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Gerrymandering

Rep. Chip Roy (R–Texas) and Nick Gillespie, with text saying "Is it enough? No." | Illustration: Eddie Marshall

Government Spending

Chip Roy on Why He Backed Trump's Spending Bill

Texas Rep. Chip Roy joins Nick Gillespie to talk about runaway spending, the uphill battle for health care reform, and where immigration fits into the liberty vs. sovereignty debate.

Nick Gillespie | 8.20.2025 11:00 AM

Reem Ibrahim, wearing a bright red shirt, speaks in front of a background featuring a downward-trending line graph. Large white text in the upper right corner reads "CASE AGAINST GUN CONTROL." | Illustration: Eddie Marshall

Gun Control

Lower Crime Hasn't Stopped Gun Control Push

Plus: The National Guard deployed to D.C., the Trump-Putin meeting on Ukraine, Texas Democrats flee the state, and a listener question on free speech in the U.K.

Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Reem Ibrahim | 8.11.2025 5:14 PM

A Republican elephant symbol on a red backdrop and a Democratic donkey on a blue backdrop, split down the middle, with an outline of the United States in the middle. | Peter KovA!A? | Dreamstime.com

Partisanship

Nobody Trusts Congress, but Americans Keep Reelecting the Same People

Increasingly like-minded communities make incumbent lawmakers safer than ever.

J.D. Tuccille | 11.4.2024 7:00 AM

Kate Barr | Illustration: Lex Villena; Kate Barr

Gerrymandering

She Knows She's Going To Lose Her Election. She's Running Anyway.

Kate Barr is running for state senate in North Carolina, hoping to raise awareness about the effects of gerrymandering.

Emma Camp | 10.22.2024 1:33 PM

Supreme Court

Has Moore v. Harper Become Moot?

The Supreme Court wants further briefing on whether it retains jurisdiction

Jonathan H. Adler |The Volokh Conspiracy | 5.5.2023 5:18 PM

Law & Government

The Other Jurisdictional Question in Moore v. Harper

Did the state court have jurisdiction to grant rehearing?

Will Baude |The Volokh Conspiracy | 3.3.2023 12:39 AM

Campaigns/Elections

Could the Supreme Court Decide Moore v. Harper on Statutory Grounds?

An amicus brief by Professor Derek Muller suggests the justices need not confront the "Independent State Legislature" doctrine head on.

Jonathan H. Adler |The Volokh Conspiracy | 10.27.2022 12:50 PM

Law & Government

The Constitutional State Legislature Doctrine

The middle ground in Moore v. Harper (plus a few additional thoughts on redistricting remedies)

Will Baude |The Volokh Conspiracy | 10.13.2022 10:32 AM

Rep. Jerrold Nadler hands out flyers for his reelection campaign. | Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Newscom

Election 2022

Redistricting in New York Will Cost a Longtime Democrat a House Seat

Despite an overwhelming sense that the country is headed in the wrong direction, the only way most voters will fire an incumbent is by voting for a different incumbent instead.

Joe Lancaster | 8.23.2022 2:50 PM

Gerrymandering Illinois redistricting congressional districts elections midterms 2022 | Source: Lex Villena; Princeton Gerrymandering Project

Elections

Gerrymandering Is Making Elections Less Competitive

Cynical single-party gerrymandering contributes to and is driven by the hyperpartisanship that defines American politics right now.

Eric Boehm | 8.16.2022 8:00 AM

zoning-laws-abolish | Illustration: Lex Villena; Lev Kropotov

Zoning

Abolish Zoning—All of It

It'll be better for economic growth, housing, and the environment.

M. Nolan Gray | 6.21.2022 8:00 AM

Viktor Orban | Attila Volgyi/Polaris/Newscom

Hungary

Viktor Orbán's Reelection Shows Mere Democracy Is Not Enough

The less of our lives we allow to be put to a vote, the better.

Stephanie Slade | 4.5.2022 11:05 AM

thumbnail (6) | (Source: redistricting.mgaleg.maryland.gov; Illustration by Lex Villena. )

Gerrymandering

Judge Tosses Maryland's Highly Gerrymandered Congressional Map

Advanced statistics and redistricting reformers combined to kill one of the country's worst gerrymanders.

Eric Boehm | 3.25.2022 4:40 PM

heather-mount-ult-srajId4-unsplash (1) | Photo by Heather Mount on Unsplash

Elections

Voting Out Incumbents Boosts Economic Growth, Decreases Corruption

A new paper makes the economic case for throwing the bums out as often as possible.

