Republican Congressman Files for Reelection in Wrong District After Gerrymander
Some fun news out of California: The Sacramento Bee reports that longtime California Republican Congressman Ed Royce recently filed for election in the wrong district. Prior to the GOP’s and ridiculous 2010 congressional gerrymander, Royce served the 40th District—where he filed in December—but he now serves the 39th, which snakes through several conservative-leaning counties. (Adding to the confusion, Royce actually served the 39th in the 1990s as well, prior to the 2000 gerrymander.)
“Prior to the GOP’s and ridiculous 2010 congressional gerrymander, Royce served the 40th District—where he filed in December—but he now serves the 39th, which snakes through several conservative-leaning counties.” Congressional districts are decided by state governments.
Royce’s consultant has claimed that the misfiling was simply a typo, but it seems much likelier that Royce was thrown off by the labyrinth of districts created by the GOP’s most recent gerrymander. (Business Insider notes that the craggy, horseshoe-shaped 39th closely resembles a Rorschach inkblot.) With so many malformed districts drawn to entrench a Republican majority in the House, it’s quite a feat for congressmen even to locate their districts on a map.
More: Republican Congressman Files for Reelection in Wrong District After Gerrymander