Previous researchers found that gerrymandering has caused significant partisan bias among political actors, which is disproportionate to the voting patterns of American citizens among the masses (McCarty, 2009). However, current research fails to address how gerrymandering directly impacts polarization. My research shows the direct correlation through instances such as an increased incumbency rate and the increased segregation of communities. After conducting a quantitative case study between the states of Texas and New York, I found that there is a relationship between an increase in gerrymandering and an increase of political and racial polarization. The relationship was stronger than expected, showing that the more gerrymandered a state is, the more incumbents are re-elected, political elites vote on extreme party lines and a disproportionate winning party compared to average American voters. The practice of gerrymandering continues to exacerbate the polarization of American politics, specifically for less represented communities. Polarization among mass political actors is growing because of polarization among political elites, who make decisions about gerrymandering. Understanding the relevance of gerrymandering for mass polarization can raise awareness and lead to the practice of gerrymandering being abolished.
