The redistricting referendum was successful because of the hard work of Virginia Democrats, including those here in Hanover County. Congratulations! The results sent a message of hope and a model to follow for the rest of the country. It is a huge win even with the final outcome under litigation, so take a minute to appreciate our accomplishment!
Our neighbors who are stung by the loss are parroting Republican propaganda saying that “two wrongs don’t make a right”. It is important that we understand how to respond to that nonsense. Republicans hold the White House, Senate and House, so they could have passed a bill prohibiting partisan gerrymandering nationally at any point during the last year, but, instead, they chose to aggressively gerrymander Texas, North Carolina and Missouri. Democrats have long favored a national ban on partisan gerrymandering.
A better metaphor for this situation is that it is usually wrong to batter down the door to one’s house with an ax, but, if the house is on fire and the door is the only way out, it is proper, even heroic, to take down the door. Democrats do believe our country’s house is on fire because of the Republican authoritarian power grabs and the unprecedented levels of corruption, hence we voted to fight the fire.
