The word "gerrymander," which is much in the news lately, comes from the name of a real person: Elbridge Gerry, signer of the Declaration of Independence and Governor of Massachusetts from 1810 to 1812.
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The word "gerrymander," which is much in the news lately, comes from the name of a real person: Elbridge Gerry, signer of the Declaration of Independence and Governor of Massachusetts from 1810 to 1812.
During his tenure, the state legislature redrew its districts to heavily favor Gerry's party, the Democratic-Republicans. One district in particular was so long and thin that observers said it resembled a salamander, which led to it being described as a new kind of creature: a "Gerry-mander."

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R relay@relay.infosec.exchange shared this topic
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The word "gerrymander," which is much in the news lately, comes from the name of a real person: Elbridge Gerry, signer of the Declaration of Independence and Governor of Massachusetts from 1810 to 1812.
During his tenure, the state legislature redrew its districts to heavily favor Gerry's party, the Democratic-Republicans. One district in particular was so long and thin that observers said it resembled a salamander, which led to it being described as a new kind of creature: a "Gerry-mander."

@jalefkowit … who pronounced his last name “Garry.”
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The word "gerrymander," which is much in the news lately, comes from the name of a real person: Elbridge Gerry, signer of the Declaration of Independence and Governor of Massachusetts from 1810 to 1812.
During his tenure, the state legislature redrew its districts to heavily favor Gerry's party, the Democratic-Republicans. One district in particular was so long and thin that observers said it resembled a salamander, which led to it being described as a new kind of creature: a "Gerry-mander."

@jalefkowit TIL people in the 1800s had no idea what salamanders looked like.