President Trump rallies Pennsylvania GOP against new congressional map
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Monday issued a new congressional districts map for the state’s 2018 elections, giving a boost to Democrats, who the court ruled in January were unconstitutionally placed at a disadvantage with the previously gerrymandered district lines.
Pennsylvania’s Republican leaders came out immediately against the new map, with House Speaker Mike Turzai tweeting that implementing the map would create a “constitutional crisis” with the Democratic-majority Supreme Court usurping the authority of the legislative and executive branches.
Implementation of this map would create a constitutional crisis where the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is usurping the authority of the Legislative and Executive branches. We anticipate further action in federal court.
— Speaker Mike Turzai (@RepTurzai) February 19, 2018
President Donald Trump chimed in with a tweet on Tuesday, calling on Pennsylvania’s Republican leaders to challenge the new map.
“Hope Republicans in the great state of Pennsylvania challenge the new ‘pushed’ Congressional Map, all the way to the Supreme Court, if necessary. Your Original was correct! Don’t let the Dems take elections from you so that they can raise taxes & waste money!” the tweet read.
Hope Republicans in the Great State of Pennsylvania challenge the new “pushed” Congressional Map, all the way to the Supreme Court, if necessary. Your Original was correct! Don’t let the Dems take elections away from you so that they can raise taxes & waste money!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 20, 2018
Pennsylvania Republicans have already vowed to challenge the case in federal court, as early as Tuesday.
The U.S. Supreme Court has already once declined a request from state GOP leaders to intervene in the Pennsylvania’s decision on Feb. 5.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom wolf responded to the president’s tweet, saying the old maps were gerrymandered “to serve one party’s interests,” while the new maps are fair “to serve the people’s interests.”
Our old maps were gerrymandered to serve one party's interests. Our new map is fair to serve the people's interest. And I'll keep fighting to make sure our maps and elections stay fair. https://t.co/7t4coaXXiZ
— Tom Wolf (@WolfForPA) February 20, 2018
“And I’ll keep fighting to make sure our maps and elections are fair,” he said.
The new map, which effectively splits Centre County in half into the newly drawn 15th and 12th districts, is to be in effect for the May 15 primary.
Most of the county will be in the 15 District, comprised of most of the former 5th District, represented by Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Howard Township, while State College, Ferguson and parts of Halfmoon Township, along with the Penns Valley area, will move to the 12th.
Lauren Muthler: 814-231-4646, @lmuth1259
This story was originally published February 20, 2018 at 11:50 AM with the headline "President Trump rallies Pennsylvania GOP against new congressional map."