House Toward Republicans
- Republicans could net roughly six to nine House seats through statewide mid-decade redistricting, with a best-case of about a dozen.
- Most gains are expected in Texas, plus potential pickups in North Carolina, Missouri, and Ohio.
Supreme Court Case Threatens Section 2 Protections
- The Louisiana case before the Supreme Court could shrink or remove Section 2 protections that enable majority-minority districts.
- Hansi Lo Wang warns that a weakened Section 2 would make it much harder to challenge maps that dilute minority voting power.