Orange stain second term results thread

[WelshBloke]

As Trump pushes GOP held states to gerrymander ahead of the midterms Dem held states are warming up to doing to the same if they go ahead. No more unilateral disarmament.

California's Democratic legislative leaders appear ready to follow Newsom's lead on redistricting

Be interesting to see republicans framing democrats doing this as a bad thing whilst doing the same thing.

Personally I'm against anyone doing it. Boundaries should be set by an independent body but that's not how things are so... 🤷

 

[Brainonska511]

Be interesting to see republicans framing democrats doing this as a bad thing whilst doing the same thing.

Personally I'm against anyone doing it. Boundaries should be set by an independent body but that's not how things are so... 🤷

Yes, they should be independently set, but until everyone is forced to follow that method, you need to fight fire with fire, because it's clear Republicans are not going to give up on their gerrymandering crusade.

 

[K1052]

Yes, they should be independently set, but until everyone is forced to follow that method, you need to fight fire with fire, because it's clear Republicans are not going to give up on their gerrymandering crusade.

Yes, the only option here is to do exactly what they are doing until they decide it's not worth it anymore. Dem held states have really not aggressively gerrymandered their maps for the most part like GOP held states. We can really make it cost them this time.

 

[esquared]

Yes, they should be independently set, but until everyone is forced to follow that method, you need to fight fire with fire, because it's clear Republicans are not going to give up on their gerrymandering crusade.

Abbott is now threatening to expel the Dems that left the state.

Pretty sure he can't fire the lawmakers and hold special elections.

Texas governor threatens to seek removal of Democrats who fled state, escalating tensions​

https://wapo.st/47d5Ze0

 

[cytg111]

Abbott is now threatening to expel the Dems that left the state.

Pretty sure he can't fire the lawmakers and hold special elections.

Texas governor threatens to seek removal of Democrats who fled state, escalating tensions​

https://wapo.st/47d5Ze0

Yea another quick rundown of the situation

Texas: Hello fascism my old friend....

 

[pmv]

Yes, the only option here is to do exactly what they are doing until they decide it's not worth it anymore. Dem held states have really not aggressively gerrymandered their maps for the most part like GOP held states. We can really make it cost them this time.

I don't really understand the context. One question I have is - if the Democrats gerrymander, won't the Supreme Court ultimately find some pretext to say they can't do it (while allowing Republicans to continue doing so)?

Another is - is there no 'third option' to either (1) allowing partisan gerrymandering or (2) having an 'independent' body determine district boundaries? Something akin to proportional representation, that would remove the need for geographic districts?

Because I can't imagine anyone accepting an 'independent' body, given the intense polarisation there is now. Such a body would probably either get subverted by partisan interests, or face accusations of having been subverted even if it wasn't.

 

[Brainonska511]

I don't really understand the context. One question I have is - if the Democrats gerrymander, won't the Supreme Court ultimately find some pretext to say they can't do it (while allowing Republicans to continue doing so)?

Another is - is there no 'third option' to either (1) allowing partisan gerrymandering or (2) having an 'independent' body determine district boundaries? Something akin to proportional representation, that would remove the need for geographic districts?

Because I can't imagine anyone accepting an 'independent' body, given the intense polarisation there is now. Such a body would probably either get subverted by partisan interests, or face accusations of having been subverted even if it wasn't.

Maybe the SCOTUS will try to pull some bullshit. But you can't enter action paralysis and do nothing based on what you think SCOTUS will or won't allow for Democratic Party-controlled states while Republicans gerrymander to their hearts' content in the states they control.

 

[manly]

I don't really understand the context. One question I have is - if the Democrats gerrymander, won't the Supreme Court ultimately find some pretext to say they can't do it (while allowing Republicans to continue doing so)?

Another is - is there no 'third option' to either (1) allowing partisan gerrymandering or (2) having an 'independent' body determine district boundaries? Something akin to proportional representation, that would remove the need for geographic districts?

Because I can't imagine anyone accepting an 'independent' body, given the intense polarisation there is now. Such a body would probably either get subverted by partisan interests, or face accusations of having been subverted even if it wasn't.

Unfortunately it's kind of a losing battle for Democrats. As Repugs gerrymander (which they've done for decades), we will now reactively try to counter. But honestly, we'll never cheat as vigorously as Team Treason; and like you said, they have SCROTUS in their back pocket. And TX Gov. Abbott is talking about expelling (D) lawmakers who left the state to prevent quorum.

