When Prospect Heights Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries considered to running for state Assembly against Roger Green in 2002, after making a strong showing in the 2000 election, he was gerrymandered out of his own district.

Jeffries eventually prevailed and is now Minority Leader of the U.S. House. But it makes you wonder how many young leaders of both parties we lose when incumbent legislators use gerrymandering to exclude potential contenders.