Wittman v. Personhuballah: Race, Politics and Redistricting in the U.S. Supreme Court

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While the intersection of race and politics in districting is complex, the Supreme Court has been clear on one point:  States may not sort people by race in drawing districts, and states may not use race as a proxy for politics to achieve cynical partisan gains. The Virginia delegation’s argument in this case seeks to undermine that principle. If they succeed, legislatures could use minority voters as a pawn in their political game, singling them out for diminished voting strength and using them as pawns to achieve their partisan goals.  The Campaign Legal Center submitted an amici curiae brief of the on behalf of itself, the League of Women Voters, the Voting Rights Institute and the National Council of Jewish Women.