Anita Earls may be the only thing blocking another North Carolina GOP gerrymandering plan
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Anita Earls is an amazing civil rights and voting rights lawyer who’s running for Supreme Court in North Carolina—and North Carolina Republicans, who’ve already done so much to undermine democracy in their state, are doing everything they can to stopAnita Earls may be the only thing blocking another North Carolina GOP gerrymandering plan
Anita Earls is an amazing civil rights and voting rights lawyer who’s running for Supreme Court in North Carolina—and North Carolina Republicans, who’ve already done so much to undermine democracy in their state, are doing everything they can to stop her. Before Earls started running for state Supreme Court, Republican legislators made those races partisan, because they thought it would help them. Then, they canceled primaries for judgeships in 2018, thinking Democrats would split their votes in a several-way general election and the Republican incumbent would benefit. But when that didn’t work, with Earls being the only Democrat to run, and another Republican did run, Republicans tried to keep his party affiliation off the ballot. The bill’s opponents called this a violation of democratic norms. “There is no way that, after the rules are established and after you know who the candidates are, that you can go back and try to give a candidate a strategic advantage,” said McKissick, the senator. “It offends our basic principles of fairness.” A judge blocked that move, but it again shows the ludicrously anti-democratic impulses of North Carolina Republicans—and in this case, their goal is to keep Anita Earls off the state Supreme Court. Not only that, they want to keep her off so they can once again warp the state government to their ends. Also on the North Carolina ballot this November is a measure that would allow the state legislature to fill judicial vacancies. Republicans are hoping that that measure passes and the Republican incumbent keeps the court seat Earls is running for. And then: The biggest drama, though, could come after the election. Under current law, the Democrats are pretty much guaranteed a state Supreme Court majority until 2022. That means they’ll get first crack at state redistricting challenges after the 2020 census. There is widespread belief — which Republicans have done little to tamp down — that legislators will add seats to the state Supreme Court if the constitutional amendment on judicial appointments passes, and if Barbara Jackson wins reelection. That would give the Republicans a 5-4 edge. Republicans are basically turning North Carolina into a research lab for undermining American democracy. The way to thwart them on this particular plan? It’s electing Anita Earls. Boiling with anger at Republicans? Get revenge by volunteering to get out the vote for Democrats. Click here, enter your zip code, choose the event that works best for you, and RSVP to attend. And please, give Anita Earls the resources to win this seat. Can you give $3? Read more