Democrats' Virginia Gerrymandering is Wrong but Strategically Necessary to Force Reform
Source: Adam Serwer. "The Virginia Gerrymander Disenfranchises Republicans - The Atlantic." April 22, 2026. www.theatlantic.com
The Gist
Democrats gerrymandered Virginia's congressional map, which is wrong and hurts democracy. But since Republicans have been doing this for years and blocked attempts at fair rules, Democrats had to fight fire with fire to force both sides to the negotiating table for real reform.
Conclusion
Virginia Democrats' gerrymandering is antidemocratic and should be illegal, but it was the least bad option available to force Republicans to negotiate fair redistricting rules
Premises
- Republicans have extensively gerrymandered maps in states they control, reducing Democratic representation
- The Supreme Court's 2019 Rucho v. Common Cause ruling eliminated federal oversight of partisan gerrymandering
- Republicans opposed Democratic attempts to ban partisan gerrymandering when Democrats had a House majority
- Democratic-controlled states previously used nonpartisan redistricting commissions while Republicans gerrymandered, creating asymmetric disadvantage
- The only way to raise the costs of gerrymandering and force reform is for both parties to experience its negative effects
- Republicans will only agree to fair redistricting rules when they suffer consequences from gerrymandering themselves
Assumptions
- Political parties respond to incentives and will only change behavior when it becomes costly
- Unilateral disarmament in gerrymandering puts the principled party at a permanent disadvantage
- Both parties are capable of agreeing to fair rules if properly motivated
- Short-term antidemocratic actions can be justified if they lead to long-term democratic improvements