One manifestation of the 2020 election that may be as consequential as the presidential race are the state legislative races.
Every 10 years, legislatures end the boundary lines of U.S. congressional districts in their states.
Both parties are raising hundreds of millions of dollars to obtain an advantage in these down-ballot races to be able to control the constitutionally mandated redistricting process.
While redistricting is something that has been done since the power’s birth, the more ominous process of gerrymandering, where parties and politicians draw maps to keep power, is tasteful more prevalent. As technologies improve and more data on individuals becomes available, map-makers are able to make partitions “more durable,” according to Michael Li, senior counsel at NYU’s Brennan Center for Justice.
Before, politicians used Census and voter registration figures to create maps. Now, Li says, they use “things like what magazines you read, what kind of car you drive. All kinds of consumer matter. The same sort of data that companies use to target you.”
Both parties are targeting 12 state legislatures, counting Texas, Florida, and North Carolina, for redistricting in 2021.
In Florida and Texas, an analysis from Forward Majority found that Republicans are out-raising Democrats in the key come districts needed for control of legislative chambers. In North Carolina, Democrats are raising more money than their GOP counterparts.
According to Keep up with The Money, candidates for state legislatures in 2019 and 2020 have raised almost $800 million.
Watch the video to see how gerrymandering offs and what is being done around the country to create fairer representation.