A brief moment to acknowledge Judge KBJ and last week’s hearings…

What should have been a time for Black joy instead turned into an ugly display of our nation’s ongoing struggle with racism. Sharon Hurley Hall wrote a magnificent piece this morning that collates the pain experienced by many Black Americans last week as Kentaji Brown Jackson was grilled by Republicans in Washington. I implore everyone to give it a read as it lays bare the ways Republicans’ racist tantrums harmed not just KBJ but many Americans across the country.

Topline Takeaways

• Hawaii’s redistricting process is governed by a nine-member commission of appointed politicians.

• The new congressional districts are almost identical to the previous ones.

• Republicans had virtually no chance of picking up a new seat here (or even creating a competitive seat) as there’s simply no way to draw a district that would lean Republican.

Who’s In Control?

Hawaii’s redistricting process is governed by a nine-member commission of appointed politicians. The majority and minority leaders of both state houses each select two members of their choice. A ninth “tie-breaker” member is then selected by the eight originally appointed members. The commission then draws and votes on new district maps.

District Breakdown

Democrats have dominated in Hawaii throughout the islands’ statehood. In the 66 House elections held in Hawaii since achieving statehood in 1959, Democrats have won 63 of those races. Of the 16 presidential elections its participated in, Hawaii has only voted for a Republican candidate twice. Republicans had virtually no chance of picking up a new seat here (or even creating a competitive seat) as there’s simply no way to draw a district that would lean Republican. As a result, Hawaii’s congressional districts saw almost no changes in this redistricting cycle: the only shift was seen in a small corner of Oahu that was moved out of HI-1 into HI-2.

Leftover Links

• Rep. Kahele of HI-2 is considering running for governor as the current governor is unable to run for re-election. See how his candidacy would shake-up political races up and down the ballot.