Justice Elena Kagan warns Supreme Court majority of democratic erosion
Justice Elena Kagan criticized the Court’s conservative bloc, saying its recent rulings on gerrymandering, voting rights and campaign finance weaken American democracy.
At a law school event in Washington, D.C., Justice Elena Kagan accused the Supreme Court’s conservative majority of undermining democratic norms through a series of recent decisions. She highlighted the 2019 ruling that barred federal courts from curbing extreme partisan gerrymandering, noting that it has prompted states like Texas and California to redraw districts to favor the ruling party. Kagan also cited cases that have gutted the 1965 Voting Rights Act and repeatedly struck down campaign-finance restrictions, including a June decision.
Additionally, she questioned a recent ruling that gave the president broader authority over traditionally independent federal agencies. Kagan warned that these actions deepen polarization, push candidates toward ideological extremes, and erode public trust in the political system, even as she acknowledged that the Court has sometimes pushed back against presidential overreach.
Why it matters
Kagan’s critique highlights how Supreme Court rulings may reshape electoral fairness and political power in the United States.
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