Albuquerque, N.M. -  Today, Rep. Cristina Parajón (D-Albuquerque) and Sen. Harold Pope (D-Albuquerque) resigned their positions on the Fair Districts Task Force, effective immediately. 

Both legislators expressed their commitment to fair, open elections, and belief in independent redistricting, while citing deep concerns about the partisan gerrymandering efforts currently underway in Texas and other states across the country.

Rep. Parajón issued the following statement:

"I joined the Fair Districts Task Force because I believe that a strong and healthy democracy allows voters to choose their elected officials, instead of allowing politicians to choose their voters. I believe, one day, in my lifetime, we will see a future where redistricting is fair and independent across the country. 

"But today is not that day. Fairness is not changing the rules in the middle of the game because you're suddenly afraid you might lose, as Trump is doing in Texas. And fairness is not trying to play professional baseball with wiffle ball bats.

"What we need now is federal legislation to end partisan gerrymandering - not an uneven patchwork, where mainly Democratic states have embraced fair districting. 

"Until that happens, I am going to focus my attention on improving good governance at the state level by increasing funding for civics education, lowering the voting age to 16, making election day a state holiday, and modernizing our legislature."

Senator Pope issued the following statement:

"President Trump and his allies are trying to rig our democracy by gerrymandering congressional districts. They know their extreme agenda can't survive a fair fight, so instead of listening to the people, they're trying to silence us.

"As we watch Texas Republicans push forward a shameful campaign to disenfranchise communities of color and consolidate power for Trump, we in New Mexico—and across this nation—must rise up and fight back. Our democracy belongs to the people, not politicians clinging to power.

"The state-by-state approach to independent redistricting will only make the playing field more uneven. To protect the free and fair elections that are the bedrock of our democracy, we need strong national legislation to end partisan gerrymandering once and for all. Anything less is an attack on the very foundation of our republic."

Rep. Parajón and Senator Pope's resignation letters are below