Gerrymandering in the GIS Era

Gerrymandering in the GIS Era

"Excluding the Texas gerrymander, last Tuesday three incumbent congressmen (two Rs, one D) were defeated; three more open seats changed parties (two previously held by a Republican, one by a Democrat). In only 12 other contests (CA 20, CO 4, CT 2, CT 4, IN 2, IN 8, MN 6, MO 3, NY 29, OR 5, SD AL, PA 6) did the winner prevail by less than 10%. This occurred at a time when a majority of voters believed that the country was on the wrong track and the country is mired in a war that (regardless of one’s opinions on its merits) clearly has not gone as the administration promised.

The causes: the astronomical costs of House races certainly is key—parties find it more prudent to invest their dollars in races for the Senate. More important, however, is the increasingly sophisticated use of technology in House redistricting..."