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Following the calamitous U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Wednesday that dismantled enforcement mechanisms for the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) told reporters that, if Republicans continue trying to redistrict their states to gain a political advantage in the 2026 midterms, Democrats should respond in kind.

Ocasio-Cortez has been a staunch proponent of redistricting reform, to bar states from drawing congressional boundaries that favor one party over the other. But if Republicans seek to make matters worse in the months ahead, Democrats shouldn’t sit idly by, she said.

“We have to all play by the same set of rules. And the Republican caucus has made it clear that they want, and are setting rules, of partisan gerrymandering,” Ocasio-Cortez explained, noting that Democrats have “tried to pass nonpartisan gerrymandering for 10 years” in Congress.

If Republicans are going to redraw North Carolina, if they’re going to redraw Texas, if they’re going to redraw and gerrymander every one of their states, then unfortunately, we have to provide balance to that until we get to the day when we can all finally agree to put this behind us and pass nonpartisan gerrymandering federally. Related Story News | Politics & Elections Conservative SCOTUS Ruling Completely Demolishes Voting Rights Act, Kagan Says The Voting Rights Act is now essentially a “toothless law,” one legal expert said of the ruling. By Chris Walker , Truthout April 29, 2026 Truthout

If Republicans are going to redraw North Carolina, if they’re going to redraw Texas, if they’re going to redraw and gerrymander every one of their states, then unfortunately, we have........

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