(#5037) Gerrymandering by republicans almost failed them

      If the republican party had not so egregiously gerrymandered their states into majority rule with less voters we would be talking about how democrats held and added to their house majority. The worst of what we humans do to democracy is evident in how republicans manipulate districts in order to "win" them. Still though, we democrats voted heavily and many independents with us. Almost to the point of negating the gerrymandering republicans so callously implemented. Had it not been for unfairly drawn congressional districts to favor republicans the outcome would be much different this morning.
     Not all the voting is done yet but it appears that the republicans have retaken the House by at least one House seat. We democrats had a 4 seat lead coming into the midterm election so the gain by republicans from their 2020 gerrymandering strategy was very minimal. However that small gain is enough to most likely propel them into the leadership of the House. Through devious manipulations the republican party and their insurrectionist caucus are now third in line to the presidency. They also control whether any legislation will get done for the next 2 years. With Joe Biden as president we may be able to get a minimum of legislation done but not much more than that.
     It is my hope that the rest of the House seats still being contested will turn out to be democratic wins or at least most of them. Keeping the margin razor thin in the House could well turn any unforeseen House seat opening by republicans into a crucial special election that could change the majority of the house during the next 2 years. The disarray coming from republicans will not become resolved overnight so as it stands the next 2 years in the House will be traumatic and chaotic for all who are involved. The best thing that could happen is that the House return to democratic control as soon as possible so that the work on our American democratic agenda may continue.