Opinion: Shameless Politics: Gerrymandering Turns Hypocrisy into a Joke

A Political Landscape of Hypocrisy and Hyperbole

The political landscape this week has been a vivid demonstration of the contradictions that often define modern governance. As former diplomat and Democratic senator Adlai Stevenson once noted, “a hypocrite is the kind of politician who would cut down a redwood tree, then mount the stump and make a speech for conservation.” This week in politics was nothing short of the worst form of stump speeches, where leaders have taken to condemning actions they themselves have engaged in.

In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul (D) labeled the Texas Republicans’ mid-decade redistricting as a “legal insurrection of our U.S. Capitol.” Meanwhile, in Texas, Democratic State Rep. Jolanda Jones (D) took it a step further, comparing the situation to the Holocaust. These statements reflect a broader narrative among Democrats that gerrymandering is the death of democracy. However, this rhetoric ignores the fact that former President Barack Obama remained silent when his own state became the most gerrymandered in the union.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker (D) joined the chorus of criticism, claiming that gerrymandering was an attempt to “steal” congressional seats and “disenfranchise people.” Yet, Illinois itself is one of the most gerrymandered states, with the redistricting law signed by Pritzker leaving Republicans with just three of the state’s 17 congressional seats despite nearly half the votes in the last election.

What stands out is the complete absence of shame in these criticisms. A telling moment occurred when Pritzker appeared on Stephen Colbert’s show. The audience gave him roaring cheers when he claimed to be protecting democracy from Texas gerrymandering. Colbert then showed the map of Illinois, which features bizarrely shaped districts designed to maximize Democratic performance. Pritzker shrugged off the irony, joking that kindergarteners had designed it. The audience laughed heartily, highlighting the absurdity of the situation.

This hypocrisy is not limited to Illinois. In Massachusetts, Governor Maura Healey pledged to retaliate by gerrymandering her already heavily gerrymandered state. The problem is that there are no Republican House members in the state, a situation that has persisted since the 1990s. The outrage seems more like a comedy routine than a genuine concern for democratic principles.

California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) has also taken steps to gerrymander, pledging to order a new round of redistricting. Despite Republicans constituting roughly 40 percent of the congressional vote in 2024, they received only about 17 percent of the House seats. To reduce their representation further, California would need to pass a costly ballot proposition, which could cost over $200 million, even as the state faces a budget crisis and a deficit exceeding $20 billion.

Democratic strategist James Carville has suggested extreme measures, including adding Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia as states and packing the Supreme Court to ensure long-term Democratic dominance. This approach echoes previous calls for “democracy-entrenching legislation,” as noted by Harvard law professor Michael Klarman in a 2020 interview. Such proposals, while controversial, are framed as necessary to preserve democracy.

Carville’s comments highlight a disturbing trend: the willingness to rig both the legislative and judicial branches in the name of democracy. While each individual measure might be seen as objectionable, the combination is presented as a solution. This logic is akin to calling burning a home arson but labeling torching a city urban renewal.

Despite the clear hypocrisy, there is little public outcry. Leaders can stack the Supreme Court, gerrymander maps, and engage in ballot cleansing without facing significant backlash. They can commit what many would consider venal acts while still claiming to defend democracy. The lack of accountability is alarming.

However, there may be a silver lining. As the story of Pandora’s Box suggests, even the release of evils can bring hope. Perhaps citizens will finally become fed up with the self-righteous hypocrisy and take action to end gerrymandering. Reason could prevail in limiting partisan redistricting, ensuring that politicians cannot continue to cut down the trees of democracy and stand on their stumps to preach conservation.