Eric Boehm | 2.22.2022 1:40 PM

tn2 | Illustration: Lex Villena; Yzqblyxy, Imagewell | Dreamstime.com; Princeton Gerrymandering Project

Gerrymandering

The Supreme Court's Alabama Redistricting Ruling Looks Like a Holding Pattern, Not a Power Grab

Contrary to some of the more breathless reactions, it doesn't suggest a conspiracy to help Republicans win elections by disenfranchising black voters.

Eric Boehm | 2.8.2022 11:45 AM

Thumbnail (4) | Illustration: Lex Villena

Gerrymandering

Did Redistricting Reform Fail in Ohio?

Ohio's supposed reforms left lawmakers in charge of the mapmaking process, and a gerrymandered map was the predictable result.

Eric Boehm | 1.18.2022 4:05 PM

dreamstime_xl_19337746 | Photo 19337746 © PeterWaters | Dreamstime.com

Inflation

Inflation Hits Highest Level Since 1982

Plus: Evidence that redistricting reforms are working to prevent extreme gerrymandering, what Squid Game has to say about communism, and more...

Eric Boehm | 12.10.2021 9:30 AM

slide 1 | Source: redistricting.mgaleg.maryland.gov; Illustration by Lex Villena.

Gerrymandering

Maryland Democrats Hate Gerrymandering So Much, They're Trying To Eliminate the State's Lone Republican District

When it comes to drawing congressional districts, concerns about the legitimacy of democracy seemingly go out the window.

Eric Boehm | 12.6.2021 2:15 PM

1 | Illustration: Lex Villena; Anankkml, Dreamstime.com; Princeton Gerrymandering Project

Redistricting

Illinois' Gerrymandered Congressional Map Is a Window Into America's Political Dysfunction

One of the big losers in the Illinois redistricting plan is Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a moderate Republican who voted to impeach Trump.

Eric Boehm | 10.19.2021 12:20 PM

dpaphotosfour793441

Election 2020

Virginia Voters Approve Redistricting Reforms

Virginia's upcoming redistricting will be handled by a bipartisan commission.

Sam Rutzick | 11.5.2020 4:30 PM

dreamstime_xl_157667487 | Photo <a href="https://www.dreamstime.com/interior-capitol-rotunda-pennsylvania-state-capitol-n-rd-street-harrisburg-pennsylvania-pennsylvania-state-image157667487">157667487</a> © <a href="https://www.dreamstime.com/gnagel_info">Glenn Nagel</a> - <a href="https://www.dreamstime.com/photos-images/state-20capitol-20pennsylvania-20dome.html">Dreamstime.com</a>

Election 2020

Today's Gubernatorial, Statehouse Races Will Set the Table for Redistricting Fights

Republicans rode an electoral wave in 2010 and used that perch to draw favorable congressional districts in many states. Will Democrats have the same opportunity after this year?

Eric Boehm | 11.3.2020 2:15 PM

featuresgerrymandering | ruangsore/Fiverr

Gerrymandering

Why Redistricting Reform Goes Off the Rails

"Buddymandering" is the widespread map-related misconduct that's wrecking our elections.

Walter Olson | 6.28.2020 6:00 AM

minismapmaker | Lafair Family Games

Gerrymandering

Mapmaker: The Gerrymandering Game

What if politics were a strategic, underhanded, zero-sum game that was actually kind of fun?

Eric Boehm | 9.6.2019 6:00 AM

Donald-Trump-SC-press-conference-2-15-16 | C-SPAN

Census

Trump's Census Surrender Hints at the Real Reason He Tried to Add a Citizenship Question

Even if the president's motives were partisan, a more plausible cover story would have been enough to pass judicial muster.

Jacob Sullum | 7.12.2019 12:00 PM

SupremeCourt3 | NA

Crime

Questioning the Political Question Doctrine

The Supreme Court has used this doctrine for many years, including in the recent gerrymandering decision. But it still doesn't actually make any sense.

Ilya Somin |The Volokh Conspiracy | 6.30.2019 5:43 PM

Crime

Can Federal Partisan Gerrymandering Claims be Brought in State Court?

