Swalwell Applauds Supreme Court Decision in Favor of Citizen Democracy

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (CA-15) released the following statement after the Supreme Court in Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission upheld the state's independent redistricting commission in a 5-4 decision. California also has an independent redistricting commission that was established by a ballot initiative in 2010.

"Today the Supreme Court affirmed what California voters already know: the power of drawing congressional lines may be given to the people and does not have to be in the hands of politicians. In 2010, California voters, fed up by gerrymandered and irrational districts, overwhelmingly approved an independent redistricting commission. Only because of that commission, I had a fighting chance at beating a 40-year incumbent from my own party. Today's decision upholds the idea that citizens may be empowered to draw congressional districts that provide for free and fair elections."