From the Protest Movement to the MAGA Movement: Understanding the Current Politics of Redistricting

Thurs,  Sept 25

1-2:45pm

with Elyse Gura

Current redistricting in Texas and California was not initiated by a decennial census, but by a “statement” from President Trump to Texas Gov. Abbott that “we are entitled to 5 more seats.” While there have been redistricting activities outside of the decennial census before, this is the first time that redistricting began with a presidential “suggestion.”  This presentation places that request in the context of changes that began in ‘50s-era America, followed by Obama’s election in 2008 and the opposition’s responses. The current focus on redistricting can be understood in the context of two groups: those who benefitted from and/or supported the political and social changes, and those who lost out or were opposed to the changes. Elyse is a former French teacher from Brooklyn who became SVP of Worldwide Consulting at Open Text, a Canadian multi-national, multi-billion-dollar technology company. She lives in Manhattan Beach, California, a state highly involved in the redistricting issue.