Likely Changes in Legislative District 16

On August 10, 2023, a federal judge struck down Washington State’s legislative map for violating Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA).  

 Legislative District 15 (mainly Yakima County) was the focus of this ruling, but all of the surrounding districts must be changed due to the concentration of our region’s Latino population. This ruling will require that LDs 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 be changed to create a majority Latino “opportunity district.”

Washington State has refused to call the Redistricting Commission back into session, effectively abdicating its power to the court to draw a new map.

 On January 9, 2024, the plaintiffs may submit their map proposals to the court. By March 25, 2024, the court will send its chosen map to the Secretary of State.

 The slides above display three possible LD15 maps and the resulting impacts on LD 16.