Republican Party of New Mexico Alleges Partisan Redistricting in Landmark Trial with Questions Over Democratic Testimony

New Mexico’s three-day trial investigates claims of gerrymandering during the 2021 congressional redistricting, with the Republican Party of New Mexico accusing Democratic lawmakers of manipulating district maps.

New Mexico’s three-day trial probes 2021 redistricting, as the Republican Party of New Mexico accuses Democrats of map manipulation. (PHOTO: KOB 4)

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Republican Party of New Mexico Alleges Partisan Redistricting

A three-day trial is currently underway in New Mexico this week to address allegations of gerrymandering during the state’s congressional redistricting process in 2021. Sources reported that the trial, happening Wednesday to Friday in Lovington, has made people wonder if important state Democrats will testify. Attorneys for lawmakers named as defendants, including those from the Republican Party of New Mexico, have asked the judge to decide on their testimony by Tuesday. The main question is whether Democratic lawmakers will join, but most have said no due to legal protections.

According to The American Redistricting Project, the case started in January 2022 when the Republican Party of New Mexico and seven individuals accused Democratic lawmakers of partisan manipulation and filed a complaint. They accused these lawmakers of changing district maps to reduce Republican voter impact. They said this move shifted Republican areas into mostly Democratic districts, which contributed to a close Republican incumbent’s loss in the 2022 midterm election.

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Prominent Democrats Sued by Republican Party of New Mexico

Well-known Democrats, including Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, are being sued by the Republican Party of New Mexico. According to the reports, it’s unclear if they’ll need to testify due to legal protections. Two redistricting experts, acknowledged by the Republican Party of New Mexico, are set to testify.

The case, handled by Judge Fred T. Van Soelen, highlights the heated nature of redistricting, which frequently results in legal battles nationwide. The trial’s result could affect New Mexico’s political landscape by addressing claims of partisan manipulation in redistricting.

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