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edhopper

(37,470 posts)
Wed May 6, 2026, 09:04 AM 6 hrs ago

The GOP's gerrymandering, one word; Independents

The GOP can't gerrymander, even in the deep red South, with only Republican registered voters. There are not enough of them to spread to all the new districts to win them.
They must rely on traditionally Republican voting Independents.
The problem they may face is Trump's approval among independents has plummeted to 25%. A big swing in Independents for the Democrats in districts that now have a diluted GOP vote could swing this election.

All speculative, but a hopeful perspective.

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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The GOP's gerrymandering, one word; Independents (Original Post) edhopper 6 hrs ago OP
.... a brighter perspective,... magicarpet 6 hrs ago #1
Thanks. I've been trying to wrap my head around this revolting development Iris 6 hrs ago #2
Now, where have I heard that before? LOL! Baitball Blogger 6 hrs ago #3
Great minds edhopper 6 hrs ago #4
. Baitball Blogger 6 hrs ago #6
The independents are going to be deciding elections for the foreseeable future. everyonematters 6 hrs ago #5
You are correct Fiendish Thingy 5 hrs ago #7
I'm also hopeful that outrage over the gutting of the Voting Rights Act might cause the GOP to lose the Senate. Mister Ed 5 hrs ago #8
Interesting comments karynnj 5 hrs ago #9

magicarpet

(19,237 posts)
1. .... a brighter perspective,...
Wed May 6, 2026, 09:12 AM
6 hrs ago

I'll take it. My blood pressure dropped a notch or two - THX.

Iris

(16,885 posts)
2. Thanks. I've been trying to wrap my head around this revolting development
Wed May 6, 2026, 09:18 AM
6 hrs ago

This gives me some hope esp after OH's bloody Republican primary yesterday

Fiendish Thingy

(23,840 posts)
7. You are correct
Wed May 6, 2026, 09:52 AM
5 hrs ago

As elections over the past year have shown, independents are swinging towards Dems in a big way. Even republicans are voting for Dems in not insignificant numbers, enough to flip seats in districts Trump won by +20 in 2024 (see recent races in TX and FL, among other places, for example).

The desperate , Hail Mary Gerrymandering won’t save them.

Mister Ed

(6,971 posts)
8. I'm also hopeful that outrage over the gutting of the Voting Rights Act might cause the GOP to lose the Senate.
Wed May 6, 2026, 10:05 AM
5 hrs ago

That outrage may drive millions of normally-complacent voters to the polls when they might have otherwise skipped the midterms.

Statewide elections can't be gerrymandered. Close Senate elections that might otherwise have gone to the GOP candidate might go the other way instead.

To prevent that, the GOP will likely try to employ increasingly heavy-handed voter suppression methods, which might stir more voter outrage. May justice and democracy prevail.

karynnj

(61,073 posts)
9. Interesting comments
Wed May 6, 2026, 10:17 AM
5 hrs ago

I wonder if the unintended consequence of gerrymandering to the fullest extent might be that it eliminates the very homogeneous districts that have allowed extreme candidates to not just win, but then be in safe seats.

To get all the seats, they might have to water down 60 percent or more districts to possibly, say 52/48 percent districts. The historical trend toward seats being solidly one way has led to the election of more highly partisan people. If this reverses that, could it favor people who are more centrist?

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