In Blow to Democrats, Virginia Court Strikes Down House Map

mitchbob

https://archive.ph/2026.05.08-163604/https://www.nytimes.com...

csb6

This whole gerrymandering war really shows the tremendous dysfunction of the American political system. A state legislature's ruling party has such a strong incentive to gerrymander that it is extremely hard to pass reforms such as independent redistricting commissions. (my state is lucky enough to have citizen ballot initiatives that can bypass the legislature, but not all states have that process) In a functioning system the U.S. Supreme Court would step in and check the power of all legislatures to gerrymander, ending the tit-for-tat redistricting, but this Court has instead chosen to fan the flames by reducing barriers to gerrymandering. (whether racial or political party based) I wouldn't be surprised if they strike down independent redistricting commissions in a future case given their recent decisions on independent agencies. The 5-4 decision in Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission likely wouldn't be decided the same today given the changes in the court's composition since 2015. So it goes.

scientator

The underlying problem is that the number of representatives hasn't increased in about 100 years (not counting addition of Alaska and Hawaii). Increase the number of reps, as was regularly done up until early 20th century, and a lot of this gerrymandering nonsense will disappear. Of course, the powers that be don't want to do this because it would make the system more fair and democratic.