Aimee walks into her office after a floor vote.
Aimee: Any news while I was preoccupied?
Denise: We’re still waiting.
Aimee: I’ve had minimal luck on my front, as well.
Denise: It feels like people like gerrymandering more than they like to admit.
Aimee: No, politicians do. Easy to run on banning it when there’s no realistic chance of it happening, harder to do it when a ban would blow up your party’s plan to net seats in the midterms.
Denise: Well, our party did start it.
Aimee: Sure.
Denise: They did.
Aimee: I know, I just don’t like admitting it. It gets harder and harder each day to remain a member of this party so as it is! It’s not like they even like me!
Denise: Have you considered leaving?
Aimee: Never! I’m loyal to a fault.
Denise: You know, it would sure help with re-election. Even just -
Aimee: I am the Senate Republican conference chair!
Denise: Yeah, that’s not gonna help with re-election.
Aimee: I think people are aware of it at this point.
Denise: All right, you’re staying a Republican. In the meantime, we just wait to see if the Supreme Court agrees to take Washington’s appeal.
Aimee: I don’t think they will. It’s 5-4 in our favor.
Denise: The Appeals Court was pretty definitive in their ruling, they blocked the map on the grounds of being an “affront to democracy.” I wouldn’t fret if I were you.
Aimee: It’s just… we have so little time to block this. When is SCOTUS’s deadline to announce whether they’re taking the case or not?
Denise: Next Friday, but decisions some cases are expected today.
Aimee: And what happens if they do take it on?
Denise: It throws the midterms into chaos.
Aimee: I’d argue they’re already in chaos, no?
Denise: Even more chaos.
Aimee: That would be such a joy.
Denise: I would expect that it sort of delays the plans any potential candidates have, at least. The Supreme Court will issue any rulings in June or July, so anyone serious would likely wait until then to declare a candidacy.
Aimee: If only the primary were earlier, we could’ve maybe had it delayed.
Denise: It’s still possible. It all depends on what Washington wants to do.
Aimee: They seem intent on gerrymandering the state to all hell.
Denise: Yeah, they do. But we’re going to stop them!
Aimee: Oh, I’m sure.
There’s a knock on the door.
Denise: Do we think that’s the Supreme Court?
Aimee: I’m gonna bet no.
Denise: Come on in!
Geraldine: Aimee, I want to talk. There’s been a wrinkle in your plan.
Aimee: What plan?
Geraldine: Your bill.
Aimee: Oh, right, that.
Geraldine: Georgia has announced retaliatory redistricting that’ll knock the Democrats down to only one seat in the state.
Aimee: Georgia? How are they doing that? It’s almost April!
Geraldine: Well, they only found out about Washington’s plans once Gladys Knight hopped on the midnight train and told them.
Aimee: Is that how they get their news there?
Geraldine: It’s the only explanation I have for this taking so long! Anyway, I worry this is going to sway some Republicans away from you.
Aimee: I don’t have any with me besides Lynette and Alec, and I’m pretty much their cult leader.
Geraldine: I want to back it. I was planning on pitching the idea at the conference meeting tomorrow, after I spent days pondering it. Now, though, I don’t know if anyone will be open to hearing me out on it.
Aimee: Shocker, something to make my life more difficult.
Geraldine: Here’s my concern: the map from Georgia is dreadful. So many districts that Delphy won by less than ten points. It’s a major risk in a midterm year. We could end up losing multiple seats that we already held going into the election, including ones that weren’t even going to be close. Obviously, the House is not my area of expertise, but I see this going poorly. We will regret that map, and I think if we explain it in a way that convinces them that gerrymandering’s a fool’s errand that’ll hurt us in the long run, we can get them on our side.
Aimee: I really appreciate you taking this on with me.
Geraldine: It’s wrong, and not just because it might hurt our side of the aisle. The people deserve the ultimate say in choosing their representatives, and every state’s working overtime to deny them that chance. Rubs me the wrong way.
Aimee: I’m glad to have an ally in this besides Lynette. You know, people don’t take her seriously.
Geraldine: Probably because she spends half the time during our meetings huffing Sharpies.
Aimee: She only did that the one time, and who among us hasn’t been entranced by their scent?
