Election 2014

They Aren’t Hiding It

Yes, the Republicans retained control of the House of Representatives in 2012 thanks to gerrymandering, and they're very proud of this fact.

In the memo — titled “How a Strategy of Targeting State Legislative Races in 2010 Led to a Republican U.S. House Majority in 2013” — RSLC boasts that it “raised more than $30 million in 2009-2010, and invested $18 million after Labor Day 2010 alone” to ensure statehouse victories in states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin.

“The rationale was straightforward,” reads the memo. “Controlling the redistricting process in these states would have the greatest impact on determining how both state legislative and congressional district boundaries would be drawn. Drawing new district lines in states with the most redistricting activity presented the opportunity to solidify conservative policymaking at the state level and maintain a Republican stronghold in the U.S. House of Representatives for the next decade.”

The results of the 2010 election may haunt us for years to come, and we must acknowledge going into the 2014 election that the Republican side of the aisle has built-in advantages that will increase their chances of retaining control of the House. We must acknowledge it, but not allow it to dim our spirits or depress our involvement in the campaign.

We have to educate voters and emphasize that local elections are important too while turning up the heat on state lawmakers who say and do egregious things. Because the consequences of their partisan hackery extend far beyond their state borders.