Kagan Denies Trump Ties, Says Court Majority Undermines Democracy
Justice Elena Kagan said Tuesday that the court's 6-3 conservative majority has weakened American democracy. She spoke at Catholic University's law school in Washington.
- 2019 ruling barred federal courts from limiting partisan gerrymandering, which Kagan called especially harmful.
- She said the majority's Voting Rights Act rulings amounted to its "evisceration."
- She called unlimited campaign money a "nightmare" in voters' eyes.
- She also questioned this year's ruling expanding Trump's control over independent agencies.
Why it matters: Kagan said partisan maps push candidates toward the extremes because only primaries matter. She said both parties are in "a race to the bottom."
- Texas began this cycle's mid-decade redistricting at Trump's urging; California followed.
- A ruling this year led Republican-led states to eliminate majority Black districts.
How 10 sources split on this story
Where they split: Coverage divides over emphasis: whether Kagan's main message was criticism of the majority or defense of the court's independence from Trump.
Center coverage, 4 sources: The center sees a justice who defends the court against claims it serves Trump while worrying about an ideologically lopsided bench.
Left coverage, 6 sources: The left sees a liberal justice confirming that the conservative majority's election rulings have damaged democracy and fueled partisan gerrymandering.
What’s next: Midterm elections on Nov. 3 will use several newly redrawn congressional maps.
- Some Democrats have called for court expansion or term limits.
- Such changes would be hard to pass even if Democrats win Congress.
- Whether Kagan's remarks will affect the debate over court expansion or term limits.
- How the redrawn maps will change the number of competitive districts in November.
