Bob McDonnell, the Republican governor of Virginia, predicted that during redistricting next year, politicians will take a hard look at the Tenth Amendment and perhaps reevaluate the balance of power between state and federal governments.
McDonnell forecasted that Republicans could pick up six to nine more governorships, for a total of 30 to 33 Republican governors in office for redistricting next year. Governors play a role in the redistricting process in 46 states, so the winners of the gubernatorial elections will leave their marks on electoral politics for the next decade.
“Next year is a redistricting year,” McDonnell said, “and we’ll have a healthy debate about federalism, and what is the balance of power, and what does the Tenth Amendment mean.”
The Tenth Amendment is the part of the Constitution used to justify the argument for states’ rights to overturn laws made by the federal government.
The Virginia Governor lampooned the current government’s “one size fits all approach,” suggesting that state governments have a better idea of what policies are best for their state.
“I think that is the way Jefferson and Madison designed our federalist system,” McDonnell said, “where the government closest to the people governs best.”