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Democratic strategist says party lacks ‘moral authority’ on Texas redistricting fight
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Democrats are fighting tooth and nail to stop Texas lawmakers’ plan to redraw the state’s congressional map, but critics, including one prominent member of their own party, say they don’t exactly hold the moral high ground.
Democrat legislators have fled the state to avoid votes on redistricting, which is expected to add more Republican seats to Congress for the Lone Star State. They’re getting the rock-star treatment as they visit blue states, where several governors have vowed to gerrymander Republicans out of their own Congressional delegations in retaliation for the Texas effort.
CALIFORNIA LAUNCHES REDISTRICTING FIGHT TO ‘NULLIFY’ TEXAS GOP PLAN, WITH DEMS POISED TO GAIN 5 SEATS
Texas state lawmakers board a bus following a press conference at the DuPage County Democratic Party headquarters on August 03, 2025 in Carol Stream, Illinois. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
However, Democratic strategist Julian Epstein told «Fox News Live» on Saturday that his party is not immune from criticism, as many blue states have already gerrymandered in a way that limits Republican congressional representation.
«No, I think they don’t have the moral authority, and there’s a lot of pearl-clutching going on,» he said.
Several blue states, including Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Mexico, have no Republicans in their House delegations. And many feature oddly-drawn districts, seemingly crafted to limit GOP representation.
«The Democrats don’t have clean hands here. You look at states like Massachusetts, New Jersey[…] Illinois, California, and Democrats have effectively gerrymandered Republicans out of existence,» Epstein added.
NETWORKS POUNCE ON REPUBLICAN REDISTRICTING. THEY DIDN’T CARE WHEN DEMOCRATS DID IT
J.B. Pritzker, governor of Illinois, left, and State Representative Gene Wu, a Democrat from Texas, during a news conference at the Democratic Party of DuPage County office in Carol Stream, Illinois, US, on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025.
Epstein cautioned that the nationwide redistricting battle could create a «race to the bottom,» and that leaving Republicans and Democrats in states led by the opposite parties could lead to people feeling left out of the democratic process. Epstein cited New Jersey, in which Trump garnered 46% of the vote in 2024, but Republicans only have three out of the 12 congressional seats.
Meanwhile, Texas state Rep. Brian Harrison, a Republican, told Fox News Digital on Saturday that Democrats are guilty of «total hypocrisy and faux outrage.»
«The dirty little secret is Democrats have no problem whatsoever with states redrawing their congressional maps to maximize partisan political advantage. They’re just furious that Republican states are starting to redraw their maps,» Harrison said.
TEXAS DEMOCRATS FLEE STATE TO BLOCK TRUMP-BACKED REDISTRICTING VOTE IN DRAMATIC LEGISLATIVE MOVE
California Gov. Gavin Newsom attends a press conference, July 2, 2025 in Burbank, California. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
«It’s because Democrat state after Democrat state, for a decade, has been gerrymandering the hell out of their congressional maps,» he said.
«Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, Delaware, all of these states have zero. If you’re a Republican in those Democrat states, you don’t have any voice in Congress,» he added. «And [there are] many, many more that have given you just one seat, Oregon, I think Maine and Maryland.»
In California, a special election is likely to occur in November to counteract the Texas redistricting plan.
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«We are talking about emergency measures to respond to what’s happening in Texas, and we will nullify what happens in Texas,» California Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Friday with some Texas state lawmakers.
«We’ll pick up five seats with the consent of the people. And that’s the difference between the approach we’re taking and the approach they’re taking,» Newsom added. «We’re doing it on a temporary basis. We’re doing it in a fully transparent way and we’re doing it by asking the people of the state of California for their consent and support.»
Harrison explained that Texas’s redistricting push has numerous reasons behind it, including the population growth in the Lone Star state since the last census.
texas,california,congress,illinois
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The United States stood alone at the United Nations in early March after a European-led procedural move blocked a vote on defining gender in biological terms at one of the world’s leading forums on women’s rights.
