In the grand political theater of the United States, gerrymandering is a drama that’s never too far from the spotlight. With lofty speeches and campaigns promising fairness, it’s amusing to watch some states outdo themselves in creative district drawing. Since they often point fingers while selectively turning a blind eye to their own actions, Democrats make an amusing case study. California, under the direction of the ever-polarizing Governor Gavin Newsom, finds itself once again in the critique crosshairs, accused of effectively ignoring the voices of millions of its own constituents.
Now, while Newsom might be patting himself on the back for his political prowess, the Californian redistricting display isn’t quite the exercise in democracy he might have us believe. With a whopping 58% of voters checking the Democratic box, California is mysteriously graced with 83% Democratic representation. It’s almost as if there’s a bit of political magic at play. Texas, on the other hand, with its 56% leaning Republican electorate, has managed to elect 63% Republicans. Alas, not all districts can boast such coordination with their constituents’ desires.
Of course, the hilarity doesn’t stop at California’s borders. The state of Illinois joins the comical parade with its peculiar political acrobatics. Even with 54% of the state voting blue, they’ve matched it to a staggering 82% of Democratic representation. It’s almost as if they misplaced their mathematical desires for political gain. But, move over California and Illinois: Massachusetts seems to have bundled its tunnel vision into an art form. Despite around 35% of its voters identifying with the Republican camp, it somehow remains barren of any Republican congressional representatives. It’s enough to make one wonder if fairness was invited to the Massachusetts redistricting party.
Meanwhile, Texas appears to be the black sheep—or perhaps the lone star—in this colorful mix, as even when adjusting their maps, they still haven’t cut out Democrats as completely as California and company have done to Republicans. Perhaps the Texas Milam cheese would prove more appealing if they aimed for a nice, round 100% control. But alas, those pesky Democrats have 14 of 38 seats, a fact that doesn’t quite align with our new trend of political exclusion.
It seems to be a classic tale of ‘Do as I say, not as I do.’ Under Newsom, there’s an ambitious push to take California’s already skewed political landscape and apply an even heavier Democratic filter over it. One might think Night Court was drafting the districts, given the questionable representation. This theatrical exercise is spun as “fairness,” yet it magically shifts balance until Democrats don’t just hold a majority—they eliminate opposition. It’s a curious interpretation of representation that would be funny if it weren’t so appalling.
