Category Archives: gerrymandering

The House GOP’s stalemate

Posted on January 5, 2023 by Bennett Minton

The House Republicans’ conundrum won’t end with the selection of a speaker, whether Kevin McCarthy or someone else. Their problem is fundamental to their narrow majority, and its origin dates back more than 30 years. I became a professional congressional … Continue reading →

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Revolution in Virginia: the legislature cedes a spoil of partisan advantage

Posted on February 24, 2019 by Bennett Minton

It’s been a bad month for Virginia’s government, with controversies around racism, sexual assault and the “Virginia way” enveloping its three elected state leaders, and the legislature unable to formulate a response. As if to affirm Virginia is still mired … Continue reading →

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New maps and a new reality in Virginia

Posted on January 24, 2019 by Bennett Minton

The four-year, twisting tale of 11 Virginia House districts judged to be racially gerrymandered is reaching its climax, as the federal court presiding over the case has drawn new lines for 26 districts, both those at issue and 15 adjacent … Continue reading →

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On cue, Virginia punts on redistricting reform

Posted on May 19, 2018 by Bennett Minton

Virginia’s legislative attempt to address gerrymandering came to its expected futile end May 18 when Democratic Governor Ralph Northam vetoed a bill that would have made minor changes in the criteria the (for now) GOP-controlled General Assembly must use to … Continue reading →

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Virginia’s high court silently joins gerrymandering conversation

Posted on March 2, 2018 by Bennett Minton

Gerrymandering has broken through the din of partisan grenade-throwing to become a top-tier issue of voter concern across the political spectrum. If we cannot fix this party- and incumbent-protection racket, We the People are coming to understand, we will cease … Continue reading →

Posted in gerrymandering, Supreme Court, U.S. Constitution, Virginia legislature, Voting, Voting Rights Act | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

‘Change’ vs. our ossified process: It’s no contest

Posted on November 13, 2016 by Bennett Minton

“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” Martin Luther King’s distillation of abolitionist Theodore Parker’s sermon is one of his most famous quotations. It resonates with us because we assume the universe is moral … Continue reading →

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Donald Trump gives the GOP its comeuppance

Posted on March 3, 2016 by Bennett Minton

Upon signing the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Bill Moyers related decades later, President Johnson said, “I think we just delivered the South to the Republican Party for a long time to come.” It’s a popular story (though its truth … Continue reading →

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The Pope and the Speaker

Posted on September 28, 2015 by Bennett Minton

A parent had arrived to remind the children of their purpose. Each son or daughter of a given country has a mission, a personal and social responsibility. Your own responsibility as members of Congress is to enable this country, by … Continue reading →

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Gerrymandering in Virginia: The legislature gets personal

Posted on August 19, 2015 by Bennett Minton

What happened in the Virginia General Assembly this week is a result of gerrymandering – the political process by which the political parties take care of themselves and ignore their constituents. The events – a state Supreme Court justice and … Continue reading →

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Gerrymandering: Politics as situational ethics?

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Bennett Minton

The state senator had an appointment out of town, and all his colleagues knew it. As soon as he left, the other political party, exploiting its temporary one-seat advantage, rushed to the floor a new legislative district map, though the … Continue reading →

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