The renewal meant that the Justice Department could continue to insist on districting maps that were carefully racially gerrymandered to elect black and Hispanic candidates . Abigail Adams : There were fears ethnic politics would fade after Obama 's election . She says nomination of Sonia Sotomayor rekindled racial and ethnic debate . Thernstrom : Two pending Supreme Court cases also raise ethnic politics issues .
Abigail Adams : There were fears ethnic politics would fade after Obama 's election . She says nomination of Sonia Sotomayor rekindled racial and ethnic debate . Thernstrom : Two pending Supreme Court cases also raise ethnic politics issues .