DETROIT – State representatives from Detroit are among several figures from the city that plan to announce a lawsuit against the Michigan redistricting commission Monday, less than a week after the group signed off on new boundaries for the state’s districts.
Current and former representatives like Tenisha Yancey, Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, Sen. Betty Alexander, and Tyrone Carter are among more than a dozen figures that allege the new maps violate the voting rights act.
According to the suit, Michigan’s Independent Redistricting Commission gerrymandered the newly-approved maps by “cracking, packing, and retrogression against African American communities and therefore diluting their representation of minority communities.”
The politicians will announce the lawsuit during a 10:30 a.m. press conference in Detroit.
The commission initially approved maps for Michigan’s congressional district, as well as the state house and senate on Dec. 28, following months of debate over how the lines should be drawn.
The revision is expected to evenly balance the state’s political representation.Â
RELATED: Michigan’s new political maps point toward 7-6 split in favor of either party
It was widely expected that litigation from Black legislators and potentially Republicans would come following the map’s approval.Â
In Detroit, the maps eliminated two majority-minority districts that favored voters of color. That decision drew criticism from lawmakers from the city.
However, legal counsel for the commission has argued that the group had no obligation to redraw the lines with majority-minority standards.
Michigan’s redistricting commission could face litigation after new maps approved
When new maps are approved by Michigan’s redistricting commission, there could be a legal battle.
