Mark Halperin says Democrats will fall short in redistricting battles

Political analyst Mark Halperin predicted on Fox News Friday that Democrats will likely come up short in key redistricting fights, saying the party’s base might feel caught off guard when results fail to meet expectations.

Texas Democratic lawmakers fled to Illinois and New York to block a special session on redistricting that could give Republicans up to five additional U.S. House seats. Speaking on the upcoming midterm cycle, Halperin said on “Special Report with Bret Baier” that Republicans hold more opportunities to redraw favorable maps than Democrats, especially in states like Florida, Missouri, Indiana, South Carolina, and New Hampshire.

“It’s going to be surprising to their voters and their base that they’re trying to fire up for the midterms when they fall short, as they almost certainly will, maybe everywhere. California and New York are the ones people talk about the most,” Halperin told Bret Baier.

Halperin said Democrats face steep legislative and procedural hurdles in those states. While Halperin said the fights give Democrats a platform to energize their base and go after Donald Trump, he questioned whether that strategy would translate into actual wins.

“The legislative and other hoops they’re going to have to jump through to make it happen there are very high, very broad. So I don’t know if Democrats are gaming this out completely, but it does sure make them feel good to be able to rally and to attack Donald Trump,” Halperin said.

Mid-decade redistricting, the practice of redrawing congressional lines between Census cycles, often sparks intense political fights. In 2003, Texas Republicans pushed through such a map despite a walkout by over 50 Democratic lawmakers, gaining five additional House seats in the 2004 elections.

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