Just as an example, some folks here advocated for "stacking" the Supreme Court while Dems had a slim chance in 2021. But Joe Biden is very much an institutionalist, so I doubt he ever seriously considered it. The Guardians of Pedophiles have no such ethical qualms.

 

[VRAMdemon]

There was some idiot Republican whining that CA was going to do the same thing Texas is doing. Bully's always cry when the other kid hits back. Fuck it! No more playing by antiquated rules when you're dealing with a 34 time convicted felon, pathological liar AND cheater!

In Ohio the people voted for independently drawn districts and the GOP legislature ignored their vote and ignored court rulings requiring redrawn districts. North Carolina Republicans gerrymandered the hell out of the state, unconstitutionally, and on record, leaving only 3 Democratic safe districts and by that, passed legislation that took powers from the Democratic governor.

Are Republicans currently admitting that they can't win without rigging elections with this stunt in Texas? The GOP fear and desperation surrounding the midterm elections kind of makes the "Dems are cooked" narrative subject to ridicule.

Will Newsome continue playing hardball?. If they want to redistrict 5 seats in Texas, they can do the same with 8 in California. California, NY, and Illinois should they redraw their maps, and send a copy to every Republican Congress person who'll lose their seat. I guarantee you they will all rush to a microphone to fucking complain, whine, play the victim. It would only be about 10-12 people, but believe me, those people would rather die than live amongst their constituents.

It's a dangerous game the right is playing, and I don't think they understand the consequences.

 

[nakedfrog]

It's a dangerous game the right is playing, and I don't think they understand the consequences.

100% right on this count, if they successfully establish authoritarian rule as they're attempting, many of them may find they've outlived their usefulness, and can be casually discarded the moment they displease Great Leader.

 

[VRAMdemon]

100% right on this count, if they successfully establish authoritarian rule as they're attempting, many of them may find they've outlived their usefulness, and can be casually discarded the moment they displease Great Leader.

It's so fucked up our system is deteriorating before our eyes. We need state and federal term limits for all elected offices.

The Supreme Court had the case in 2019 that could have ended gerrymandering but they chose not to. "Rucho v. Common Cause," along with "Citizens United" have done more to slowly destroy our democracy in the last 15 years than almost anything before them.

 

[gothuevos]

The Supreme Court had the case in 2019 that could have ended gerrymandering but they chose not to. "Rucho v. Common Cause," along with "Citizens United" have done more to slowly destroy our democracy in the last 15 years than almost anything before them.

There's nothing "slowly" about it.

 

[dainthomas]

Yes, the only option here is to do exactly what they are doing until they decide it's not worth it anymore. Dem held states have really not aggressively gerrymandered their maps for the most part like GOP held states. We can really make it cost them this time.

I saw a potential map of Illinois that would elect zero republicans. Just do that everywhere.

 

[you2]

Be interesting to see republicans framing democrats doing this as a bad thing whilst doing the same thing.

Personally I'm against anyone doing it. Boundaries should be set by an independent body but that's not how things are so... 🤷

There has always been some gaming (germandering) but the republicans have been quite outrageous with some of their maps like Tennessee and a few others.

The republicans have always been good at the press side of things and will scream bloody murder as they are about california which currently isn't that bad while doing the same - think about republicans claim of weaponizing a pretty neutral doj while turning it into an attack dog for political enemies. The probelm is the democrats suck at the pr side of things.

Unrelated but the reason Harris lost wasn't because of what she said she would do but because of the what the republicans claim she would do.

 

[you2]

Political prosecution to an extreme:

https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/04/politics/justice-department-russia-grand-jury

 

[outriding]

Abbott is now threatening to expel the Dems that left the state.

Pretty sure he can't fire the lawmakers and hold special elections.

Texas governor threatens to seek removal of Democrats who fled state, escalating tensions​

https://wapo.st/47d5Ze0

Yet Abbott was quite when Cruz left the state when there was an emergency

 

[outriding]

Watch that tourism money go bye bye

15k for a visa bond

Really who is going to want to give the grifter in chief 15k for a bond

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-could-require-up-15000-bonds-some-tourist-visas-under-pilot-program-2025-08-04/#:~:text=WASHINGTON%2C%20Aug%204%20(Reuters),visitors%20who%20overstay%20their%20visas.

 

[cytg111]

Calling Abbott and asking for 5 seats smells a hell of alot like the call he made to Georgia Raffensberger in 2021 doesnt it? Find 12k votes to overturn the election?