What is Gerrymandering? How has Gerrymandering influenced and continues to influence State elections

What is gerrymandering? Gerrymandering is a term that describes the deliberate rearrangement of the boundaries of congressional districts to influence the outcome of elections Where did gerrymandering come from? The original gerrymander was created in 1812 by Massachusetts’s governor Elbridge Gerry, who crafted a district for political purposes that looked like a salamander

What is the purpose of gerrymandering? The purpose of gerrymandering is to either concentrate opposition votes into a few districts to gain more seats for the majority in surrounding districts (called packing), or to diffuse minority strength across many districts (called dilution). How has Congress regulated redistricting? In 1967, Congress passed a law requiring all U.S. representatives to be elected from single member districts—the system we use today. All other redistricting regulations come from the states or the courts

What political party(s) are responsible for gerrymandering? Actually all. Both the Democrats and Republicans, and generally anyone else in power at the time, has tried to set up the Congressional Districts in their states to favor a particular political party. American political history has demonstrated how irregular district lines were drawn with the Republicans gouging the Democrats where the GOP controlled the state legislature, and the Democrats doing the same thing to the Republicans where they held control.

Gerrymandering and Equal Population In 1964, a Supreme Court ruling in the Wesberry v. Sanders, upheld that the Constitution demands that the States draw Congressional Districts of substantially equal population. The Court upheld a belief “one person, on vote”.

Gerrymandering by Race Gerrymandering based solely on RACE was found to be a violation of the 15th Amendment, Gomillion v. Lightfoot 1960. So called “majority-minority districts” a district in which a racial minority group or groups comprise a majority of the district's total population  Voting Right Act of 1965 mandates that electoral district lines cannot be drawn in such a manner as to "improperly dilute minorities' voting power."

Gerrymandering Today Gerrymandering occurs frequently today but it is considered part of American “politics” by the Republicans and Democrats. States that allow the Legislative Body to re-draw or re-district the Congressional Districts are the “Usual Suspects” when it comes to Gerrymandering. This method allows the majority political party (those in charge) to redistrict to their benefit. While the minority political party has little to no say in the matter. Pennsylvania is a state that allows the Legislative Body to redistrict.

New Jersey’s Independent Commission The State of New Jersey does not allow the Legislative Body to redistrict, instead they utilize an Independent Commission. The commission is setup equally, representing both political parties and has a consensual outsider who acts as a “tie breaker” during votes. The commission works on “Supermajority” (2/3rds or greater) rather than Simple or Majority rule (51% or better) when voting is called for.

Legislative Body vs. Commission System Legislative Body (in general) State Legislators draw the State District (State Representatives) lines and Congressional District Lines. Some States require the approval of the Governor or he may use his VETO power. 37 States follow this system to draw their own State District lines. While 42 States use the system to draw their Congressional District lines. Commission System (in general) The Commission system varies in each State but most require members of the commissions to neither be legislators nor public officials. Each state also bans commissioners from running for office in the districts they draw.

Pennsylvania Congressional District Maps 2000-2009 and 2010-2019

Gerrymandering The Good the Bad the Ugly REMEMBER: Gerrymandering has been done by BOTH Republicans and Democrats! The preceding slides represent how one party went too far in Pennsylvania in the 2000 - 2009 and 2010 -2019 reapportionment. There are many examples of extreme Gerrymandering that have been challenged in the courts.

PA Supreme Court Ruling 1/22/2018 Pennsylvania’s congressional map is widely viewed as among the nation’s most gerrymandered. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that the state’s congressional map went so far to benefit Republicans that it “clearly, plainly and palpably” violated the state constitution. Pennsylvania has been described as one of the worst gerrymandered states in the country, and analyses** have found the map is responsible for at least three additional GOP seats in Congress. Republicans controlled the redistricting process in 2010 and drew the map to give them a considerable advantage. In the 2012, 2014 and 2016 elections they won 13 of the state’s 18 congressional seats, despite just winning about 50 percent of the vote. **Brennan Center for Justice Twenty Years. Extreme Maps by Laura Royden and Michael Li

Pennsylvanian Gerrymandering Philadelphia – Democratic Bastion

Pennsylvania’s 7th District’s metamorphic gerrymandering change.

PA Supreme Court Ruling 1/22/2018 The Congressional District plan, by court order, had to be redrawn by 2/9/18 and signed by Gov. Wolfe by 2/15/18. What will happen to the map and congressional district plan? The Supreme Court of the United States had decided not to over turn the PA Supreme Court ruling. The decision was based on the fact that the state of Pennsylvania’s Constitution was in question about Gerrymandering. On 2/26/2018, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania passed a district plan (next slide) that was considered and approved by Governor Tom Wolf. Next slide is the new Congressional District plan.

New District Plan established by PA Supreme Court

Gerrymandering does still occur! November 7th , 2012 Election results

Examples of Republican Gerrymandering 2012

Examples of Democratic Gerrymandering 2012

The Impact of Republican Gerrymandering per Democratic vote

Gerrymandering North Carolina Style North Carolina’s 12th District is an excellent example of Gerrymandering. The 12th District is not a political gerrymandering example but a racially gerrymandered example. The state tried to defend the district (along with the 1st a similar example) based on demographics, that it was the only way to draw the boundaries. The 12th and 1st have largely Black registered voters. How do African Americans usually vote?

State Representatives: 13 Republicans: 10 Democrats:3 North Carolina Congressional Districts 2010 to 2019 State Representatives: 13 Republicans: 10 Democrats:3 Districts 1, 4, and 12 are Democratic.

MARYLAND'S 3RD DISTRICT ("THE PRAYING MANTIS")

FLORIDA'S 5TH DISTRICT

ILLINOIS'S 4TH DISTRICT