Democrats are poised to finish several seats behind Republicans in 2026 in the nationwide race to redraw maps for the U.S. House.
They can catch up in 2028, but only if they overcome a series of redistricting hurdles that the GOP does not face.
That’s because Democrats, in many states, can draw partisan political lines only if they evade constraints — some self-imposed — on their ability to counterpunch.
“Democrats face hurdles Republicans don’t” is the national motto now, isn’t it?
It’s too bad Ds are trying to remove those hurdles by being more like Rs.
It’s too bad Ds are trying to remove those hurdles by being more like Rs.
Out of curiosity, in what way do you mean they are being more like Rs? I’m hoping you are not referring to their attempts at matching the R’s redistricting tactis.
No, no - just the bog standard Overton window shit.
What other options do they have?
Remove districts, they’re mostly meaningless anyway and their purpose now seems to be focused on retaining power. The top x votes get the seats, forcing each party to field multiple candidates.
Historically, made the fight to end gerrymandering a priority instead of playing politics and half-heartedly creating roadblocks that are now biting them in the ass. They fucked around with “politics as usual”, “the pendulum will swing back in an election cycle or two”, and progressing towards progress takes time; it’s not actually time for progress just yet. Now they’re getting outplayed by a team that doesn’t give a shit about the rules, it’s also got enough control to force them to play by the rules, which they’re frustrated with but they don’t have enough of a spine to consider breaking the rules in the first place.
MAGA is going to smash through every rule they want while Democrats try and play with the flexible ones they left for themselves, and by the time the dust settles MAGA will be so embedded whatever challenges come after the fact won’t amount to a hill of beans. At that point Dem leadership either tucks their head and complies so they can hold on to whatever privilege remains available to them personally, or break rank and say “fuck it, we play the game that we’re in and we play to win by any means necessary”.
Surprise
