It looks like the Democratic Party is finally ready to fight fire with fire.
During a Monday meeting in Minnesota, Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin told his colleagues it’s time to stop following the rules to a T while Republicans play fast and loose with democracy.
Talking about the gerrymandering battle that’s currently building up between red and blue states, a report from The Hill quoted him as saying, “I’m sick and tired of this Democratic Party bringing a pencil to a knife fight.”
“We cannot be the only party that plays by the rules anymore. We’ve got to stand up and fight.”
Rallying the party to take action, Martin said, “I call on all of us to fight for a country that’s being attacked from the inside, a country being attacked by an insidious force … And are you ready to fight?”
“I know Texas is always ready for that, right? Right, Texas?” he said, prompting cheers. “Is California ready for that fight?”
Earlier this month, Texas Democrats tried to put the brakes on a brazen off-cycle redistricting plan that could allow Republicans to net five more seats in the House.
They stalled the move by fleeing the state and leaving their legislature without enough bodies to hold a vote. But after a two-week standoff and threats of arrest, Democrats relented, returned home and the new map was approved over the weekend.
In his address, Martin warned Democrats that Trump and his allies were only getting started.
“Texas Republicans may have passed those great maps, but we know Trump isn’t stopping there,” he said. “He’s given gerrymandering orders to more red states. He’s going after mail-in ballots.”
It looks like Democratic leaders are already gearing up to go tit-for-tat with Republicans.
During the legislative tussle in Texas, California Gov. Gavin Newsom greenlit a special election to approve a redistricting plan which would pad California with five more blue seats ― negating the GOP gains in the Lone Star State.
On Sunday, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said he was considering similar remapping moves, telling CBS News he was keeping “all options are on the table” when it came to leveling the electoral playing field.