Introducing “You Might Be Right:” Will Redistricting Shape the Midterms?

Phil, good to be back with you.

Are you ready for this one?

I am, and, uh, honestly, this is, uh, one subject where I don't think either of us has to reach very far.

We've just lived through, uh, an example of this.

[laughs]

Our own state just went through a mid-decade redraw a few months ago.

But I have, before we get going, I have some, uh, history or trivia for you.

Do you know where the name gerrymandering came from?

Um, from someone named Gerry.

Well, you're h- half partial credit.

His, Elbridge, but it's his, actually, he said his name Gary.

Gary.

Okay.

El- Elbridge Gary.

He was like us.

He was a governor of Massachusetts.

Unlike us, he signed the Declaration of Independence.

But in 1812, he redid the dis- the, uh, voting districts in Massachusetts.

Uh, and when he did it, uh, one cartoonist said it looked like a salamander.

And so gerrymander, uh, uh, Gerry- Came from, uh, or gerrymander came from combini- combining his name with this, uh, look of a salamander.

But next time you're at a cocktail party and somebody complains about gerrymandering, say, "Well, actually, it's gerrymandering."

I'll just tell them-

[laughs]

... that I, I know this person who was a history major in college and-

And knows a lot of worthless knowledge [laughs]

Phil, good to be back with you.

Are you ready for this one?

I am, and, uh, honestly, this is, uh, one subject where I don't think either of us has to reach very far.

We've just lived through, uh, an example of this.

[laughs]

Our own state just went through a mid-decade redraw a few months ago.

But I have, before we get going, I have some, uh, history or trivia for you.

Do you know where the name gerrymandering came from?

Um, from someone named Gerry.

Well, you're h- half partial credit.

His, Elbridge, but it's his, actually, he said his name Gary.

Gary.

Okay.

El- Elbridge Gary.

He was like us.

He was a governor of Massachusetts.

Unlike us, he signed the Declaration of Independence.

But in 1812, he redid the dis- the, uh, voting districts in Massachusetts.

Uh, and when he did it, uh, one cartoonist said it looked like a salamander.

And so gerrymander, uh, uh, Gerry- Came from, uh, or gerrymander came from combini- combining his name with this, uh, look of a salamander.

But next time you're at a cocktail party and somebody complains about gerrymandering, say, "Well, actually, it's gerrymandering."

I'll just tell them-

[laughs]

... that I, I know this person who was a history major in college and-

And knows a lot of worthless knowledge [laughs]