I am suggesting that Democrats use several lines of attack on the gerrymandering: the Republicans are cheating (which angers voters); they are targeting two Latino incumbents; they are taking Latino voters for granted. Democrats should also talk about the economic issues that voters care about (and which the Dems ignored in 2024) and tell voters how their proposals will help voters. The Dems should focus their time and money on the specific Congressional races in Texas and other states.
In my view and that of Mike Madrid and Chuck Rocha, it would be a waste of resources to campaign for "temporary" changes to map-drawing systems in Calfornia and other states. As I highlighted, Rocha estimates the Dems might pick up only one more seat in CA if they rejiggered the maps.
Your argument is well made and I don’t disagree with working several fronts. One would hope the “Democrats can walk and chew gum at the same time.
I think I just have come to believe-at some point-circumstances dictate that you get down in the gutter with your opponent.
I’m a nobody that no one’s ever heard of. Good for you that you have names supporting you.
It appears Newsom thinks he can get 5. I haven’t been a huge Newsom fan, but he appears to be someone with the ability to actually make a difference and who is willing to try to do so.
I also have less and less faith in the voter, particularly one who hasn’t yet been able to see Trump/this administration for what he/it is. This includes Latino voters.
We’ll likely never know who’s got the best argument. I am just thinking I’d rather go down swinging.
Was this written about 20 years ago? Why should only one party be handicapped by following convention? Republicans have their eyes on nearly 40 additional gerrymandered seats in Congress. Their goal is one party rule. Finally, finally democrats have shown some courage and, as much as I might not like it, I completely support it. Democrats have made it clear they want to allow citizens, not politicians to draw congressional maps. Republicans have shown no inclination to allow that. This might be the only way to make Republicans change their minds. When they go low, we need to go low with them. We are in a war and it's going to be bloody. Democrats need to begin behaving accordingly and prepare themselves for the street fight. We are not victims.
Pritzker is Governor of Illinois, not Ohio. I’ll try not to be offended by that error.
You outlined a lot of excellent reasons to not gerrymander in retaliation.
Most importantly is that in this potentially excellent midterm environment, Democrats need to win Senate seats and/or Governor’s mansions in at least some of the stretch states of Texas, Iowa, Florida, Ohio, South Carolina, Alaska, and Montana. Winning there will take convincing a broad coalition of voters to cast ballots your way and opposition to gerrymandering might be more widespread than any other issue.
Thanks for pointing out the error, which I have corrected. I know that Pritzker is governor of Illinois and I did not mean to dis that great state. As you noted, the Democrats could do very well in the midterms if they play their cards right...bashing the Republicans for their sleazy tactics and Trump's horrible policies and telling voters how Democratic candidates will help them on economic issues.
Conor, I was glad that you pointed out my mistake, seriously. I think that one of the reasons why Trump is pulling out all the stops in Texas is that he is very worried about the midterms. He surrounded by sycophants who won’t give him bad news, but I assume that Trump looks at his poll numbers. They are not going in the right direction.
Sonny, thanks, I read your article with great interest. I agree that Democrats have gerrymandered several states, notably Illinois and Maryland, and they tried to gerrymander New York. Still, Democrats have kept the independent commission in CA, which I consider the gold standard, and they copied that approach in Michigan and Colorado. I recognize that they benefited from the reform in MI but it was still the right thing to do. Like you, I am very opposed to Newsom's proposal to suspend the independent commission in CA.
One other point: many Republican politicians try to suppress minority voters, by conducting purges of voting rolls, limiting voting by mail etc as well as by gerrymanders. Democrats do not do that.
It seems a bit naive to think that just pointing out how bad the rethugs are will get the job done.
I think it’s way past that point.
Go high when they go low might work in a different world. Not here, not now.
We’re on the cusp of armed conflict-tit for tat gerrymandering is a measured response.
I am suggesting that Democrats use several lines of attack on the gerrymandering: the Republicans are cheating (which angers voters); they are targeting two Latino incumbents; they are taking Latino voters for granted. Democrats should also talk about the economic issues that voters care about (and which the Dems ignored in 2024) and tell voters how their proposals will help voters. The Dems should focus their time and money on the specific Congressional races in Texas and other states.
