Proposal to Expand States and Supreme Court
Veteran Democratic strategist James Kerrville proposed on Thursday that Democrats consider adding two states to the union and expanding the Supreme Court in order to “save democracy.”
On a podcast episode, he suggested that the party should “unilaterally” make Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia states, while also increasing the number of Supreme Court justices to 13.
This idea follows a long-standing commentary urging party members to recognize the benefits available to them from the American public.
Kerrville emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting the GOP’s efforts to add five House seats in Texas before the midterm elections in 2026. He argued that if Democrats secure the White House and both chambers of Congress, a more proactive approach is essential.
“I’m a bit skeptical about isolating these ideas; I’ll tread carefully,” Kerrville remarked regarding his proposal.
“I can’t say this is the greatest idea ever. It feels like I’m opening Pandora’s box,” he continued, stressing that to truly protect democracy, comprehensive measures are necessary as we are far from achieving it.
However, increasing the number of justices in the Supreme Court is a complicated process, as the number has remained unchanged since 1865. Any change requires Congressional approval. Efforts to expand the court were introduced in 2021 and again in 2023 but both attempts failed to gain traction.
The discussion surrounding D.C. statehood remains a pressing issue in Washington. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), who acts as a district representative, can vote in committee but not on the floor. The same rules apply to Pablo Jose Hernandez (D), a resident of Puerto Rico.
Recent comments from President Trump regarding D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) and rising crime rates have sparked frustration among local leaders, who are pushing to maintain local governance rather than federal oversight.
According to the Home Rules Act, the president can oversee local operations, including the D.C. police, if “special conditions of urgency” arise. Following incidents involving former government officials, Trump suggested he would consider such an action.
“Yeah, crime is outrageous,” Trump remarked when asked about the possibility of federalizing a major city’s police force.
“We want a great, safe capital, and we are committed to that. Cleanliness and other factors are part of that,” he added.
