Carol Kuniholm is co-founder and chair of Fair Districts PA, a non-partisan organization working on redistricting reform in Pennsylvania.
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To Fix Our Broken Politics, We Have To End Gerrymandering
My work as a youth pastor inspired my work toward redistricting reform.
SINCE PRESIDENT TRUMP urged Texas lawmakers to get him “five more seats” in the House of Representatives before the 2026 mid-term elections, the words “redistricting” and “gerrymandering” have grabbed news headlines. Texas has redrawn congressional districts to give the Republican party an advantage. California is leading a countermove to redraw districts to give Democrats an edge. Other states are considering similar ploys along partisan lines.
Redistricting is the process of revising the boundaries of districts from which legislators are elected. Normally, redistricting takes place once a decade following the national census. Using new data on population changes and racial diversity, each state is required to redraw voting districts to provide balanced populations for congressional and state representation.
Gerrymandering happens when redistricting goes rogue. The word dates from 1812, when Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry permitted a congressional district map drawn to benefit his own party. One district, shaped like a monstrous salamander, caught press attention. Ever since, distorted districts have been called “Gerry-manders.”