Geraldine: I can’t recall ever sticking one up my nose.
Aimee: Well, I haven’t done that. But as a kid, you know, you do silly things and sniff odd things. I used to chew erasers.
Geraldine: She does it as a sixty year old woman, dear.
Aimee: But she’s the daughter of a powerful politician, we all know they’re emotionally stunted.
Geraldine: You do have a point there.
Later that day…
Aimee: I had such a great day at work!
Doug: I never hear that! What happened?
Aimee: I’m winning people over.
Victoria: Oh my gosh, it only took three years, but it’s finally happened!
Aimee: I didn’t mean as a person. I think plenty of people in the Senate have liked me for a long time!
Victoria: Oh, of course!
Aimee: Geraldine is on my side with my anti-gerrymandering bill. We’re another step closer to ensuring fair districts across America.
Victoria: That’s wonderful.
Aimee: There is a snag in the plan…
Doug: Of course.
Aimee: Georgia is planning to redistrict, and that might sway Republicans away from voting for the bill. And I do need six Republicans on top of all the Democrats. But the map they released is terrible and Geraldine and I plan to lay that out tomorrow at the conference meeting. It’s important that this is passed. Not just to save Carolyn and Doug’s seats, but because the American people deserve fair representation.
Victoria: I agree, as much as I do love a Washington with zero Republicans representing it.
Doug: Do you realize what you just said?
Victoria: Unfortunately, I do.
Aimee: Lovely chat.
The next day…
Geraldine: Aimee, we’ve got a problem.
Aimee: Oh boy.
Geraldine: Greg won’t give me time to talk about the gerrymandering bill at today’s meeting. He said it’s “not the party’s concern.”
Aimee: See, that pisses me off. It’s like he doesn’t care we’re about to get wiped off the map. We roll over and let Washington do a 10-0 map, that’s gonna be replicated in every Democrat-run state. Look for Michigan, California, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Maine, Virginia… I’m sure plenty of others I can’t think of at the moment to all redistrict. We’ll lose twenty seats, we’d be dragged even further into the redistricting war. Who wants that?
Geraldine: Greg, apparently.
Aimee: Well, he just wants a House seat in Indiana for his son. Washington gives them a reason to retaliate and gerrymander, so they draw the first district to the red, and he can run.
Geraldine: The corruption in this city just sickens me. This is not how it’s supposed to be.
Aimee: I’m calling him out.
Geraldine: Oh boy.
Aimee: It’s okay! I’ll get it straightened out.
Geraldine: Don’t implicate me in this, please.
Aimee: Hey, Greg!
Greg: Aimee! Glad to see you made it!
Aimee: Are you glad?
Greg: Why would I not be?
Aimee: You’re trying to kill my gerrymandering ban. I’ve been told by… sources that you won’t be giving time to discuss the bill at today’s meeting.
Greg: I don’t know why Geraldine’s striving up trouble, but we really just don’t have time to discuss this. With so many issues -
Aimee: Now you’re BSing me. Do you think I’m dumb?
Greg: You’re brilliant. Your bill is great. It’s just not a top Republican policy goal. We have to focus on helping the president, he desperately needs us. It’s not like the Democrats are interested in helping him.
Aimee: We can help him by passing legislation to protect our seats in blue states. If Washington gets away with this, which is always possible because the Supreme Court has yet to weigh in, then many other states will replicate what they’re doing. And then we’re in much worse shape. We have to take a moral stand on this. Most Democrats are willing to do so. I haven’t spoken to one yet who is a firm no, and only Kylie Sylvan really showed any hesitation at all.
Greg: I’ll keep it in my mind. Just let me get to my priorities first, and then maybe you and Geraldine can speak your piece.
Aimee: Thank you. I appreciate your consideration.
Greg: I just hope you know, I make no promises it’ll come up. It’s just not a firm no.
Later that day…
Denise: Aimee, Carolyn’s here, and you look depressed.
Carolyn: I feel like she has bad news for me.
Aimee: It’s not great, Carolyn. Greg gave me no time to discuss the bill today. He snaked me. We’re gonna just have to. Speak to people ourselves. Olivia, Sharon, Liza, Persephone, all the people I have decent relationships that might be on my side.
