Gerrymandering’s Death Spiral: Can Bipartisanship Be Saved?

The gerrymandering frenzy has reached a fever pitch, with both parties entrenched in a brutal fight over House seats. Some lawmakers are calling for a truce, but it’s unclear whether anyone is listening.

Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick and Tom Suozzi, co-chairs of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, have been vocal about their distaste for partisan redistricting. They see it as “a death spiral” that’s exacerbating polarization in Congress. In a joint phone interview, they expressed frustration with the current system.

Fitzpatrick and Suozzi are not alone in their concerns. The Problem Solvers Caucus has met to discuss gerrymandering, but members have been unable to agree on a course of action. They support independent redistricting commissions, but internal struggles for consensus and narrow views of Congress’ power to regulate the practice hinder progress.

Gerrymandering has become a partisan sport, with both sides using it as a tool to gain an advantage in the midterms. President Trump has directed Republicans to draw House seats in their favor, while Democrats have vowed to escalate efforts in blue states next year. The Supreme Court’s decision to weaken the Voting Rights Act last month has added fuel to the fire.

Election reformers are growing increasingly glum about the nation’s politics. They see the current system as a “doom loop” leading to further polarization and partisanship. Some advocates, like Lee Drutman, propose proportional representation – a system where each House district elects multiple members determined by the percentage of the vote each party receives.

This idea may seem radical, but it has gained traction in recent years. Even Kamala Harris has mentioned multimember districts as a potential solution to the nation’s politics. However, will either side be willing to compromise on gerrymandering?

With midterms looming and both parties entrenched, it’s hard to see how any kind of truce can be reached. But if Fitzpatrick and Suozzi are right – that gerrymandering is a “death spiral” dragging down the nation – then something needs to change.

The Problem Solvers Caucus’s efforts to tackle gerrymandering are admirable but limited by internal struggles. As co-chairs, Fitzpatrick and Suozzi face a difficult task in uniting members around a common goal. However, their efforts may also be driven by self-interest: both represent purple districts targeted by both parties in redistricting.

Gerrymandering is not just a partisan issue; it’s also a matter of electoral integrity. The Supreme Court’s decision to weaken the Voting Rights Act shows that some seek to manipulate the system for their own advantage. But what’s the cost of this partisanship? The answer lies in the polarization and division gripping Congress.

Each new gerrymandering maneuver digs both parties deeper into a hole from which it may be impossible to escape. So, what can be done about gerrymandering? While Fitzpatrick and Suozzi’s efforts are laudable, they’re just a small step in the right direction. A more fundamental transformation of the nation’s politics is needed – one that involves proportional representation or other reforms designed to break the partisan deadlock.

It won’t be easy, but it’s essential if we want to save bipartisanship from itself. The alternative is continued descent into partisanship and polarization, which will only serve to further erode trust in government and undermine our democracy.

In the end, it’s up to lawmakers like Fitzpatrick and Suozzi – along with election reformers and advocates for change – to break the cycle of gerrymandering. Will they be able to find a way forward? Only time will tell.