Spam over substance: Seattle Indivisible’s shady redistricting ploy

Seattle Indivisible is trying to sell a lie—and harvest your data in the process.

In an email blast Tuesday, the far-left activist group demanded supporters pressure Gov. Bob Ferguson to “commit to exploring responsive redistricting with urgency.” Their script instructs activists to beg Ferguson: “Please publicly commit to responsive redistricting if Republicans gerrymander mid-decade—make the commitment now, review our laws, coordinate with the legislature, and be ready to act quickly. Even if gains are modest, the public signal that we’ll fight back is critical.”

There’s just one problem: Ferguson has zero legal authority to redraw congressional maps. None.

Here’s how you redistrict in Washington state

Under the Washington State Constitution, Article II, Section 43, the job belongs to the bipartisan Washington State Redistricting Commission, which meets once every decade after the census. The commission is made up of two Democrats, two Republicans, and a non-voting chair. The constitution is explicit: “The legislature shall enact laws creating a commission to accomplish state legislative and congressional redistricting.”

State law further clarifies the limits: RCW 44.05.030 spells out that the commission—not the governor—draws new maps. Once the commission adopts a plan, it’s submitted to the Legislature, which can make only minor adjustments with a two-thirds vote. And the governor? He has no veto power over the maps.

Ferguson couldn’t “commit to responsive redistricting” if he wanted to. It’s not his job. It’s not his power. And Seattle Indivisible should know that.

So what’s this really about? It appears to be data mining.

Is this about data mining?

To even access the phone script, Seattle Indivisible requires activists to hand over their full name, email address, and phone number. That information likely funnels straight into Indivisible’s national database, ensuring a flood of left-wing fundraising appeals and “urgent” email blasts. Their call-to-action page doesn’t offer an opt-out function to guarantee they’re not collecting your information.

The grift is obvious. Dress up a powerless demand as a “fight for democracy,” use it to juice email lists, then hammer the inboxes of unsuspecting activists with nonstop solicitations.

Meanwhile, the public gets misled into believing Ferguson could unilaterally redraw maps if Republicans “cheated.” He can’t. Only the Redistricting Commission can.

Seattle Indivisible isn’t just pushing junk law—they’re pushing junk activism. And it stinks of the same cynical politics they pretend to fight.

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