Gerrymandering is noted for the weird shapes it makes on the map, and for the way it entrenches the power of the incumbant. Its a bipartisan problem, both teams do it, and both teams collaborate with each other to maintain the incumbant’s stranglehold on power.
Is it so hard to imagine that career politicians might feel they have more in common with players on the other team, than they have with their constituents? It’s a poorly kept secret.