Holder, McDonnell, Forbes and Locke
How active will AG Eric Holder be in redistricting? To date, Attorney General Eric Holder has said next to nothing publicly on the issue of redistricting. Last month, Rep. Jose Serrano asked him about whether “everything is in place” regarding DoJ and redistricting. “We’re ready,” to proceed Holder said in his brief answer. On March 30th, five members of the Congressional Black Caucus met with the President and asked him to set up a redistricting task force. The White House has not indicated support for the idea though the President reminded CBC CHair Emanuel Cleaver and the four other members that he tough the Voting Rights Act as a professor.
One of the challenges almost certain to come up is developing in Virginia. The VA Black Caucus is Virginia, led by State Sen. Mamie Locke, has offered a bill that would add a second minority district to the state’s congressional delegation. The map in question that would create two minority districts would almost certainly mean trouble for one of the Congressional delegation’s GOP members, if not two of them. That would be Rep. Randy Forbes. Changes to create a second minority district would mean a higher percentage of blacks voting in his district and, nore than likely, give a solid advantage to any Democrat running against him. The chances of Republican Governor Bob McDonnell signing off on such an idea, even if it could pass the House and Senate is next to zero. That would almost certainly ensure that he Justice Department would have to chime in on the case.
