Eric Holder focuses on combating gerrymandering in NH visit
Former US AG considering run for White House in 2020
Former US AG considering run for White House in 2020
Former US AG considering run for White House in 2020
Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder visited New Hampshire Friday as he contemplates a campaign for president.
For now, Holder is focused on redrawing the electoral map.
Speaking at the “Politics and Eggs” event at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics, Holder issued a stark warning.
"I think our democracy is under attack,” Holder said.
>> View raw video of the speech
He said partisan gerrymandering -- the redrawing of political districts to give one party an advantage -- is stifling the will of the people.
"In Wisconsin, after the gerrymandering, Republicans got less than 50 percent of the vote and yet ended up with about 67 percent of the state delegation and 67 percent of the congressional delegation,” Holder said.
Holder is leading an effort to redraw the maps passed by Republican legislatures in 2011, but he said he does not want to unfairly benefit his fellow Democrats.
“We'll take on Democrats that want to gerrymander. This is not what this effort is all about,” Holder said.
Holder told WMUR he's thinking about running for president in 2020, but won't be making a decision until sometime early next year.
He said he sees President Donald Trump eventually facing consequences from the Mueller investigation and ultimately the American public.
"We see a greater involvement, a greater engagement by the American people, and I think that might be the silver lining for what is otherwise a pretty bad administration," Holder said.
Holder also spoke at the New Hampshire Democratic Party headquarters during his visit. Those who have seen a lot of big names test the waters there over the years said Holder made a good first impression.
"I think he has a very serious message, and one I think – I hope the rest of the country's going to listen to,” Sylvia Larsen, D, former Senate president, said.
He predicts a "blue wave" in the upcoming midterm elections, but says it will crash against the obstacle of districts that have been re-drawn to favor Republicans.
Holder currently serves as the chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee.