Gerrymandering creates expensive primary battles while eliminating general election competition. How does redistricting affect campaign costs?

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Safe districts paradoxically cost more to campaign in despite being uncompetitive - averaging $3.2 million vs. $800K for fair districts. Candidates in gerrymandered seats must spend heavily on primary elections (where real competition occurs) while general elections become expensive formalities. Doggett's district required $2.8 million average spending to maintain a "safe" Democratic seat that should cost far less, showing how redistricting weaponizes campaign finance to exhaust candidates and drain resources from governance.

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