Transcript: Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Discusses Redistricting on "Face the Nation"

On April 19, 2026, Eric Holder, former Attorney General during the Obama administration, engaged in a candid discussion about redistricting on "Face the Nation." The conversation, led by Margaret Brennan, delved into the complexities of political map drawing and its implications for fairness in elections.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Eric, welcome. Your role as chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee has brought you to the forefront of this issue. Virginia voters are poised to decide on redrawing districts that could favor Democrats. Critics argue this is merely gerrymandering. How do you respond?

HOLDER: This isn't just about Virginia; it's a national issue. When the President requested more House seats from Texas, it sparked a necessary response. California's governor sought public input on how to address this imbalance. Virginia's actions are a reaction to Republican strategies in states like Texas and North Carolina, aiming to ensure that voters have a say in their representation.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yet, Virginia had a bipartisan commission for this purpose. How can you assure that this new approach is temporary and won’t lead to ongoing manipulation?

HOLDER: The current measure is explicitly time-limited, designed for this cycle only. After the census, we will revert to established redistricting commissions. It's crucial that citizens in Virginia have the power to make these decisions, unlike the imposed systems seen in other states.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Given the challenges facing the president's party, including rising energy costs and historical trends against midterm success, why pursue this strategy? Does it imply Democrats can't win fairly?

HOLDER: Democrats can win if the fight is fair. The reality is that without addressing the unfair advantages created by Republicans in states like Texas and Missouri, we risk losing representation. Our goal is to level the playing field, not to create an unfair advantage.

MARGARET BRENNAN: You’ve long criticized gerrymandering for fostering unrepresentative governance. Are you not endorsing those very issues now? How can we expect compromise moving forward?

HOLDER: We must confront the immediate crisis posed by Republican tactics. Once we stabilize our democracy, we can return to advocating for fairness in redistricting. If we fail to act now, we jeopardize our democratic processes.

MARGARET BRENNAN: The Supreme Court has upheld Texas's actions.

HOLDER: Yes, but I believe those actions are inappropriate. My hope is that with a future Democratic president and Congress, we can enact legislation to eliminate partisan gerrymandering entirely.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Concerns have been raised about the impact of redistricting on Black political influence in Virginia. How do you address these worries?

HOLDER: That assertion is unfounded. The real question is whether two more years of unchecked Trump power benefits African Americans. The answer is no. A positive outcome in Virginia can help establish a necessary check on harmful policies.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Thank you for your insights, Mr. Holder.

HOLDER: Thank you for having me.

MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll return shortly.