Gerrymandering has contributed to increasing political partisanship primarily through the following point:
- It has discouraged political candidates from appealing to the center of the political spectrum.
This occurs because gerrymandered districts are often drawn to favor one party over another, leading candidates to focus on the preferences of their partisan base rather than seeking broader appeal. As a result, candidates may adopt more extreme positions to secure their primary elections, further entrenching partisanship in the political landscape.