A strange ambiguity about yesterday's decision in Rucho v. Common Cause

Will Baude |The Volokh Conspiracy | 6.28.2019 3:26 PM

scphotos009180 | Novastock Stock Connection Worldwide/Newscom

Gerrymandering

Supreme Court Gerrymandering Ruling Isn't the End of Democracy

State legislatures and Congress can (and probably should) take steps to limit partisan gerrymandering. This was never an issue for the courts to settle.

Eric Boehm | 6.27.2019 4:40 PM

WilburRoss | Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Newscom

Census

Census Citizenship Question Pushed for by GOP Gerrymanderer

And that whole Voting Rights Act justification? Kinda the opposite, actually.

Matt Welch | 5.30.2019 7:54 PM

Large image on homepages | Joanna Andreasson

Policy

Is Redistricting Depriving Women of Their Voting Rights?

The Supreme Court weighs in.

Eric Boehm | 3.14.2019 6:00 AM

Large image on homepages | Ingram Publishing/Newscom

Supreme Court

Supreme Court Will Hear Two New Gerrymandering Challenges

A Republican gerrymander in North Carolina and a Democratic gerrymander in Maryland give the court another chance to set some rules for redistricting.

Eric Boehm | 1.4.2019 5:30 PM

Large image on homepages | Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call/Newscom

Gerrymandering

North Carolina's Redistricting Mess Shows Why State Legislatures Must Limit Partisan Mapmaking

The status quo is bad for voters, candidates, and democracy. State legislatures should try to fix it.

Eric Boehm | 8.29.2018 12:50 PM

Large image on homepages | Angelo Gilardelli / Dreamstime.com

Gerrymandering

NAACP Sues Connecticut to Stop 'Prison Gerrymandering'

Incarcerated prisoners are counted where they're jailed for representation purposes, even though they usually cannot vote.

Scott Shackford | 7.17.2018 12:35 PM

Large image on homepages | JOSHUA ROBERTS/REUTERS/Newscom

Gerrymandering

In Gerrymandering Ruling, Supreme Court Refuses to Settle Partisan Squabbling Over Fairness

Chief Justice John Roberts makes clear he cares about individual rights, not collective grievances.

Eric Boehm | 6.20.2018 10:35 AM

Large image on homepages | Chris Kleponis/dpa/picture-alliance/Newscom

Census

Supporters of the Census Citizenship Question Expose the Administration's Dishonest Justifications

A higher non-response rate among illegal immigrants is a goal to be celebrated, not some minor potential side effect to be lamented, Kris Kobach, David Vitter, and other would-be gerrymanderers stress.

Matt Welch | 3.30.2018 2:31 PM

Large image on homepages

Gerrymandering

If Republicans Are Doomed in 2018, It's Not Because Some Gerrymandered Districts Got Redrawn

If Republicans get crushed in November, it will be because they tied themselves to an unpopular president and abandoned promises to cut spending.

Eric Boehm | 3.27.2018 4:20 PM

Large image for longform feature pages. | Joanna Andreasson

Pennsylvania

Gerrymandering Is Out of Control

Computers could be the key to resolving partisan fights over congressional boundaries.

Eric Boehm | 3.27.2018 6:00 AM

Large image on homepages | Redistricting.state.pa.us

Redistricting

Pennsylvania's Redistricting Crisis Deepens as SCOTUS Takes Hard Pass on Getting Involved

The SCOTUS won't get involved in a dispute over Pennsylvania's congressional district lines. Could an algorithm succeed where lawmakers and judges have failed?

Eric Boehm | 2.5.2018 5:30 PM

Large image on homepages

Gerrymandering

Pennsylvania's Gerrymandered Districts Were Bad. Will Tossing Them Be Even Worse?

The GOP-drawn districts are some of the worst gerrymandering in the country. But the state Supreme Court waded into ugly partisan politics by killing them.

Eric Boehm | 1.23.2018 9:45 AM

Large image on homepages | Mandamonium/flickr

Voting

Does Every Vote Count?

It depends!

A. Barton Hinkle | 1.3.2018 12:00 PM

Large image on homepages

Gerrymandering

Will the Supreme Court Stop Politicians from Choosing Their Voters?

Social science could help identify objective principles for creating competitive voting districts.

Ronald Bailey | 9.18.2017 3:55 PM

Large image on homepages

Voting

Independent Commissions Gerrymander Just as Much as State Legislators

Independent redistricting commissions may not be as politically-neutral as theorized, says new study

Ronald Bailey | 7.14.2017 2:30 PM

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