Trump's redistricting pitch becomes 'the greatest self-own in American political history'

Virginians head to the polls on Tuesday to cast a vote on whether the state wants to redraw congressional lines to ensure more Democrats are elected in the 2026 midterms.

The idea came from President Donald Trump he thought he could maintain control of Congress if he had Texas redraw the congressional lines and get Democrats out of office. It has backfired spectacularly after Democrats decided to follow suit. Unlike in Texas, however, Democrats have had ballot initiatives that let voters decide what they want to do. Republicans attempted to do it unilaterally.

Rep. Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.) called the whole ordeal "a joke."

"The Republican position is, [that] they were worried because the American people have turned against this administration," he said. "They knew that the Democrats, fair and square, were going to win the midterms and take back the majority in Congress, [and] bring back checks and balances. They were so scared that they started this gerrymandering war."

"And you know what?" Stanton continued. "They're going to rue the day that they did that. One of the greatest self-owns in American history — political history, is going to be the decision of the Republicans to start these gerrymandering wars around the country. They are going to gerrymander their way into the minority. They are losing these gerrymandering wars. They started it. What a ridiculous thing for them to complain about it now."

He explained that Democrats never wanted mid-decade redistricting, were happy with their own districts, and felt they could win.

Now, "the American people know exactly what's going on, that the Republicans were trying to, almost cheat their way to victory. Again, one of the great self-owns in American political history," Stanton said.

He also took a hit at U.S. billionaires who are looking to reinstitute the draft.