The Census data released last month has officially confirmed: in the ten years since the last redistricting Arizona has experienced massive growth in both population and diversity. Latinos, Native Americans, African Americans, and Asian American/Pacific Islanders make up a greater share of Arizona's population now more than in any other time in our history as a state. Diversity is our strength. In the last 10 years, Arizona has continued to grow stronger and stronger.
The last ten years have also seen Arizona Democrats gain major electoral ground. In 2011, the GOP held nearly every statewide office, and super majorities in both legislative chambers. In 2021, voters have elected Democrats to six of the thirteen statewide offices – including both US Senate seats – and in both the State House and Senate Democrats are just one seat away from split control of the chamber. And of course, much to the GOP’s continued distress, in 2020 Arizona voters made history by awarding our electoral votes to President Biden and Vice President Harris – the first time this century for a Democratic ticket.
Now, just like the result of that election, Republicans are doing all they can to sow confusion around Arizona’s redistricting process. GOP leaders are shamelessly goading their supporters into parroting their misinformation to the IRC, in an overt effort to influence this independent process towards a Republican gerrymander.
When Arizona voters overwhelmingly passed Prop 106 in 2000, we enshrined in our Constitution specific priorities to achieve fair, competitive and equitable maps. Key among them: the maps must honor the U.S. Voting Rights Act, and therefore protect the voting power of communities of color. And they must favor competitive districts, to encourage high participation in our elections and guard against extremism. We cannot let the Republican voter suppression agenda undermine these principles.
Unlike the GOP, Arizona Democrats are not afraid of the voters, we are not afraid to compete. With another decade of fair, competitive maps, I have every faith that our Democratic candidates, our staff, our unstoppable volunteers, will continue to turn Arizona blue.
I thank each Independent Redistricting Commissioner for taking on this challenging task of creating brand new maps to reflect the significant changes and progress that Arizona has experienced in the last decade. As Democrats, what we ask of the IRC could not be more simple: continue to uphold the will of the voters, and follow the Arizona Constitution.
In Solidarity,
Rep. Raquel Terán
Chairwoman, Arizona Democratic Party |