DOJ Sues PA City, Says Election System Is Biased Against Hispanics

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against Hazleton, Pennsylvania, alleging the city’s “at-large” voting system for city council elections discriminates against Hispanics.

The Suit: The DOJ’s complaint claims electing council members citywide instead of by district “results in Hispanic citizens not having an equal opportunity to participate in the political process.” The suit also says, “Spanish speakers who are limited-English-proficient, continue to suffer from the effects of discrimination” in Hazleton and that “white voters in Hazleton cast their ballots sufficiently as a bloc to defeat every Hispanic-preferred Hispanic candidate.” The DOJ argues the city is violating the federal Voting Rights Act and wants it to develop a new voting system.

Demographics and Voting History: Hazleton is 63% Hispanic according to the 2020 census, up from around 5% in 2000. In 2016, Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in Hazelton by 5%, and in 2024, he defeated Kamala Harris by 25%. In 2023, Hazleton’s Republican Mayor Jeff Cusat defeated the Democratic candidate, Vianney Castro, 61% to 28%. Hazleton’s voting-age population of 17,000 is roughly 53% white and 43% Hispanic.

Pushback: Cusat and City Council President Jim Perry said in a statement that the current system “gives equal voting rights to all citizens regardless of their race or gender.” They also said, “The City has been working with the DOJ in good faith for the last several weeks to address their concerns, however, it appears that suit was hurriedly filed this past Tuesday night before any meaningful discussions could take place.”

How The Media Covered It: The story was not widely covered. The Daily Caller (Right bias) highlighted perspectives critical of the DOJ’s suit, and the Associated Press (Left bias) included a quote from a DOJ attorney. Daily Caller included the 2023 mayoral election results, while AP included the racial breakdowns of Hazleton’s voting-age population.