Gerrymandering is the manipulation of electoral district boundaries to create political advantage. Named after Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry in 1812, when his administration drew districts favoring Democratic-Republicans over Federalists. One salamander-shaped district led to a satirical Boston Gazette cartoon dubbing it “The Gerrymander.” The practice includes partisan gerrymandering (benefiting a political party) and racial gerrymandering (diminishing minority voting power).