In a major blow to Democratic voters in New Hampshire, their attempt to block the newly drawn state Senate Executive Council districts has been struck down by the state Supreme Court. The court, in a 3-2 decision on Wednesday, ruled that the claims made by the Democrats fall outside the jurisdiction of the judicial branch. This decision upholds the dismissal of the lawsuit and reinforces the authority of the Legislature to draw electoral maps as outlined in the state's Constitution.

Last year, the 24 Senate districts and the five districts for the Executive Council were redrawn, sparking the legal challenge. The Executive Council plays a crucial role in approving state contracts, judicial nominees, and individuals nominated to lead state agencies. With the redrawn boundaries, Republicans were able to maintain their majority in the Senate with a 14-10 advantage, as well as their 4-1 advantage on the council in the upcoming 2022 elections.

The plaintiffs, led by former House Speaker Terie Norelli, contended that the newly drawn districts violated the New Hampshire Constitution due to their clear partisan intent. They argued that the Legislature deliberately “packed” Democrats into a small number of districts while “cracking” the remaining Democratic voters by dividing them among multiple districts, ensuring they would fall short of a majority in each.

The court's majority, however, agreed with the lower court's decision, asserting that the case posed non-justiciable political questions. Attorney General John Formella applauded the ruling, stating that it reaffirms the principle that redistricting matters should be decided by elected representatives rather than the courts. This decision effectively places the power to shape electoral districts firmly in the hands of the people.

It is worth noting that the court did intervene in the matter of the state's Congressional district maps last year. After Republican Governor Chris Sununu vetoed two maps approved by the GOP-controlled Legislature, which would have given Republicans a greater advantage in the 1st District, the court stepped in just in time before the filing period for the 2022 elections opened. The final map did not deviate significantly from the previous one, simply reflecting population changes by moving five towns from the 1st District to the 2nd. Both Congressional seats in the state are currently held by Democrats.

In summary, the New Hampshire Supreme Court's 3-2 decision to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Democratic voters seeking to block the newly drawn state Senate Executive Council districts has left the matter in the hands of the Legislature. The court reaffirmed the Legislature's authority to draw electoral maps, emphasizing that courts should only intervene when constitutional requirements are not met. This decision solidifies the Republican majority in the Senate and on the council, leading up to the 2022 elections.