America's long history of gerrymandering and its role in this year's midterms

PBS NewsHour · Judy Woodruff, Lorna Baldwin · 2026-10-28 23:15 UTC

Following partisan battles over political maps, nearly 35 million Americans will vote in congressional districts redrawn ahead of this year's midterms. As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, Judy Woodruff explores the origins of gerrymandering and why this centuries-old practice remains one of the most powerful tools in American politics. It's part of her series, Crossroads: America at 250.

Following partisan battles over political maps, nearly 35 million Americans will vote in congressional districts redrawn ahead of this year's midterms. As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, Judy Woodruff explores the origins of gerrymandering and why this centuries-old practice remains one of the most powerful tools in American politics. It's part of her series, Crossroads: America at 250.

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