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Welcome to a special midweek message from the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Insider, a newsletter that features regular updates about upcoming Dem-NPL events, legislative happenings, and news that affects North Dakotans!
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In 1965, Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act. 60 years later, the right to vote is still under assault.
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60 years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 into law. The VRA sought to enforce the 14th and 15th Amendments. Before the VRA, states used poll taxes, literacy tests, and property restrictions to block Black Americans and Americans of other minority groups from voting. Some states even used “grandfather policies.” To qualify to vote, this policy forced Americans in those states to prove their grandfather had the right to vote before a particular date (often before the Civil War).
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The Voting Rights Act was already in a perilous position, and the Trump regime has taken the assault on our voting rights even further.
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Right now, the Republican dominated Texas Legislature is attempting to redraw its Congressional maps to take 5 seats held by Democrats and give them to Republicans. They are using a special session—meant to provide flood relief to Texas families—to shove this devious plan through. They’re not even trying to hide their intentions—Trump is bragging about it!
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Texas Democratic legislators left the state to block this egregious and unprecedented gerrymandering.
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North Dakota is in the thick of its own Voting Rights Act struggle.
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After the 2020 census, the North Dakota legislative districts had to be redrawn. We do not have an independent commission that redraws our districts; a committee of legislators gets to do it themselves. (Neither here nor there, but Ray Holmberg was its vice chairman.)
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Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians and Spirit Lake Nation approached the Redistricting Committee to ask that they be included in the same Legislative District. They also requested that committee hearings be held in Tribal Communities. The Republican led committee did neither.
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These two Tribes, along with individual Native American voters, brought a lawsuit against the state and won. North Dakota U.S. District Court Judge Peter Welte ruled that the maps violated the Voting Rights Act, writing it “prevents Native American voters from having an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.”
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In November 2024, the new District 9 elected Senator Richard Marcellais, Representative Collette Brown, and Representative Jayme Davis! Their elections have resulted in some major legislative wins. Rep. Davis recently remarked that “being in those rooms, at those tables has had a huge impact.”
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Rep. Brown—who, before she was in office, testified in front of the Redistricting Committee and is a plaintiff in the case—said, “The Supreme Court has rightfully halted the 8th Circuit’s decision. It is important to remember that this is not just about maps and lines. It is about whether people in my community have an equal opportunity to elect our candidates of choice. Today’s ruling helps protect our voice while we continue the fight for Native voting rights and fair representation.”
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The Century Club supports our year-round work to build party infrastructure supporting candidate recruitment, local district and regional leadership, issue-based education, and tools for Dem-NPL success.
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Help us elect great Democrats up and down the ballot!
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The North Dakota Democratic-NPL is launching a new grassroots program called “Neighbor to Neighbor” where volunteers will connect with voters in your community to elect Democrats up and down the ballot. As a volunteer, you will be responsible for connecting with voters in 25 homes in your neighborhood or friends and family to help elect Democrats up and down the ballot about 3-4 times this year.
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Grassroots organizers are the lifeblood of the Dem-NPL! Sign up to volunteer with the Dem-NPL!
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