Tiebreaking New Jersey Redistricting Commission Member Will Be Picked by State Supreme Court
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The New Jersey Supreme Court will have to pick the tiebreaking 13th member of the state’s redistricting commission after Democrats and Republicans failed to agree on one nominee by a Thursday deadline. Redistricting in New Jersey is led by the Congressional Redistricting Commission, a 13-member committee composed of six Democrats, six Republicans and one tiebreaking member agreed upon by the other 12. Since 1991, the two parties have agreed upon the 13th member together — but this year, they were unable to come to a compromise, and the decision will be kicked to the state Supreme Court.
There are seven members of the New Jersey Supreme Court, and they will be asked to vote between two nominees sent by Democrats and Republicans. It is a rare political act of the Court which will have a significant impact on the 2022 U.S. House elections where only five flipped seats are needed for Republicans to regain control.