A new Republican group launching Thursday has budgeted $35 million to strengthen the party's influence over the next round of redistricting, the complicated process of drawing favorable political boundaries for state and federal legislative districts.
The National Republican Redistricting Trust, overseen by Guy Harrison and other senior party strategists, was formed as a counterweight to the new Democratic group backed by former President Barack Obama and led by former Attorney General Eric Holder. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and Rep. Francis Rooney, R-Fla., are helping to raise money the NRRT.
"As we inch closer to 2020 redistricting, NRRT will play an invaluable role as Republicans seek to protect our gains and outwork an awakened Democratic machine," Matt Walter, president of the Republican State Leadership Committee, said in a statement the new group shared with the Washington Examiner.
Earlier this year, top Democrats unveiled the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, to counter what they view as the GOP's advantage in an unfair redistricting process. It promptly raised nearly $11 million with Obama's help.
The former president and other Democratic bigwigs hope to reclaim the more than 900 legislative seats the party lost during his two terms in the White House, and they see the next redistricting as a crucial battleground.
Get the Exclusive
05.17.2024