Carville Calls on Dems to Pack Supreme Court, Create New Blue States Next Time They Win Power to "Save Democracy"

**Carville Calls for Permanent Democrat Power to “Save Democracy”**

Democratic strategist James Carville has called on his party to seize power through sweeping structural changes if they regain control of Washington. He says radical steps are now necessary to preserve democracy, even if they appear authoritarian.

Key Facts:

James Carville urged Democrats to take aggressive steps to lock in power if they win big in 2028.
Proposals include statehood for Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., and expanding the Supreme Court to 13 justices.
Carville said he previously opposed these ideas, but now views them as essential.
He claimed such moves are needed to “save democracy” in the era of Donald Trump.
Carville warned these steps should be taken immediately after Democrats win—not necessarily discussed during campaigns.

The Rest of The Story:

James Carville, a longtime Democratic Party strategist, argued this week that Democrats must be ready to use raw political power to entrench their control of the federal government. Speaking candidly, Carville said that once Democrats win back the presidency and both chambers of Congress, they must act swiftly and decisively.

“They are just going to have to unilaterally add Puerto Rico and District of Columbia states,” Carville said, while also urging expansion of the Supreme Court to 13 justices. He admitted that these were once ideas he would have rejected: “Any of those things in isolation I would be skeptical about… you’re opening Pandora’s Box.”

Carville now believes restraint is no longer an option. His rationale? The threat posed by former President Donald Trump. “If you want to save democracy, I think you got to do all of those things,” he declared, portraying the U.S. system as fundamentally flawed and moving away from democratic norms.

He acknowledged the risk of backlash if Democrats campaign on these ideas openly, but emphasized that they should be top priorities after taking office. “I don’t know if that’s something they should talk about during the campaign,” he said, “but it should be a day one priority.”

Carville framed the power grabs as a necessary defense of democracy, even while advocating actions that would shift the constitutional balance of power permanently in favor of one party.

James Carville just became the latest Democrat to call for packing the Supreme Court and to create new blue states once Democrats retake power…https://t.co/TgLMU6Zb8i

— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) August 7, 2025

Commentary:

James Carville’s remarks peel back the curtain on what many suspect has been the left’s long-term strategy: win once, and never lose again. He isn’t just proposing policy changes—he’s advocating a full-scale remapping of the American system to ensure Democrats can rule without interruption.

Adding Puerto Rico and D.C. as states would almost certainly bring four new Democratic senators. Packing the Supreme Court would tip the judiciary in their favor for decades. These are not defensive measures—they are weapons of permanent dominance.

Carville tries to frame it as saving democracy, but what he’s really doing is redefining it. Democracy is not about one party holding permanent power. It’s about peaceful transitions and fair representation. What Carville proposes would end that balance. It’s not preserving democracy—it’s bypassing it.

This is exactly what the Democratic Party has accused Republicans—and especially Donald Trump—of planning. Yet here is one of their top strategists explicitly outlining how they would rig the system, should they get the chance. Carville admits the proposals are risky and historically extreme, but says they’re now necessary. That alone should alarm every voter.

In truth, these moves would destroy the republic’s framework. Elevating two left-leaning jurisdictions to statehood purely for Senate seats? Expanding the Supreme Court to silence opposing legal views? That’s not democracy. That’s tyranny with a friendly logo.

The most revealing part of Carville’s pitch is that he doesn’t think voters need to know beforehand. He suggests keeping these plans quiet until after the election. Voters are a means to an end—not partners in governance.

Carville may think he’s helping his party win. But in doing so, he’s told the public exactly why they must not let it. The Democrats don’t just want to win an election—they want to end elections as we know them.

The Bottom Line:

James Carville is calling on Democrats to take radical, irreversible steps to lock in power under the guise of “saving democracy.” His plan involves reshaping Congress and the Supreme Court in a way that would permanently favor his party. This isn’t about reform—it’s about control. Voters should see it for what it is: a warning, not a roadmap.