NEWS: Democrats shouldn’t shirk redistricting responsibility, say Mainstream Republicans of Washington

For immediate release:

September 19th, 2023

Contact: Deanna Martinez – (509) 760-3608

Democrats shouldn’t shirk redistricting responsibility, say Mainstream Republicans of Washington

Legislative Democrats refuse to reconvene bipartisan Redistricting Commission, hoping courts will deliver them a bigger win in the 15th Legislative District

OLYMPIA – Washington Democrats are playing a nasty game of politics in the Yakima Valley’s 15th Legislative District by refusing to reconvene the state Redistricting Commission to draw new political boundaries, say Mainstream Republicans of Washington.

The organization’s chair says the decision is a cynical gamble by Democratic leaders that aims to maximize their party’s gain while ignoring the interests of Washington voters as a whole. Last month a federal court gave the state until January to redraw political boundaries in the 15th District. By refusing to convene the bipartisan Redistricting Commission, legislative Democrats are leaving it to the courts to determine the new map.

“We hope the people of Washington state will recognize what is really happening in this case,” said Mainstream Republicans Chair Deanna Martinez. “This has never been about social justice and racial equity. This is about racial gerrymandering in order to elect more Democrats.

“The premise of this lawsuit is absurd. It argues that district boundaries prevent Hispanic voters from electing Hispanic candidates. But that’s not true. Two years ago, the boundaries of the 15th Legislative District were redrawn to ensure a Hispanic majority in the 15th District, 51.5 percent. A Hispanic candidate, Nikki Torres of Pasco, won the race, and she had an excellent freshman year in the state Legislature. So you might wonder – what’s the problem?

“Apparently the problem is that she is a Republican. I want to express my disappointment that so many of our Democratic colleagues refuse to accept the results of the last election and are creating doubt about its legitimacy. Now they are blocking the state Redistricting Commission from drawing the new district map, because both parties are represented on the commission and would have to vote on the final agreement. That would produce an even-handed result. Instead, they have decided to send it back to the courts, figuring they will get a better deal if there is no public involvement and no public process.

“There is a danger Sen. Torres could be districted out. Just as offensive is the idea that we need to keep redrawing boundaries until the district elects a Democrat. The 15th hasn’t sent a Democrat to Olympia since 1992, and this can hardly be a matter of discriminatory political boundaries, because we have seen the same trend in every rural district of the state.

“The people of the 15th District voted for Sen. Torres, and they should not be denied their choice simply because political activists believe they should have voted for a Democrat. Hispanics don’t all think alike. We can make up our minds for ourselves, and we don’t need activist political organizations to tell us who is supposed to win.”

Mainstream Republicans of Washington, founded in 1969, is dedicated to promotion of mainstream Republican principles statewide. The organization endorsed Torres in her 2022 campaign for state Senate, and Torres is a member of the organization’s board.