At the conclusion of the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women, the U.S. was the only country to oppose the body’s annual «Agreed Conclusions,» citing concerns that the language departs from biological definitions of women and girls. No other member state voted with the United States.
At the center of the dispute is how the United Nations defines «gender.» Current U.N. frameworks, rooted in the 1995 Beijing Declaration, do not provide a fixed definition and instead rely on evolving interpretations tied to broader concepts of gender identity, according to EU officials.
The U.S. proposal sought to anchor the term explicitly in biological sex.
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The U.S. introduced a resolution titled «Protection of women and girls through appropriate terminology,» which sought to clarify how gender is understood across U.N. policy.
The «Violence Against Women and Girls» meeting, part of the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York, on March 12, 2026. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The draft states that the term «gender» should be interpreted «according to its ordinary, generally accepted usage, as referring to men and women.»
The proposal never reached a vote. Belgium, speaking on behalf of the European Union, introduced a «no action motion,» a procedural tool that blocks debate and prevents a proposal from being considered.
The motion passed, halting the U.S. resolution before it reached the floor.
That distinction carries practical implications. U.N. language shapes global standards tied to development funding, humanitarian programs, education policy and anti-discrimination frameworks.
Bethany Kozma, director of global affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services, told Fox News Digital the move reflects a broader effort to shut down debate at the U.N.
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The Belgian flag is photographed in Antwerp, Belgium, on May 17, 2015. (Photo by Michael Jacobs/Art in All of Us/Corbis via Getty Images)
«While our redlines were ignored, the United States Government will not stand by and watch as malicious forces misuse multilateral organizations to promote their ideologies and social agendas, obstructing nations’ abilities to exercise their national sovereignty,» Kozma said. «We will always protect women and girls from dangerous gender ideology and affirm biological truth.»
She added that the decision to block the vote was driven by political calculation.
«The EU blocked our resolution to define gender to mean men and women at the U.N. because they feared we would win and they would lose,» Kozma said. «We will not give up on doing what is right for women and girls. Even if we stand alone like we did at the U.N. last week, we will always stand to protect women and girls from dangerous radical gender ideology and always affirm biological truth.»
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Delegates attend a United Nations Security Council meeting on Feb. 24, 2026, in New York City. (John Lamparski/Getty Images)
A State Department official, speaking on background, described the move as part of a broader coordinated effort led by European countries.
«These are procedural games that these countries are not prepared for,» the official said, referring to smaller delegations that may lack guidance on complex procedural votes.
The official said the maneuver allowed opponents to block a vote despite what the U.S. believed was growing support. These claims could not be independently verified.
The European Union rejected the U.S. criticism, saying the proposal was flawed and rushed.
«The draft resolution presented by the U.S. was factually incorrect,» said David Jordens, spokesperson for Belgium’s foreign ministry, adding that it «misquotes and contradicts» language agreed to in the 1995 Beijing Declaration.
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The United Nations in New York City. (iStock)
«While the EU respects member states’ prerogative to put forward new initiatives for consideration, CSW members should not be forced to rush a decision on an issue of this importance by the unilateral initiative of one member state, without any prior consultations or negotiations,» Jordens said.
He added that «there is no universally agreed definition of the term ‘gender’. As reflected in the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women, the term was understood in accordance with its ordinary and generally accepted usage, without establishing a fixed or exhaustive definition. The United Nations should continue to approach gender equality in an inclusive and forward-looking manner, respectful of diversity. Any effort to revisit or reinterpret internationally agreed language must take place through broad, transparent consultations with the full membership.»
united nations, womens health, state department, the european union
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A Democratic candidate in a key Wisconsin battleground is highlighting support from a major environmental group as her Republican opponent warns the endorsement could drive up energy costs and hurt farmers.
Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., blasted Democratic challenger Rebecca Cooke’s endorsement by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Action Fund, arguing it signals policies that could raise costs for farmers and rural communities.
«Rebecca Cooke is completely out of touch with Wisconsin, touting an endorsement from the radical NRDC,» Van Orden told Fox News Digital. «It’s a clear sign of how quickly she’ll sell out Wisconsin farm families to please Washington Democrats.»
