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Head of Arkansas Democratic Party Says GOP Redistricting Map Illegal

Pulaski County is a Democratic stronghold and the GOP redistricting will split it among three districts.
Courtesy: Democratic Party of Arkansas
Pulaski County is a Democratic stronghold and the GOP redistricting will split it among three districts.
Pulaski County is a Democratic stronghold and the GOP redistricting will split it among three districts.
Credit Courtesy: Democratic Party of Arkansas
/
Courtesy: Democratic Party of Arkansas
Pulaski County is a Democratic stronghold and the GOP redistricting will split it among three districts.

ARK DEM ON REDISTRICTING-  The new chair of the Arkansas Democratic Party says Republican proposed  redistricting maps are illegal.  In an appearance on Arkansas Public Media’s “Talk Business and Politics”,  New Democratic Party of Arkansas Chair Grant Tenille suggested the GOP’s redistricting map efforts are a deliberate,  unilateral sign  that the Arkansas Republican Party’s focus is to dominate politics in the state.

"There is zero interest, as we’ve seen this time, in working toward the middle and trying to find consensus and in passing legislation that helps all Arkansans," Tenille explained. "I think these maps are a great example of it. They’re illegal on their face. I believe that the courts will have something to say about them."

 

Grant Tenille is Chairman for the Democratic Party of Arkansas
Credit Courtesy: Democratic Party of Arkansas
/
Courtesy: Democratic Party of Arkansas
Grant Tenille is Chairman for the Democratic Party of Arkansas

Chairman  Tenille  said  that  a court strategy is under development  and the Democratic Party will play a role in challenging the Congressional  redistricting  maps  that  the  GOP-heavy state  legislature  has  forwarded  to Republican  Governor  Asa  Hutchinson  for signature.  The  most  controversial  aspect  of  the new Congressional districts  splits  up  the Democratic  stronghold  of Pulaski County into three separate  districts.             

Arkansas Democrats say the redistricting map proposed by Republicans splits up strong Democrat counties and is likely illegal.

Copyright 2021 Red River Radio

Chuck Smith brings more than 30 years' experience to Red River Radio having started out as a radio news reporter and moving into television journalism as a newsmagazine producer / host, talk-show moderator, programming director and managing producer and news director / anchor for commercial, public broadcasting and educational television. He has more recently worked in advertising, marketing and public relations as a writer, video producer and media consultant. In pursuit of higher learning, Chuck studied Mass Communications at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia and motion picture / television production at the University of California at Los Angeles. He has also taught writing for television at York Technical College in Rock Hill, South Carolina and video / film production at Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport.