Virginia House 2022: After redistricting

[Zaybay]

Im thinking Dems either close to, or with, a super majority. At this point, it looks likely the Dems will completely gerrymander VA, and it turns out that a lot of seats can be concentrated or influenced by NOVA and Richmond.

For congressional delegations, it would likely be, if VA doesnt get a new seat, they would be able to draw a 8-3 D delegation. NOVA is getting more population relative to the state, and the Rs are self packing themselves. Its possible to draw a 9-2 delegation, but that would spread Ds thin, and make it more of a dummymander.

[Zaybay]

Can’t wait to see Antonio’s commentary on politics in the 2020’s when Republicans control the House most of the decade because Democrats handcuffed themselves

[Zaybay]

Ah yes, so the answer is do some more useless virtue signaling and hand all the power to the Republicans and hope that they’ll suddenly have a change of heart and act in good faith

The Democrat party can't be the party fighting for voting rights and for electoral reform to give better representation while, at the same time, working to disenfranchise communities that don't naturally support them. It just doesn't work. They have to practice what they preach, or else they will become a meaningless opportunistic shell of a party.

One could make the argument that the GOP is so anti-Democracy and authoritarian that gerrymandering them should be done for voting rights.

"We had to destroy voting rights in order to save them."

this, but unironically.

[Zaybay]

My preferred solution is passing bills that mandate an independent commission which takes effect once Republican states do the same. That way the ball is in their court, but you're not unilaterally disarming either.

Of course, none of this would be necessary if SCOTUS would just outlaw this blatant election rigging. But alas, this is the world we live in. Allowing the GOP to rig elections with no response when it is blatantly clear the voters or media will not hold them accountable for it is the height of stupidity.

This is why I support gerrymandering against the Republicans. Just use their own tactics against them and see how quick they come to the negotiating table. Gerrymander the hell out of the GOP, shut down early voting in Republican areas, etc... and watch Republican legislators clamor to help pass voting rights legislation.

I agree, by forcing the GOPs hand, by locking them out of the house, they will likely come to negotiate. The only reason Rs are for gerrymandering is because they mostly benefit, but if the shoe is on the other foot, then we may be able to come to a compromise. By making fair maps, not only does the GOP get an unfair advantage, there is no impetus for them to start to warm up to commissions.

Its a win-win.