Elbridge Gerry was James Madison's vice-president but also had been governor of Massachusetts when he approved a legislative map including an irregularly shaped district drawn to benefit his party. A cartoon of the time observed that the map resembled a salamander. After which a local editor remarked "Better say a gerry-mander" and the term was coined. The practice has created so many safe "seats" that of 435 in Congress some estimate that only 15 are in play which has contributed to the gridlock in Washington which cannot be addressed until after the 2020 census. But don't hold your breath.
tjs
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