(Letter to the Editor - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

This letter is in response to the column by Susan Estrich titled “I’m with Gov. Newson,” in the Friday, Aug. 29, newspaper, in which Ms. Estrich states “Texas is redrawing districts to unfairly pad the Texas delegation with more Republicans.”

Ms. Estrich’s column neglects mentioning that Democratic blue states have for decades been gerrymandering their Congressional districts to deprive Republicans in their states of representation in Congress. It is the Democratic Party which perfected the art of gerrymandering. Republicans have historically held the moral high ground in drawing up their districts to fairly represent their state’s Democratic Party voters.

California Gov. Gavin Newson’s state is already an example of unfair gerrymandering. With California’s 52 Congressional seats only nine are held by Republicans and Republicans reflect 38% of California’s voters. Yet Gov. Newsom is threatening to further gerrymander his state to disenfranchise even more California Republican voters, in response to Texas redistricting.

Examples of Democratic blue state unfair gerrymandering are:

* Illinois — with 17 Congressional seats, only three are held by Republicans, while 43% of Illinois voters vote Republican.

* New York — with 26 Congressional seats, only seven are held by Republicans, while 43% of New Yorkers vote Republican.

* New Jersey — with nine Congressional seats, only three are held by Republicans, while 31% of New Jersey voters vote Republican.

* Massachusetts — with nine Congressional seats, all nine are held by Democrats, while 36% of Massachusetts voters vote Republican.

* Maine — with nine Congressional seats, none are held by Republicans, while over 12% of Maine voters vote Republican.

* New Mexico — with three Congressional seats, none are held by Republicans while almost 40% of New Mexicans vote Republican.

There are other examples of unfair blue state gerrymandering I could cite.

Under President Trump’s leadership, Republicans are fighting back against blue states’ unfair gerrymandering tactics.

Blue states are threatening to gerrymander their districts to counter Texas redistricting. However, these blue states have little “juice” left in their gerrymandering “lemon,” while red states have juice to spare.

Democratic states are threatening to fight Texas redistricting in the courts, which could backfire on them. The courts could rule blue states must redo their districts to fairly reflect the voter makeup in individual states, which would favor Republicans.

If the courts rule Texas redistricting is legal, more red states will follow suit.

Ms. Estrich states “in an ideal world of good government types, redistricting would be done by some kind of bipartisan or nonpartisan commission.”

I concur.

Steve Wolverton

Parkersburg