For years - actually since 2011 - Democrats have been raising holy hell about the blatant partisanship demonstrated by their Republican colleagues in redrawing the state's Congressional maps.
It's called gerrymandering - stacking the deck to favor your side.
The state's congressional map is redrawn every 10 years based on the results of the latest census.
This year judges agreed with that claim, ruling that, yes, the maps were partisan, and they favored Republicans.
Democrats, including those here in Delaware County, rejoiced.
They have been on the upswing. Buoyed by their newfound edge in voter registration, and a general anti-Trump turnout, they posted serious gains in the November election, capturing the two contested seats on Delaware County Council as well as all three county row offices up for grabs.
Then they set their sights on the 2018 mid-terms, targeting local Republican incumbent congressmen.
Nowhere was that more evident than in the 7th District, which just happens to be Exhibit A when it comes to the wonders of gerrymandering. What was once a district that basically covered the bulk of Delaware County was twisted and contorted into a bizarre shape. The two large chunks actually touched five different suburban counties. It made what was once a tossup district into solid red turf, the comfy home of incumbent Republican Congressman U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan.
After winning office in 2010, Meehan routinely rolled up huge margins in three successive re-election victories, raking in 60 percent of the vote.
This time around it was expected that Meehan would face a sterner test, in part because of the anti-Trump backlash, as well as very unpopular moves to roll back the Affordable Care Act and the Republican tax cut package.
Then the 7th was shaken by the blockbuster story of Meehan using taxpayer dollars to settle a sex harassment claim by a former staffer. Meehan indicated he would not seek re-election.
Democrats suddenly looked like the Cheshire cat as they eyed the prize of the 7th District.
So you can imagine their dismay when they got a look at some of the versions of the new maps ordered by state Supreme Court in tossing out the old, gerrymandered versions.
Delco Democrats very possibly have won the battle, while losing the war.
The new maps look like they stake out a congressional district for each suburban county.
Except for one.
Want to take a guess?
Yep, that would be right here in Delco.
The new map shift most of the 7th District into Montgomery County. Delco would be covered by about equal parts in the 6th District, held by Rep. Ryan Costello, and the 1st, which will be up for grabs because Dem powerbroker and longtime 1st District Congressman Bob Brady also is not seeking re-election.
What's even more bizarre is who is behind this slap in the face to Delco voters.
Et tu, Gov. Wolf?
That's right. This is not the handiwork of Republicans, but rather the version submitted to the court by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf.
The state Supreme Court is expected to issue the version of a new political map today.
Delaware County Democrats should brace themselves.
They may find themselves on the outside looking in.
And this time they have no one but other Democrats to blame.
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