Political shenanigans often increase during the summer. To no surprise, the summer of 2025 has produced many examples. One that has garnered significant attention focuses on the legal reassignment of congressional districts in Texas. For sundry reasons, the Texas Republican Party would like to apportion its districts to reflect the hold the GOP has on the state’s politics. With the 2026 elections on deck and the House of Representatives so closely contested, any advantage has merit. If the Republicans can pass this legislation, the estimate of GOP seat gains equals five. Governor Greg Abbott’s initiative created a furor comparable to the gendarme in Casablanca (1942 movie with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman) who stood outraged outside the casino when he found out that gambling was occurring inside. Democratic outrage peaked after they became experts at gerrymandering and then discovered Republicans could return the favour. There remains nothing more scornful than a Democrat having their self-interests exposed by a political opponent. A brief history lesson can best explain gerrymandering and why only Democrats could wisely use it, as Democrats always act virtuously, protect democracy, and represent caring voters.
Elbridge Gerry (hard G) signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation and attended the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that eventually selected George Washington as America’s first president. Gerry had a long career in politics, eventually becoming governor of Massachusetts in 1810. During his second term in office, the legislature approved new Senate districts. Oddly shaped districts, designed to help a party gain votes, led to the term “gerrymander.” Throughout the years, both sides have employed this method to garner support, keep authority, and subvert democracy. Democrats’ long-term use has created so many gerrymandered districts in blue states that pointing fingers at Republicans appears smugly hypocritical and farcical. The best of the lot came from Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, who reportedly threatened to retaliate if Texas dares to redistrict. Her ultimatum might carry more weight if her state’s nine districts weren’t already entirely blue. But there was much more Democratic hysterics on display as the weekend news shows offered comprehensive coverage of the issue.
Let’s start with NBC’s Kristen Welker’s interview with the governor of Illinois, J.B. Pritzker, a man of immense wealth inside a party that purportedly believes in redistribution to the elimination of the billionaire class. There’s talk that Pritzker might run for the Democratic nomination in 2028. This may explain the odd visual of him on Meet the Press explaining why he invited the Texas Democrats who left their state to prevent Texas Governor Abbott from securing a quorum for a vote on redistricting. In his appearance on the NBC flagship news program, Pritzker huffed and puffed about the unconstitutional nature of Abbott’s actions. He called Abbott a “joke” and Trump a “cheater.” He threatened to do more redistricting in Illinois if necessary. Then Welker confronted him with information that left the chief executive stunned. Welker said, “Well, Governor, it might be illegal. It’s not unprecedented though, or it might be rare, I should say. But Texas actually tried to redraw districts mid-decade before in 2003, and the U.S. Supreme Court actually upheld the map in that case, with the exception of one district. So the argument that Abbott is making is (that) it’s not illegal, though they are doing it certainly in an off-year. But I do want to look at the map of Illinois. Let’s take a look at this. Despite President Trump winning 44 per cent of the statewide vote in 2024, Republicans hold only three of Illinois’ 17 districts. These districts seem to be designed to maximize Democratic advantage. What do you say to those who argue that it’s hypocritical for you to criticize Texas for partisanship, when your state also drew maps to boost your party’s standing?”
Poor old Pritzker, once again caught with both hands in the cookie jar. But Welker was not done. After the governor attempted to suggest that the Voting Rights Act was being violated and laws broken, she returned this volley: “Well, look. Sticking on your state’s map, every major group that grades the fairness of congressional maps gives your state an ‘F.’ Common Cause, a nonpartisan government watchdog, even says your map, and I’m going to quote, ‘represents a nearly perfect model for everything that can go wrong with redistricting.’ And I guess the question is, you talk about preserving democracy. How do you preserve democracy if you’re using the same tactics that you’ve criticized Texas Republicans for?” The transcript provides nothing but a complete non-sequitur in reply.
How about Governor Kathy Hochul of New York? Like Pritzker, she thinks that the Democratic Party acts with such virtue that questioning their motives is akin to casting doubt on a nursing mother’s efforts to feed her child. Hochul could barely contain her outrage at FOX News host Shannon Bream’s question to open the interview. Bream asked Hochul, after she, like Pritzker, threatened to redistrict her state, despite a 2014 amendment that does not allow her to do this, “Even the head of your Democratic state party there in New York says the (state) constitution seems pretty clear. I don’t know where someone could reinterpret this as something you can do every two years. So what’s the plan? Is it to go around the (state) constitution, get a new amendment? How do you do it?” Hochul replied in exasperation (like everyone should see how obviously righteous the Democrats’ cause), “You know what, Shannon? These times call for fighting fire with fire. We didn’t ask for this fight. I’m busy governing the State of New York, focusing on public safety and affordability. But why are we here today? Because Donald Trump looked at the polls for next year and they realize based on their failed policies, which are hurting New Yorkers and people all across this country, the tariffs did not create jobs. They now have 2 million people more — 2 million more on unemployment. We have Medicaid costs that are being taken away from people. There are going to be millions of people without healthcare. The cost of everything’s going up.” She may have a point about Trump and the Republicans wanting to maintain control of Congress, but the lack of self-awareness boggles the mind.
Democrats have practiced gerrymandering for decades. Republicans are only now catching up. Democrats face further trouble. The census in 2020, completed in the middle of COVID, was rife with errors. The problems are set to be fixed in 2030. It will mean more red districts, more electoral votes in red states, and more of the windbag interviews, melodramatic assertions that democracy is under attack, and cries of Hitler, fascism, and authoritarianism. The hypocrisy level may rise to additional levels, but this recent example reminds everyone why Trump keeps winning and Democrats look like Wile E. Coyote trying to outsmart the Road Runner.
Dave Redekop is a retired elementary resource teacher who worked part-time at the St. Catharines Courthouse as a Registrar until being appointed Executive Director at Redeemer Bible Church in October 2023. He has worked on political campaigns since high school and attended university in South Carolina for five years, earning a Master’s in American History with a specialization in Civil Rights. Dave loves reading biographies.
