Political scientists warn that Republicans' "dummymandering" strategy could backfire after Democratic landslide election results showed a different reality this week.
GOP lawmakers have pointed to gerrymandering as a primary way to secure power. President Donald Trump pressured Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to help him secure more GOP seats in the House, and Democrat California Gov. Gavin Newsom responded with Proposition 50 to redraw maps in the Golden State, according to MSNBC host Chris Hayes.
The initiative passed with an overwhelming majority on Tuesday night and helps California fight back against the maneuver to counter the additional five Republican seats with more California Democratic seats in the House.
But that upset the California GOP.
"California Republicans sued to stop the state from moving forward with redistricting and claimed the new map is unfair — even as their party seeks to gerrymander other red states," Hayes reports.
Still, Republicans want to implement the strategy.
"We are in a gerrymandering arms race, and there is no mystery as to why. After Tuesday’s drubbing, House Speaker Mike Johnson made it clear that redistricting is how Republicans think they will win," he adds.
But the move might not be enough.
"If you are pulling supporters from a deep-red district to make another district red, you end up with two less-red districts. You also can’t guarantee that your red voters from the last election will turn out for you again," Hayes reports.
"That means the Republicans’ plan could backfire. If voters are angry enough at them, as they were on Tuesday, Republicans could lose both those 'red' districts. Political scientists even have a word for the phenomenon: 'dummymandering,'” he explains.
Newsom plans to oppose the Republican plan and made it known Tuesday night.
“We need the state of Virginia. We need the state of Maryland. We need our friends in New York and Illinois and Colorado. We need to see other states, the remarkable leaders that have been doing remarkable things, meet this moment head-on as well," Newsom said.