«Farmers and businesses across Wisconsin have time and again rejected the radical Green New Deal because it would increase the price of fertilizer, diesel and cover up more of our black dirt with solar wastelands,» he said.
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The clash underscores how energy costs and their impact on Wisconsin’s farm economy are emerging as a central fault line in one of the most competitive House races in the country, where control of the chamber could hinge on battleground districts like the 3rd.
Cooke, who is challenging Van Orden in Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, recently touted the NRDC Action Fund endorsement.
«Growing up on a dairy farm I know how important it is to be steward to the land, I want to protect Western Wisconsin’s natural resources and ensure the next generation has clean air and clean water,» Cooke wrote following the endorsement. «Investing in clean energy will create good-paying local jobs and help lower costs for working families. I’ll work with anyone to strengthen our economy and help strengthen our community.»
Jed Ober, managing director of the Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund, said the group is «proud to support her campaign for Congress,» adding that Cooke «will be a champion for working families who are worried about rising energy costs.»
The Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund is the political arm of the environmental advocacy group focused on climate and conservation issues.
A Democratic candidate in a key Wisconsin battleground is highlighting support from a major environmental group as her Republican opponent warns the endorsement could drive up energy costs and hurt farmers. (Kayla Wolf/Getty Images)
Van Orden criticized Cooke’s embrace of the endorsement, telling Fox News Digital, «Rebecca Cooke is completely out of touch with Wisconsin, touting an endorsement from the radical NRDC. It’s a clear sign of how quickly she’ll sell out Wisconsin farm families to please Washington Democrats.»
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«Farmers and businesses across Wisconsin have time and again rejected the radical Green New Deal because it would increase the price of fertilizer, diesel, and cover up more of our black dirt with solar wastelands.»
«Energy prices are out of control in western Wisconsin because of Derrick Van Orden’s failed leadership. He voted to increase electricity costs while handing out tax breaks to the ultra-rich,» Cooke responded in a statement to Fox News Digital. «He’s cheerleading a war of choice in the Middle East that sent the prices of gas and diesel skyrocketing in less than a month. It’s hurting our farmers who have already been hit hard by the tariffs Van Orden has supported every step of the way.»
The Natural Resources Defense Council has backed efforts to curb fossil fuel production, including supporting restrictions on hydraulic fracturing and praising the Biden administration’s pause on new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export approvals.
Republicans and industry groups argue those kinds of policies can raise energy costs in states like Wisconsin, where agriculture and fuel prices are closely linked.
Diesel powers much of the nation’s farm equipment, while fertilizer production is closely tied to natural gas — making energy prices a key concern for farmers.
Democrats argue that investments in clean energy can benefit rural communities through job creation and lower utility costs over time.
Rebecca Cooke, who is challenging Rep. Derrick Van Orden in Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, recently touted an endorsement from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Action Fund. (Provided by the office of Congressman Derrick Van Orden)
While Wisconsin does not have significant hydraulic fracturing operations, it plays a major role in the industry as a leading producer of silica sand used in fracking nationwide, meaning changes in domestic energy production can affect parts of the state’s economy.
The Natural Resources Defense Council also has opposed projects like the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline, which transports oil and natural gas liquids through the Great Lakes region. Supporters, including some industry and labor groups, say the pipeline is critical to maintaining reliable and affordable energy supplies in the Midwest, while environmental groups have raised concerns about environmental risks.
Cooke also received support from prominent Democrats, including Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Van Orden criticized Cooke’s embrace of the endorsement, telling Fox News Digital, «Rebecca Cooke is completely out of touch with Wisconsin, touting an endorsement from the radical NRDC. It’s a clear sign of how quickly she’ll sell out Wisconsin farm families to please Washington Democrats. (iStock)
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The race between Cooke and Van Orden is expected to be highly competitive, with both parties viewing Wisconsin’s 3rd District as a key battleground that could help determine control of the House.
With control of the chamber at stake, energy costs and their impact on Wisconsin’s farm economy are poised to be a central fault line in the race.
wisconsin, energy, campaigning, house of representatives politics
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