The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Aug. 5, 2025
We’re exploring redistricting this week, including its cheating side. By manipulating which voters are in a voting district, the party in power can rig the system to guarantee a win for that party. Ronald Reagan called it “. . . the antidemocratic and un-American practice of gerrymandering . . “
Gerrymandering was named for Elbridge Gerry, Massachusetts Governor and signer of the Declaration of Independence, who approved an 1812 contorted partisan map resembling a salamander. Partisan legislatures still “pack” members of their party into snake-like districts to create safe seats and protect incumbents, or “crack” a district which leans to the opposing party and dilute its power by adding friendly voters.
Gerrymandering flies in the face of the American ideal of competition. Safe-seat incumbents don’t have to work as hard to get elected, because once they win the primary, they’re a shoe-in to win the general. It suppresses competition between parties and new candidates whose ideas might benefit constituents. Primaries become a race to the bottom, as candidates cater to hard-core, more extreme party primary voters and ignore centrist voters and independents. The lack of competition also suppresses turnout, as voters say, “Why should I bother? It’s already decided!”
There’s an even more insidious form of gerrymandering – racial gerrymandering – used to suppress minority groups to dilute their voting power. More on that tomorrow.
We have more on gerrymandering at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Campaign Legal Center – What Is Gerrymandering?
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library – 1987 Speech to the Republican Governors Association
Represent.Us – How Politicians are Limiting Voter Power by Gerrymandering
Brennan Center for Justice – Gerrymandering, Explained
Brennan Center for justice – How Gerrymandering Tilts the 2024 Race for the House
Groups Taking Action:
Represent.Us, FairVote, League of Women Voters U.S. , Center for American Progress
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
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