Once every 20 years, two major events converge to reshape our political landscape for a generation.
That time has arrived. In the next 18 months, we'll elect more than three-quarters of the governors. Then -- despite Michele Bachmann's objections -- we'll take the national census and use the data to draw new Congressional districts.
Governors have a critical say in redistricting -- and we know that Republicans won't hesitate to abuse that power. You don't have to look any further than Tom DeLay and Texas in 2003. But they're not ashamed of their tactics. Just the opposite. The Republican Governors Association publicly claims that their longed-for comeback will begin with governors, who will gerrymander 25 or 30 seats back into GOP control.
So for those of you in California, New York and Florida who wonder why you should care about governors' races in Nevada, Georgia and Texas, it's simple. Those states will all pick up Congressional seats in 2012.
And if you care about health reform, if you care about economic policies that help middle-class and poor families instead of the rich, if you care about global warming -- and if you care about those issues for the next 20 years -- you need governors who will stop Republicans from taking Congressional seats because they're better at drawing maps than winning fair elections.
The Democratic Governors Association is the only organization dedicated solely to electing governors who will ensure a fair redistricting process. Visit us on Facebook, Twitter and at our web site to get involved and stay up to date. And I'll periodically update you here at Huffington Post to share our latest perspective on the races.