Amid reports that New Jersey could be part of a Democratic counter to Republican congressional redistricting efforts, Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday that there are no plans to redraw the state’s congressional map, but he also didn’t rule out the possibility.
President Donald Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott have pushed a plan to redraw the Lone Star State’s congressional districts to bolster GOP-friendly seats, launching an arms race of sorts. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat with presidential ambitions, quickly said he would consider redrawing California’s congressional map should Republicans continue the endeavor.
A redrawn map in Texas could push out as many as five Democratic members of Congress, and party leaders are looking to other states to stifle any GOP gains that come via redistricting. A CNN report from over the weekend said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is working on the beginning stages of a plan to push Democratic-friendly redistricting in states across the country, including New Jersey, California, New York, and Minnesota.
Murphy told reporters Monday that it’s “too early” to make a definitive statement on the issue and said he has not talked with national Democrats about redistricting.
“I suspect as the Democratic governors get together for a drink or a coffee, this will be high on the agenda,” he said.
Democratic options to expand the map in Jersey are limited. They hold 9 of the state’s 12 congressional districts, and only one Republican, Rep. Tom Kean Jr. in the 7th, is seen as vulnerable. Additionally, Trump shocked the state when he won the 9th district, though Rep. Nellie Pou held onto the congressional seat for Democrats.
New Jersey Democrats would likely have to change the law to draw a new map, as well: the New Jersey Constitution states the chosen map “shall remain unaltered through the next year ending in zero,” unless a court strikes down the lines. California, similar to New Jersey, has an independent redistricting commission, and Newsom would likely have to win a voter referendum to earn the ability to remake the map.
“[There’s] no news to make, other than I will quote Sean Connery in The Untouchables: ‘Never bring a knife to a gunfight,’” the governor said. “So if that’s the way we’re going, we’re from Jersey, baby, and we won’t be laying down.”