Fair Districts PA - Lancaster County

05/11/2026

Despite the rain, we were at Lancaster Open Streets on Saturday, May 9, working to keep PA democracy strong.
Thank you to the organizers, the volunteers, and everyone who stopped by to talk about redistricting and to sign the petition in support of an independent redistricting commission.
If you missed us, you can still sign online here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/join-fdpa-support-redistricting-reform-2/?source=facebook

05/05/2026

How much will the US Supreme Court decision about racial gerrymandering impact PA? Some PA legal experts suggest "the ruling will likely have limited effect on statewide district maps in Pennsylvania, where the state constitution provides stronger protections against gerrymandering." https://www.votebeat.org/.../us-supreme-court-restricts.../
But partisan national entities aren't sure that's the case. The Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC), the group responsible for RedMAP 2010, has once again identified PA as a top target for down-ballot races to control future redistricting and to solidify their majority in Congress. https://thehill.com/.../5834102-republican-state.../
Meanwhile, Democratic strategists see PA as a potential source of up to 6 additional Congressional seats.
https://newrepublic.com/.../trump-supreme-court...
Both groups seem intent on redistricting PA in 2027 if they can flip vulnerable down-ballot seats in November. PA could be a pawn in this national battle for decades to come if legislative leaders refuse to consider reform.

The Supreme Court decision on gerrymandering points in one direction only: Come 2028, Democrats have to declare a take-no-prisoners redistricting war on the GOP.

04/24/2026

Hundreds of millions spent on misinformation.
Millions of voters in new, oddly shaped districts.
Incumbents retiring rather than run in new districts.
And no one really knows what will happen in November.
Isn't it time for better rules?
PA could be an example.

With Virginia narrowly supporting a new Democratic map, neither side gained much, except for more partisanship.

04/17/2026

Has Pennsylvania ended prison gerrymandering?
Many well-informed Pennsylvanians think so.
In reality, PA has only partially, temporarily addressed this.
The 2030 Census plans to count prisoners where they're detained, even if they're in county prison, waiting for trial.
There's nothing in PA law to address that.
Read more on the topic: https://www.prisonersofthecensus.org/
And sign up for the Justice 101: Prison Gerrymandering, April 23. https://fairdistrictspa.com/.../justice-101-prison...

Legal and factual research to support advocacy campaigns to end prison-based gerrymandering focusing on the Census Bureau, and state and local redistricting.

04/11/2026

Fight fire with fire?
Fix with further gerrymandering?
Brian Cannon led the work for reform in VA & explains why the escalating effort to rig district maps is morally, practically, politically indefensible.
"If authoritarianism is the concern, then we must refuse to imitate it. You do not defend democracy by bending it. You do not fight fire with fire. You fight fire with water. Strengthen the rules. Protect the guardrails. Hold the line."

Virginia earned national respect in 2020 by rejecting partisan map manipulation. If we reverse course now, we send a clear signal that reform lasts only until it becomes inconvenient.

04/07/2026

The May 19 primary is 6 weeks away.
We're assembling our Polling Place Outreach team.
If you're not a poll worker on May 19, consider a shift talking to voters as they leave the polls and inviting them to sign the petition in support of an independent redistricting commission. You'l receive training, materials, and a partner to join you at an assigned poll near you (or farther away, or you're willing to drive to a strategic location). Find info and sign up here: https://actionnetwork.org/.../join-the-fdpa-polling-place...

04/04/2026

04/03/2026

It’s hard to break through Harrisburg dysfunction, but we’re making progress. House Bill 31 and Senate Bill 131 have more cosponsors than most bills introduced this session.
Have your own legislators cosponsored? If they haven't, ask them why: https://www.fairdistrictspa.com/.../contact-your-legislator
Will legislative leaders listen? Ask them to give the bills a vote: https://fairdistrictspa.com/.../ask-legislative-leaders...

03/28/2026

Yesterday 25 FDPA supporters spent the day weaving around crowds and speaking with legislators and staff in their few minutes between committee and caucus meetings.
One reason for the crowded, chaotic climate: March 23 and 24 were the only two days both chambers were in session in the 3 months between February 4 and their next session days together May 4 to 6.
Overall, the PA full-time legislature spends fewer days in session together than most part-time legislatures.
Maybe that's part of the reason for PA's low effectiveness ranking?

While some lawmakers think that imposing term limits or shrinking the legislature might improve its performance, others say it’s just harder to advance legislation when political parties split control of the House and Senate.

03/18/2026

Over the past 35 years, coincident with rising partisanship, the voting public has been leaving the 2 major parties in the millions.
PA's closed primaries hide that fact-but talk to voters. They agree PA needs structures that resist partisan control.
PA is an extreme outlier in giving control of PA of state house & senate to just 5 people. 4 are caucus leaders.
That's not representation. It's the frightful despotism George Washington warned against.
Do your own legislators support an independent redistricting commission, or bow to party leader control rather than protect voters' rights?
Check https://fairdistrictspa.com/take.../contact-your-legislator
PA voters want fair districts, not maps that let politicians choose their voter.

The Supreme Court’s recent decision allowing California to proceed with a politically gerrymandered map favoring Democrats may be, as the headlines proclaimed, a victory for Democrats, just as the Tex...