One of Virginia’s proposed constitutional amendments – to be voted on this April – is to redistrict our congressional districts. Traditionally, redistricting occurred only at 10-year intervals, based on the federal census changing the number of representatives given to each state. Breaking the mold this year was Texas, which redistricted in a very gerrymandered way, with the expected result to be an additional five seats being held by Republicans (and five fewer seats held by Democrats.) Currently, Republicans hold 25 seats and Democrats hold 13 seats in Texas, even though almost half of its population in the most recent federal election voted as Democrats. If congressional seats were divided according to political party, we should see about 20 Republican seats and 18 Democrat seats in Texas. This shows the power of gerrymandering. Texas, already very far removed from having proportional representation (representation proportional to the beliefs of the voters), is getting worse. In response to Texas, a number of other states are moving to gerrymander their districts in a way that helps their majority party. On the Republican side, North Carolina and Missouri have already passed new gerrymandered maps with Ohio and Utah not far behind. On the Democrat side are California, Maryland and Virginia.
What does this mean to Virginia? Why should we care and why should we change our own congressional districts? Gerrymandering moves government away from people having equal representation in government. For example, if three districts each had about 1000 Democrats and 1000 Republicans, expected would be competitive elections with the winners most likely being the best candidates. Gerrymandering the districts so that one district had 2000 Democrats and the other two each had 1500 Republicans and 500 Democrats would surely result in Republicans always winning in two districts and Democrats always winning in the other. And the districts would not be competitive – providing little need to have the best possible candidates. And half of the people would have two-thirds of the power – surely not a democratic outcome.
Gerrymandering results in more than a fair share of power for the dominant political party. Virginia, and California and Maryland, are trying to even the playing field across the nation in response to Texas and the other states recent gerrymandering. To be clear – gerrymandering is not fair – and no political party says it is fair. But Texas broke unwritten rules by gerrymandering between censuses, followed by several Republican led states and in response three Democratic led states are doing the same thing. Fairness was thrown out the window by Texas, and Virginia is hitting back. Personally, I think democracy would be best served if no state gerrymandered – that is the best way to ensure one person – one meaningful vote. But that didn’t happen, so Virginia’s response is the only way to begin to balance our national Congress based upon equal representation. Texas acted much as a bully in starting the fight to unfairly help one political party. No one likes a bully – and best is not to allow a bully to win. Hopefully everyone agrees, regardless of political party, that all of our citizens should have equal voting rights – which Virginia’s redistricting efforts would help ensure.