Lynette: Hey, Aimee! I hope I’m not interrupting.
Carolyn: You are, but what else is new?
Lynette: Carolyn! Gosh, it’s so great to see you here! Just like old times!
Carolyn: For now. I’m probably about to get kicked out on my ass in November.
Lynette: Keep up the faith.
Denise: The Supreme Court might not take up the case, and then, the appeals court ruling will stand. That would keep your current district in place.
Carolyn: I’d lose that, too. But it would be fairer!
Lynette: Actually, SCOTUS is what I’m here to talk about! They’re going to take on the case.
Aimee: Why must I suffer so?
Lynette: I’m sorry, Aimee.
Aimee: Lynette, can you do me a favor?
Lynette: Anything!
Aimee: If you and Alec and maybe Geraldine could go talk to other Republican senators and get the ball rolling on this anti-gerrymandering bill, that’d be great. I’m going to be a bit preoccupied with this lawsuit that’s going to the Supreme Court now, apparently.
Denise: You know, if they rule against it, it could permanently ban mid-decade redistricting. Maybe that’s why they’re taking it up, to put their foot down once and for all.
Aimee: You are quote the optimist.
Denise: Someone has to be!
Lynette: No one worry. It’s all going to be okay.
Denise: Okay, now I’m getting a bit pessimistic.
That weekend…
Cherie: I just can’t believe my daughter is going to go before the Supreme Court!
Ernesto: I always figured Kimmy would. Not as a lawyer, just because she did something stupid.
Kimmy: The Supreme Court’s not a criminal court, dad.
Ernesto: I just refuse to put anything past you.
Aimee: I’m not going to be arguing anything before the court. I probably won’t even be there. It’s just that the case based on my lawsuit will be reviewed by the court. Like Kimmy said, it’s not a criminal court. It doesn’t work like you see in Law & Order.
Cherie: I can’t like, that’s a little disappointing.
Aimee: I know, I wanted to stare them all down to try and win them over to my side.
Kimmy: Do you think the Supreme Court works like it’s the roundtable on The Traitors?
Aimee: I’m not a simpleton, Kimmy. I know how the Supreme Court works. Sometimes, we have to make jokes. I’m a big on edge. This is my gambit, my legacy on the line. I could be the woman who stopped gerrymandering.
Kimmy: Or the woman who makes it ten times worse!
Ernesto: I don’t think we need to focus so heavily not he possible negative outcomes.
Kimmy: I’m just saying… I hope it doesn’t backfire!
Victoria: I feel so conflicted on this. I know what’s morally right… but Spokane and Yakima in blue districts brings a tear to my eye.
Cherie: We’re aware. You haven’t stopped talking about it.
Several weeks later…
Alec: So, Gwen, how do you think it went?
Aimee: I still don’t understand how she was the only one that could get tickets to the hearing. It’s my lawsuit, for Christ’s sake!
Gwen: I’m the one with the connections, though. Never forget that!
Lynette: Just tell us how it went! I can’t take it any longer!
Gwen: The four liberals are definitely on your side. Three conservatives seem unconvinced. DeFazio seems sympathetic to you. McKellar-Carvey is on the fence but she seems to be leaning your way, too. But I’m no mind reader. They just seemed more convinced by your attorney than the idiot on the other side.
Alec: Excellent news!
Aimee: I don’t want to let myself hope too much, but that really is a relief. I wish I could’ve seen it! My name might always be attached to THE case that outlaws mid-decade redistricting.
Denise: Well, I have other news.
Aimee: God, what.
Lynette: Who’s died?
Alec: You always say that! It’s creepy!
Lynette: I can’t help how my brain works!
Alec: If only you could.
Denise: Persephone Chronopoulos is going to vote for the bill. You have sixty-seven votes. And the House is also very much on board.
Aimee: Finally, everything’s going my way.
Gwen: Please don’t tempt fate. Those justices haven’t written their opinions yet.
Aimee: Very true. Everything seems to be going my way. At long last.
Denise: Let's hope that continues!
What did you think of the season finale of Evergreen Aimee? Let us know in the comments and make sure to read the series premiere of Foul Play next week!
