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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
O'Rourke urges Democrats to fight ‘fire with fire' in redistricting battle
Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke (Texas) called on his fellow Democrats to fight 'fire with fire' as Republicans in his state move forward with an effort to alter Texas's congressional district lines ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. In an interview on CNN's 'State of the Union,' O'Rourke said Democrats need to start playing the same game as Republicans and stop worrying only about doing what is right. 'I think it's time that we match fire with fire. I think Democrats in the past too often have been more concerned with being right than being in power. And we have seen Republicans only care about being in power, regardless of what is right,' O'Rourke said in the interview. In a rare mid-decade redistricting effort, Texas state lawmakers are expected to consider new congressional lines during a special session of the Texas Legislature, which GOP Gov. Greg Abbott called. The effort to redraw the Texas map has been made at the request of President Trump, who aims to bolster the GOP's slim House majority to ensure that Republicans maintain control of the lower chamber during his final two years of his second term. In a call to Texas Republicans on Tuesday morning, the president urged lawmakers to draw the districts in a way that would allow Republicans to flip five Democratic seats to the GOP. Trump also said that he would be 'OK' with blue-leaning states, such as New York and California, potentially doing the same to increase the number of seats for Democrats. 'I think we'll get five. And there could be some other states we're going to get another three, or four or five in addition,' Trump said Tuesday. 'Texas would be the biggest one.' O'Rourke — who unsuccessfully ran for senator, governor and president — praised California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) for suggesting that he could pursue a similar approach in his state. 'I think that Democrats have been so scared of being branded as hypocrites or coloring outside of the lines that it has absolutely paralyzed them in this struggle for power in America. You don't see the other side worrying about any of that at all, Donald Trump defying the Constitution, the rule of law, the courts, trying to dismantle our very democracy in front of our eyes right now where we sit,' O'Rourke said. 'We have got to fight back. We cannot roll over. We cannot play dead. We cannot submit to them, as Democrats for far too long have done.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Free Malaysia Today
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Fielding non-Muslims could help PAS woo non-Malays, says analyst
An analyst said dissatisfaction among non-Malays towards Pakatan Harapan could give PAS an opening, but only if the Islamic party addresses deeper, structural issues. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Analysts have proposed two key strategies for PAS to win over non-Malay voters, namely fielding non-Muslim candidates in safe seats and highlighting the party's achievements in its administration of Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, and Perlis – also known as the SG4 states. Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said PAS must move away from political rhetoric if it hoped to shift perceptions among non-Malay voters. 'So far, PAS has yet to demonstrate that it is a better option than DAP or PKR, as there's little to be proud of in its administration of the SG4 states. 'PAS must tone down its extreme rhetoric and focus on showcasing its ability to govern by making the SG4 a better model than the states governed by Pakatan Harapan (PH) or Barisan Nasional. That's what it needs to do now,' he told FMT. PAS vice-president Amar Nik Abdullah previously said that the party was targeting non-Malay voters who were disillusioned with the government ahead of the 16th general election, acknowledging however PAS's struggle to win over that segment. He said PAS faced the challenge of finding more convincing ways to gain the trust of non-Malay voters while preserving its clean image and integrity to maintain its support among the youth. Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya said dissatisfaction among non-Malays towards PH could give PAS an opening, but only if the Islamic party could address deeper, structural issues. 'These include concerns about religious freedom and racial harmony, and rejecting theocratic narratives. Without such changes, discontent with PH will only be temporary, as non-Malay voters still find it difficult to accept Perikatan Nasional (PN). 'PAS also needs to overcome the longstanding distrust, including the fact that it once branded non-Muslims as infidels (kafir) – something that still lingers in the memory of many non-Malays.' PAS must be sincere in fielding non-Muslim candidates Awang Azman added that dissatisfaction with PH did not automatically mean that the non-Malays were ready to support PAS. 'PAS must be bold and sincere in placing non-Muslim candidates in winnable seats – just as Umno does with MIC and MCA – as a genuine sign of cooperation with non-Muslims. This shouldn't just be rhetoric or a symbolic gesture,' he said. Rusdi Omar of Universiti Utara Malaysia said that to attract non-Malay support, PAS must move away from an overemphasis on religious, racial, and royal sentiments, and adopt a more moderate approach. Meanwhile, Ariff Aizuddin Azlan of Universiti Teknologi Mara said PAS and PN would need to work harder than PKR, DAP, and Amanah did when they were in the opposition by championing mature politics free from racial elements.
