The Shape of Things:
PA-07 "Goofy kicking Donald Duck"
The district: For nearly half a decade -- Pat Meehan entrenched himself in power in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District with the help of map manipulators.
Before the state supreme court determined Meehan's district and the PA congressional map as unconstitutional in 2018, the "Goofy kicking Donald Duck" shaped district served as a poster child of extreme partisan gerrymandering.
District distorters drew PA-07 by combining large parts of the Philadelphia suburbs with smaller areas of heavily Black populations. The result: a district that looked like Disney character Goofy kicking his friend Donald Duck... and also a district aimed to kick public accountability in favor of keeping extreme, partisan politicians like Meehan in power.
Our Shape of Things series raises awareness about the barriers to political representation in local communities -- one of the first steps to fight for fair maps in 2021. Will you consider supporting our work in districts like PA-07 with a recurring donation of any amount? Our monthly donors support our work in all of our target states and receive fewer fundraising emails.Who represented it? Congressman Pat Meehan represented the seventh district before resigning in 2018. At the time, he was under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for using taxpayer funds to settle a sexual harassment claim and now works as a lobbyist.
How did this happen? Simple. Partisan state legislators drawing the lines for maximum partisan power and minimal public understanding.
Reports show that Meehan's newly drawn district even confused him -- he would still send mailers to people carved out of his district.The congressman's district is a cautionary tale of the past and serves as a strong reminder of why we must end this undemocratic practice -- and that starts with next year's redistricting process.What does this mean for redistricting in 2021? Thankfully, Pennsylvania's 7th District is no longer shaped like "Goofy kicking Donald Duck" after the state supreme court found the district, and the entire map, to be an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander in 2018.
But -- with the redistricting process right around the corner, map manipulators are likely coming up with new gerrymandering schemes right now. Therefore, we must be proactive in our fight for fair maps to avoid a repeat of Pennsylvania's 7th District next year.
How can we prevent a repeat of Pennsylvania's 7th District? First, by making sure we are counted in the 2020 Census. Legislators in Pennsylvania will redraw the maps based on the new population count. And the Trump administration and McConnell's senate are doing everything in their power to meddle with the count.
Second, by speaking up in this year's elections. Voters must cast their ballots for legislators who will draw fair maps in 2021 because those lawmakers will be in charge of the redistricting process after the census count. One path to fair maps in Pennsylvania is by defeating extreme legislators and electing politicians who will champion fair maps instead.
Third, by showing up and being involved in the redistricting process next year. We're launching programs and trainings all across the state to help regular folks understand how maps are drawn and how to get involved.
Pennsylvania is one of All On The Line's target states because we know we can make a meaningful difference there. Otherwise, folks like Pat Meehan, entrenched in power with no accountability, can ignore the will of the people.
To restore fairness and prevent gerrymandered districts like PA-07 from forming after next year's redistricting process, we must fund our plans with sustained donations. Can you help our efforts in PA-07 and districts like it with a recurring contribution?
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-- The AOTL Team
All On The Line is the grassroots advocacy campaign supported by the National Redistricting Action Fund.
