When Washington's redistricting commission missed its deadline, the state supreme court took control
In short: In 2021, Washington's bipartisan redistricting commission failed to file its maps by the midnight deadline for the first time since 1983. This procedural collapse triggered a rare intervention by the state supreme court, sparking intense debate over transparency, partisan influence, and the future of how congressional boundaries are drawn.
Washington has utilized a bipartisan redistricting commission since 1983, consisting of two Democrats, two Republicans, and a nonvoting chair. For the 2020 cycle, the commission included members like April Sims and Paul Graves, with Sarah Augustine serving as chair. Despite the established framework, the commission failed to transmit its final maps by the 11:59 PM deadline on November 15, 2021. Although maps were approved seconds before midnight, the formal transmission occurred too late, leading to widespread public criticism and allegations of private negotiations that potentially violated the Open Public Meetings Act.
The failure forced the Washington Supreme Court to assume responsibility for the state's congressional maps. This shift prompted speculation about partisan bias, as five of the nine justices were appointed by Democratic governors. While the court ultimately adopted the maps the commission had drafted but failed to file, it explicitly noted that this decision did not confirm the maps' compliance with constitutional or statutory requirements. Concerns were also raised regarding the Voting Rights Act, specifically whether the handling of the Yakima River Valley unfairly distributed Latino voters, a point highlighted by the UCLA Voting Rights Project.
The 2022 elections, held on November 8, were the first under these new boundaries. The cycle saw notable shifts, including the Democratic Party flipping the 3rd district. The redistricting process also sparked legislative proposals, such as those from Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig, aimed at mandating public release of maps before final votes to prevent future failures. The episode remains a cautionary tale about the fragility of independent redistricting systems when faced with procedural deadlines and the intense scrutiny of political stakeholders.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington
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