Power Plays

This panel explores the growing centralization of power in state legislatures through gerrymandering and efforts to strip authority from those best positioned to provide checks on that power. These developments have coincided with the U.S. Supreme Court’s push to return key issues to state control, prompting progressives to turn to state constitutions and laws in response to harmful federal policies. What can we learn from states facing these antidemocratic power grabs—and how can progressives restore meaningful checks and balances at every level of government?

Featuring:

Dawn Blagrove, Executive Director, Emancipate NC

Derek Clinger, Senior Staff Attorney, State Democracy Research Initiative

Michael Li, Senior Counsel, Democracy, The Brennan Center for Justice

Moderator:

Lindsay Langholz, Senior Director of Policy and Program, American Constitution Society