Hakeem Jeffries talks Virginia redistricting and midterms : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4440x3330+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.npr.org%2Fassets%2Fimg%2F2022%2F11%2F30%2Fap22334546944795.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4440x3330+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.npr.org%2Fassets%2Fimg%2F2022%2F11%2F30%2Fap22334546944795.jpg" class="img" alt="Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., ran unopposed for the position of House Democratic leader. He replaces Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who announced she would not run for the top leadership post after Democrats lost control of the House in the midterms." fetchpriority="high"/> Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., ran unopposed for the place of Home Democratic chief. He replaces Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who introduced she wouldn't run for the highest management put up after Democrats misplaced management of the Home within the midterms. J. Scott Applewhite/AP conceal caption

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J. Scott Applewhite/AP <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4440x3330+0+0/resize/2600/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.npr.org%2Fassets%2Fimg%2F2022%2F11%2F30%2Fap22334546944795.jpg" alt="Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., ran unopposed for the position of House Democratic leader. He replaces Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who announced she would not run for the top leadership post after Democrats lost control of the House in the midterms."/> Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., ran unopposed for the place of Home Democratic chief. He replaces Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who introduced she wouldn't run for the highest management put up after Democrats misplaced management of the Home within the midterms.

J. Scott Applewhite/AP Virginia voted to permit lawmakers to redraw the state's congressional map to create extra seats for Democrats forward of this 12 months's midterm elections. Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries says President Trump's effort to "rig" the midterms has been "thwarted."

"We had been asking the voters of Virginia to reply in a short lived approach to a nationwide disaster that was began by Donald Trump in an surroundings the place two-thirds of the individuals of Virginia had determined just some years in the past to go in a special course," Jeffries instructed Morning Version. "It was a unprecedented enterprise. However the individuals of Virginia responded as a result of they understood the project, and that is to verify we have now a free and honest midterm election."

Virginia is at the moment represented by six Democrats and 5 Republicans within the U.S. Home. The slim vote, formally referred to as by the Related Press, would add 4 extra seats more likely to be gained by Democrats within the midterm elections. It will additionally bypass the state's bipartisan redistricting fee, which implies Democrats would virtually fully management Virginia's congressional delegation.

This race was a win for Democrats in an ongoing redistricting battle began by Trump final 12 months when he requested Texas lawmakers to create 5 extra seats within the state to present Republicans an edge in midterm elections.

Jeffries and NPR's Michel Martin mentioned Virginia's vote to present Democrats an edge within the midterm elections. He additionally briefly commented on the Division of Homeland Safety shutdown and the latest resignations of three members of Congress after they confronted threats of expulsion.

Hearken to the total dialog by clicking the play button within the blue field above, and browse highlights from the dialog beneath.

Why Virginia's vote is a win for Democrat Since President Trump pushed Texas Republicans to redraw congressional maps forward of the 2026 midterm elections, blue and pink states alike have been concerned in a drawn out redistricting battle. California Democrats deliberate to create 5 seats that favor Democrats. Whereas Missouri and North Carolina Republicans created a couple of extra GOP-leaning seats, giving Republicans an edge heading into the midterms. However Virginia's outcomes have worn out that edge altogether.

"Donald Trump indicated that he was going to tear away 10, 12 or 15 seats from the individuals of this nation in states like Texas and Missouri and North Carolina as a part of an effort to rig the midterm elections," Jeffries mentioned. "That effort has now been thwarted."

Virginia is a purple state, and Democrats gained by a slim majority — 51% sure and 49% no.

Jeffries mentioned he attributes the Virginia referendum outcomes, and different Democrat flips throughout the nation, to guarantees to repair the Trump administration's shortcomings.

"All of our candidates have been speaking about our dedication to decreasing the excessive value of dwelling, to fixing our damaged well being care system, to creating positive we get ICE underneath management — and have immigration enforcement on this nation that is honest, simply and humane — and to stopping this pricey and reckless battle of alternative within the Center East," he mentioned.

How Democrats are approaching the DHS shutdown The Division of Homeland Safety has been shut down for a file breaking two months, and Congress has not given a transparent indicator on when the division will reopen.

"We have now a bipartisan invoice that the Senate handed not as soon as however twice unanimously that will reopen the Division of Homeland Safety excluding ICE within the DHS. And [House Speaker] Mike Johnson and Republicans refuse to really carry it to the ground for an up or down vote. If it is delivered to the ground, it is going to cross overwhelmingly," Jeffries mentioned.

Markwayne Mullin, the brand new homeland safety secretary, mentioned on Tuesday that if Congress failed to achieve a deal and reopen the division, it could run out of cash by Might and be unable to pay staff.

"Republicans have made clear that they're those who've chosen to close down the Division of Homeland Safety and threat a state of affairs the place we may even see renewed chaos at airports and TSA brokers not being paid if, in reality, it's the case, in line with the Homeland Safety secretary, that their slush fund is about to expire of cash," Jeffries mentioned.

The affect of the newest resignations from Congress Three Congress members have resigned after public controversies and threats of expulsion. This quantity is unusually excessive and has individuals questioning how elected officers are held accountable for misconduct.

Jeffries mentioned the Ethics Committee ought to provide you with a means to verify members are held accountable for his or her actions.

"Members of Congress should be held to the best moral requirements. And positively we can not, underneath any circumstances, tolerate sexual harassment or sexual violence," Jeffries mentioned.

He alluded to Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales, the 2 representatives who resigned after allegations of sexual harassment, saying their resignations had been an "necessary step," however additional motion ought to be taken.

"In each situations, there must be, clearly, prison investigations that play themselves out," Jeffries mentioned.

Swalwell has admitted to creating errors, however he is denied the allegations in opposition to him and vowed to struggle them. Gonzales has admitted to having an affair with a workers member, who later dedicated suicide.