Jan Brewer Goes Nuclear on the Arizona Redistricting Commission
Arizonans voted the IRC into existence in 2000. The non-partisan body’s purpose: To take state lawmakers out of redistricting, in hopes of making it a less overtly political process. But Brewer seems intent on catering to GOP interests and undermining voters, and is accusing the IRC of drawing a gerrymandering map that dilutes Arizona’s electoral competitiveness.
The governor has the power to remove members from the body, which includes two Democrats, two Republicans, and one Independent, and is widely expected to target Chairwoman Mathis. But she must first get the backing of two-thirds of the Arizona state Senate, where Republicans hold a 21 to 9 advantage over Democrats. That solid majority probably explains, at least in part, why Brewer is doing this now. Currently, a committee made up mostly of Republican state lawmakers is reviewing the IRC’s plan, and will issue its recommendations soon.
Brewer’s move has caught the attention of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) and executive director Michael Sargeant. “Unsatisfied with new congressional and state legislative maps that already favor Republicans, Arizona’s GOP leadership is making a naked power play,” Sargeant said in a press release on Thursday. “Arizona Republicans are abusing their power for partisan gain and subverting the will of the electorate, which voted to take redistricting out of the hands of politicians over a decade ago.”