In my view and that of Mike Madrid and Chuck Rocha, it would be a waste of resources to campaign for "temporary" changes to map-drawing systems in Calfornia and other states. As I highlighted, Rocha estimates the Dems might pick up only one more seat in CA if they rejiggered the maps.
Your argument is well made and I don’t disagree with working several fronts. One would hope the “Democrats can walk and chew gum at the same time.
I think I just have come to believe-at some point-circumstances dictate that you get down in the gutter with your opponent.
I’m a nobody that no one’s ever heard of. Good for you that you have names supporting you.
It appears Newsom thinks he can get 5. I haven’t been a huge Newsom fan, but he appears to be someone with the ability to actually make a difference and who is willing to try to do so.
I also have less and less faith in the voter, particularly one who hasn’t yet been able to see Trump/this administration for what he/it is. This includes Latino voters.
We’ll likely never know who’s got the best argument. I am just thinking I’d rather go down swinging.
Was this written about 20 years ago? Why should only one party be handicapped by following convention? Republicans have their eyes on nearly 40 additional gerrymandered seats in Congress. Their goal is one party rule. Finally, finally democrats have shown some courage and, as much as I might not like it, I completely support it. Democrats have made it clear they want to allow citizens, not politicians to draw congressional maps. Republicans have shown no inclination to allow that. This might be the only way to make Republicans change their minds. When they go low, we need to go low with them. We are in a war and it's going to be bloody. Democrats need to begin behaving accordingly and prepare themselves for the street fight. We are not victims.
No.. It’s time for a real fix to the system: https://cliffwilliams.substack.com/p/where-are-the-adults-gerrymandering?r=237mn9
The Democrats should not sink to the Republicans' level. We're supposed to be better than that!
Pritzker is Governor of Illinois, not Ohio. I’ll try not to be offended by that error.
You outlined a lot of excellent reasons to not gerrymander in retaliation.
Most importantly is that in this potentially excellent midterm environment, Democrats need to win Senate seats and/or Governor’s mansions in at least some of the stretch states of Texas, Iowa, Florida, Ohio, South Carolina, Alaska, and Montana. Winning there will take convincing a broad coalition of voters to cast ballots your way and opposition to gerrymandering might be more widespread than any other issue.
Thanks for pointing out the error, which I have corrected. I know that Pritzker is governor of Illinois and I did not mean to dis that great state. As you noted, the Democrats could do very well in the midterms if they play their cards right...bashing the Republicans for their sleazy tactics and Trump's horrible policies and telling voters how Democratic candidates will help them on economic issues.
I was just kidding😁
If we don’t do well in the midterms we have bigger problems than a few gerrymandered seats.
Conor, I was glad that you pointed out my mistake, seriously. I think that one of the reasons why Trump is pulling out all the stops in Texas is that he is very worried about the midterms. He surrounded by sycophants who won’t give him bad news, but I assume that Trump looks at his poll numbers. They are not going in the right direction.
Agreed.
Here are my thoughts on it.
https://open.substack.com/pub/cgchi1871/p/stealing-5-house-seats-arent-enough?r=318c7m&utm_medium=ios
That is already happening and I have the statistics. If interested, please get back to me. You might want to read this I posted today”
https://hiddentruthsbysunny.substack.com/p/if-its-only-gerrymandering-when-they?r=zst24
Sonny, thanks, I read your article with great interest. I agree that Democrats have gerrymandered several states, notably Illinois and Maryland, and they tried to gerrymander New York. Still, Democrats have kept the independent commission in CA, which I consider the gold standard, and they copied that approach in Michigan and Colorado. I recognize that they benefited from the reform in MI but it was still the right thing to do. Like you, I am very opposed to Newsom's proposal to suspend the independent commission in CA.
One other point: many Republican politicians try to suppress minority voters, by conducting purges of voting rolls, limiting voting by mail etc as well as by gerrymanders. Democrats do not do that.
Great analysis. Thanks.
Sara, thanks, I hope that cooler heads will prevail and the Democrats focus their resources on winning the races based on the economic issues. Ryan
Great article as always! I agree completely!
Alix, thanks very much. Please spread the word so we can try to stop this nonsense. Ryan