EDITORIAL: Partisan gerrymandering erodes democracy
State-by-state battles over gerrymandered congressional districts again leave us grateful for Washington's system. While naked partisanship roils elections across the country, our state remains wedded to the belief that democracy is more important than victory.
The latest example can be found in Virginia, where Democrats have succeeded in redrawing congressional districts in their favor. A state referendum passed Tuesday by approximately 3 percentage points, and experts say it could flip as many as four seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
That is significant with Republicans holding a slim House majority heading into the November midterms. And it is significant as American democracy continues to erode.
Virginia has joined Texas, California, Utah, Ohio, North Carolina, Missouri and possibly Florida (where action is pending) in chasing partisan goals while attempting to swing control of the House. And while both parties have played a role at the state level, make no mistake: This is a result of President Donald Trump's authoritarian leanings and his disregard for political and constitutional norms.
Trump launched the gerrymandering shenanigans last year by urging Texas legislators to redraw their congressional map in an unusual mid-decade action. Lawmakers complied, approving changes that are expected to flip five seats to Republicans. But they also launched countermeasures in Democratic-run states.
Following the Virginia vote, Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., the House Democratic leader, said: "While many expected Democrats to roll over and play dead, we did the opposite. Democrats did not step back. We fought back. When they go low, we hit back hard." Kelly Hall - executive director of the Fairness Project, which supported the measure - framed the issue by saying, "We cannot bring a stick to a knife fight."
Gerrymandering is the drawing of districts designed to disenfranchise one particular party or, in some cases, an ethnic group. By either packing opponents into a handful of districts or spreading them out in small numbers among many districts, partisans can skew election results.
Imagine an area with 25 voters who lean Republican and 25 who lean Democratic. Let's say those voters will select five representatives. By packing one district with 10 voters of similar persuasion, the other four districts can all support the party that drew the map. The result is a 4-1 advantage in terms of representation, even though the total votes are equal.
There is nothing new about gerrymandering in American politics; the phrase itself reportedly dates to 1812, when Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry approved an election district said to look like a salamander. But with a U.S. Supreme Court that has largely abdicated its role of election oversight, the practice has become more blatant.
Washington is an exception. The bipartisan four-person Washington Redistricting Commission, established with a 1983 amendment to the state Constitution, is tasked each 10 years with using Census data to draw congressional and legislative maps.
The system is imperfect. This decade's commission missed deadlines after struggling to reach agreement. And critics say the bipartisan system results in both parties trying to protect safe districts while creating few competitive races.
Yet, it is preferable to having a partisan legislature draw the maps. After all, as pundits say, voters should choose their representatives - not the other way around.
Unlock all stories. Stay informed.
Starting at just $1.99/week
Become a subscriber and get unlimited access to every story, plus our ePaper and app for seamless reading anywhere. Stay informed, support local journalism, and stay connected to your community.
Subscribe today
Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.