We have to face the realization of how the U.S. Supreme Court has negatively impacted Melanated people’s voting rights. Yes, the Supreme Court has gutted the Voting Rights Act; however, Melanated people and other people of color in America can still make an impact on who controls elections that can’t be gerrymandered. We must use our collective Voting Power where and when we can! Stealing our votes has sent us a very powerful message: that is, just how powerful our VOTES really are!
Message To The People, Let’s Review What Public Offices CANNOT Be Impacted By Gerrymandering. Gerrymandering only affects offices elected by districts. Any office elected statewide, citywide, or countywide is immune.
BELOW IS THE COMPLETE LIST: Public Offices That Cannot Be Gerrymandered
Gerrymandering only affects district-based elections. Any office elected statewide, citywide, countywide, or at‑large is immune.
Below is the full landscape.
STATEWIDE EXECUTIVE OFFICES (Most powerful, cannot be gerrymandered)
- Governor — Controls budgets, appointments, policing, education, and emergency powers.
- Lieutenant Governor — Often presides over the state senate; succession power.
- Attorney General — Civil rights enforcement, police oversight, sues corporations and states.
- Secretary of State — Controls elections, certification, voter rolls.
- State Treasurer — Manages billions in public funds.
- State Auditor / Comptroller — Oversees government spending and corruption.
- Insurance Commissioner — Regulates insurance companies and rates.
- Agriculture Commissioner — Controls food systems, land use, environmental rules.
- Statewide Judges — Supreme Court and appellate courts in states with elections.
US FEDERAL OFFICES NOT AFFECTED BY GERRYMANDERING
- U.S. Senate — Two per state, no districts.
- President — National election; no districts.
- Vice President — Elected on the same ticket.
COUNTYWIDE OFFICES (Huge impact on justice, policing, land use)
- District Attorney — Charging decisions, plea deals, incarceration.
- Sheriff — County jails, policing priorities, evictions.
- County Executive / County Judge — Runs county government.
- County Clerk / Recorder — Often administers elections.
- Assessor — Property valuations, tax equity.
- Coroner — Determines cause of death; critical in police accountability.
- Countywide Judges — Trial courts, family courts, probate courts.
CITYWIDE OFFICES (Cannot be gerrymandered)
- Mayor
- City Attorney
- City Treasurer
- At‑Large City Council Seats — Elected citywide, not by district.
- City Auditor
EDUCATION GOVERNANCE (Non‑district or statewide)
- State Superintendent of Education — Controls curriculum, standards, funding.
- State Board of Education — Often elected statewide or at‑large.
- Community College Boards
- University Regents/Trustees — In some states, elected statewide.
- County Boards of Education — Countywide elections.
SPECIAL DISTRICTS (At‑large or jurisdiction-wide)
These control billions in infrastructure and public services.
- Water Boards
- Transit Boards
- Utility Boards
- Port Authorities
- Hospital District Boards
- Fire District Boards
Most are elected at‑large, not by district.
BALLOT INITIATIVES (Direct democracy, cannot be gerrymandered)
- Statewide Ballot Measures
- Citywide Ballot Measures
- Countywide Ballot Measures
These allow communities to change laws directly without going through legislatures.
THE STRATEGIC TAKEAWAY FOR MELANATED POLITICAL POWER
These offices matter because:
- They cannot be carved up to dilute Black or Brown votes.
- They control policing, prosecution, education, housing, land use, and elections.
- Turnout is often low, meaning organized communities can dominate.
- They shape the conditions of daily life more than Congress does.
- They are the fastest path to structural change without waiting for federal reform.
If they can’t draw you out of power, they can’t stop you from taking power.
Gerrymandering is a map problem. This strategy WE NEED TO USE is a math problem. We must turn out, build a coalition, and work with like-minded organizations.
©Mansour Id-Deen – 05/12/2026 – leave a comment