governors

Why they matter

Every 10 years after the Census, states redraw their Congressional districts. ‘Redistricting’ is supposed to keep representation fair as people move about — but these lines can also be drawn to favor one party (‘gerrymandering’). After the 2010 Census Republican governors, state legislators, and commissioners gerrymandered dozens of Congressional districts — and in 2012, although Democratic House candidates got 1.5 million more votes, Republicans won a 33-seat majority. This happened because Republicans drew lines ‘packing’ Democrats into some districts — or ‘cracking’ them across many — to minimize their votes. And these lines will last from 2012-2020.

help out

How can we fix this?

The Supreme Court won’t help, since earlier this year they refused to outlaw partisan gerrymandering. So beyond a big Democratic shift in state legislatures (which draw the lines in most states), it’s up to governors. 34 governors can veto Congressional lines; 26 of those are up in 2018 who will oversee redistricting in 2021. If we elect Democratic governors in these states, they’ll prevent Republican Congressional gerrymandering between 2022-2031: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.

candidates

Meet the candidates

ohio

Rich Cordray
(Governor)

Betty Sutton
(Lieutenant Governor)

michigan

Gretchen Whitmer
(Governor)

Garlin Gilchrist II
(Lieutenant Governor)

georgia

Stacey Abrams
(Governor)

Sarah Riggs Amico
(Lieutenant Governor)

wisconsin

Tony Evers
(Governor)

Mandela Barnes
(Lieutenant Governor)

texas

Lupe Valdez
(Governor)

Mike Collier
(Lieutenant Governor)

florida

Andrew Gillum
(Governor)

Chris King
(Lieutenant Governor)

candidates

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