Sen. Rand Paul says redistricting efforts could lead to political violence

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., expressed concerns over mid-decade redistricting, saying that he believed it could eventually lead to increased political violence.

WASHINGTON — Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said Sunday that he believes mid-decade redistricting is a “mistake” by both parties that could eventually lead to more political violence.

“I think that it’s going to lead to more civil tension and possibly more violence in our country,” he said on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” casting blame on both parties for redrawing maps to boost their prospects in next year’s midterm elections.

Paul pointed to how members of the minority party could feel if politicians redraw districts to increase the majority party’s power.

“Like in my state, we’re a very Republican state, but we have one Democrat area in Louisville and we have a Democrat congressman. We could carve up Louisville and get rid of that one congressman,” he said. “But how does that make Democrats feel? I think it makes them feel like they’re not represented.”

Asked again to clarify if he believed redistricting pushes could lead to political violence, Paul told “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker, “I think there is the potential that when people have no representation, that they feel disenfranchised, that it can lead and might lead to violence in our country.”