SouthernWorldwide.com – Former Vice President Kamala Harris has ignited a strong reaction from Republicans following her suggestion that Democrats should consider expanding the Supreme Court and abolishing the Electoral College should they regain power.
Harris stated during a call with the left-wing organization Emerge, “Let’s invite ideas, for example, that are about Supreme Court reform, including the notion of expanding the court.” She further elaborated, “Let’s invite a discussion about how do we push for statehood for Puerto Rico and D.C.; how are we thinking about the Electoral College.”
She continued, “We’ve got to neutralize this red state cheating. There’s a brutality at play on the other side, and a ruthlessness. And we need to play to win.”
Harris’ call for “bold” reforms comes in the wake of significant setbacks for Democrats in the redistricting process. Both parties are actively engaged in redrawing congressional districts in anticipation of the upcoming November midterm elections.
Previously, in late April, the Supreme Court issued a ruling that restricted the use of race in the creation of electoral districts. This decision effectively weakened Black-majority districts represented by Democrats across the Southern states. Democrats faced another challenge in early May when the Virginia Supreme Court invalidated a Democratic-friendly gerrymander due to a procedural issue.
Read more : Exiled Scholar: Far-Left and Islamist Alliance in Anti-Israel Protests Mirrors Iran's Ascent
Harris commented on the Supreme Court’s decision during the call, stating, “What they have done with this decision, by saying that the politics of redistricting is okay, is they are back-dooring racism through politics. What they are doing is intentionally about trying to suppress the voice of the people.”
The proposals from the potential 2024 presidential candidate drew sharp criticism from House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. Johnson accused Democrats of being “institutional arsonists.”
“It’s a dangerous thing, a dangerous gambit,” the Speaker remarked. “You don’t just blow up the system when you lose.”
“For the former vice president of the United States and a candidate for president to suggest that you should pack the Supreme Court or destroy these institutions because they lost is I just think outrageous,” he added.
“That’s why we can’t let her become president,” Johnson asserted. “People … rejected her before; they’ll reject her again.”
It is worth noting that not all Democrats share Harris’ perspective.
Harris’ advocacy for Democratic retaliation emerges as Republicans appear to be the primary beneficiaries of the current redistricting efforts ahead of the midterms. The Republican party could potentially gain over a dozen seats, as several GOP-led states have introduced new congressional maps. In contrast, Democratic gains have been largely confined to California and Utah.
Earlier in May, Tennessee dissolved its sole Black-majority district, which had been represented for decades by a white Democrat. This move allowed Republicans to secure a seat that had previously been elusive.
Louisiana and South Carolina are undertaking similar actions to eliminate several Democratic-held seats following the Supreme Court’s ruling.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., has pledged to counter with his own gerrymandering initiatives in a number of Democratic and swing states, including New York, New Jersey, Colorado, and Oregon. However, these states are not expected to implement new district maps until 2028, rendering such efforts irrelevant for the upcoming November elections.
