In 2011, Republicans, who held the majority in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, re-drew the state's congressional districts to reflect the population shifts recorded in the 2010 census. The districts were cut up and redrawn - Christopher Ingraham of the Washington Post referred to them as "real funky-looking Congressional districts." They stretch hither and yon, disjointed and often connected by tenuous strips of land. The result?

Thirteen Republicans and five Democrats represent Pennsylvania in the United States House of Representatives. This is in a state where registered Democratic voters outnumber Republicans by one million. Former Pennsylvania Democratic Chairman Jim Burn told the North Hills Patch "We knew that the Republicans would use their control of the process to draw a map that benefited Republicans, but we did not expect them to abuse their power to this degree, all while shutting out the public."

To add more context, states where Democrats control the legislature also have districts that many considered gerrymandered. Maryland is an example.

The results of the 2016 election have many people questioning the validity of the current congressional districts. As stated on their website, Fair Districts PA is a "coalition of citizens and organizations who believe that in American democracy, elections should represent the will of all the people, not just the politicians, and should provide citizens with meaningful choices in electing representatives."

Smart Talk will speak with Carol Kuniholm, Director of Fair Districts PA as well as organization aides Diana Dakey and Jim Foster. Also joining the conversation are David Thornburgh of Pennsylvania's Committee of 70 and Drew Crompton, Chief of Staff and counsel for Pennsylvania Senate Pro-Tempore Joe Scarnati.