Which party is guilty of gerrymandering more? The answer shouldn't surprise you

[Billy000]

Yeah it's republicans. Duh.

Gerrymanders Part 1 Busting the both-sides-do-it myth

There was serious gerrymandering in only one Democratic state: Illinois, for a total advantage of 1.7 seats. But there was serious gerrymandering in six Republican states, for a total advantage of 13.2 seats. Republicans tried hard to gerrymander themselves into a majority, but it turned out that two nonpartisan states (a commission in Arizona and a court in Texas) ended up producing 4.4 extra Democratic seats.

Bottom line: The net result is still fairly modest, thanks to the vagaries of nonpartisan redistricting. At the same time, the effect of partisan gerrymandering is larger than we thought. The sum of Democratic and Republican gerrymandering is a net Republican advantage of 11.5 seats. That's still not enough to say that the Republican House majority is solely due to gerrymandering, but it's close.

 

[Luddly Neddite]

No matter which side you're on, all Americans should be against cheating to get votes.

IMO

 

[RetiredGySgt]

Yeah it's republicans. Duh.

Gerrymanders Part 1 Busting the both-sides-do-it myth

There was serious gerrymandering in only one Democratic state: Illinois, for a total advantage of 1.7 seats. But there was serious gerrymandering in six Republican states, for a total advantage of 13.2 seats. Republicans tried hard to gerrymander themselves into a majority, but it turned out that two nonpartisan states (a commission in Arizona and a court in Texas) ended up producing 4.4 extra Democratic seats.

Bottom line: The net result is still fairly modest, thanks to the vagaries of nonpartisan redistricting. At the same time, the effect of partisan gerrymandering is larger than we thought. The sum of Democratic and Republican gerrymandering is a net Republican advantage of 11.5 seats. That's still not enough to say that the Republican House majority is solely due to gerrymandering, but it's close.

Now go back to the last census 2000 and see how many.

 

[HenryBHough]

Democrat Massachusetts Governor Gerry's invention not a source of party pride? Oh well, they'd drum Truman out these days for being insufficiently leftist.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

No matter which side you're on, all Americans should be against cheating to get votes.

IMO

Does that include making gerrymandered districts for a majority of a minority? My State has 2 Federally mandated gerrymandered districts one of which is the worst example of Gerrymandering out there.

 

[whitehall]

"Republicans tried hard to gerrymander themselves into the majority"? How is that possible? Only the majority party gets to set the gerrymandered districts. Gerrymandering only affects the House of representatives and the overwhelming republican majority can't honestly be blamed on gerrymandering. Senators are elected by the entire state regardless of congressional districts.

 

[S.J.]

Let me guess. You're searching for an explanation of why you got shellacked in the last election?

 

[Hossfly]

No matter which side you're on, all Americans should be against cheating to get votes.

IMO

Does that include making gerrymandered districts for a majority of a minority? My State has 2 Federally mandated gerrymandered districts one of which is the worst example of Gerrymandering out there.

Charlotte's districts look like a 20 legged octopus.

 

[blackhawk]

So gerrymandering is why Democrats lost the Senate? Whoops that does not apply to the Senate what's so funny is most on the right can admit when the Republicans get their ass kicked it's because they nominated poor candidates, ran bad campaigns, or that the people just stopped supporting their positions with a lot of the left it's gerrymandering, voter suppression, racism, sexism and any other excuse they can dream up for why they lose. For once just grow up man up and admit you lost because the public didn't support your policies.

 

[william the wie]

"Republicans tried hard to gerrymander themselves into the majority"? How is that possible? Only the majority party gets to set the gerrymandered districts. Gerrymandering only affects the House of representatives and the overwhelming republican majority can't honestly be blamed on gerrymandering. Senators are elected by the entire state regardless of congressional districts.

Got to disagree. The ability to gerrymander at the state, county and municipal level is key. The old D phrase "merely federal" has been forgotten by D operatives and it shows. To ride my old hobbyhorse in at least 30 states there is effectively no Democratic state party with any connection to the middle.