The Socialist Party Opposes the Normalization of Partisan Gerrymandering

The Socialist Party USA opposes the normalization of partisan gerrymandering. Gerrymandering is an over two hundred year old tool of elected officials and partisans designed to decrease voter choice, dilute the power of minor political parties, and polarize elections. 

Gerrymandering is one of the many tools that has created the current state of Congress in the United States - deadlocked, highly partisan, and incapable of compromise. Gerrymandering was known to have a polarizing effect long before the Trump administration's latest plan to consolidate power by convincing Texas to initiate its redistricting process five years early with the express intent of creating more Republican-controlled Congressional districts. Now, this plan and the response from Democrat-controlled states has locked us further into what political scientists have called the "two-party doom loop". 

By once again bending the knee to Donald Trump, Republican leaders have shown that their primary concern is not the people they represent, but rather the permanent, authoritarian control that the Trump administration seeks. Democratic leaders have responded with a similar impulse. Their priority is not democracy but the hope of regaining and consolidating power in the next election. A true democracy would not seek to balance power between two combative factions - it would create a fair system for all parties and candidates to win based on their own merits.

The Socialist Party supports electoral reforms designed to break the two-party doom loop, such as proportional representation, public financing of elections, and uniform ballot access rules. The Ballot Access and Electoral Working Group promotes local and state-level Socialist Party organizing and supports candidates in running strong campaigns. Electing Socialists is a key aspect of the party's strategy for fighting for a socialist future. We call on elected officials and all Americans to stop normalizing divisive techniques of control and start working toward an equal playing field for all candidates and parties.   

passed by the SPUSA NEC August 25, 2025