The redistricting battle in Texas has taken quite a turn as Democrats try to stop Republican efforts to bolster their control over Congress.
Texas Democrats, as they are wont to do, have fled the state to block a redistricting plan that would give the GOP five additional seats in the House of Representatives. The stunt halted the legislative process by denying the state legislature quorum.
In response, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott threatened to “remove them from their seats” if they did not return by 3 p.m. on Monday.
Democrats like state Rep. Gene Wu accused the governor of “using an intentionally racist map to steal the voices of millions of Black and Latino Texans.”
Some of the wayward lawmakers fled to Chicago while others made for New York to meet with Gov. Kathy Hochul, who is also considering similar redistricting efforts to counter Texas.
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This means we are now in yet another gerrymandering battle, folks. And it’s not going to end any time soon.
Hochul recently spoke alongside six of the Democratic lawmakers. “I’m tired of fighting this fight with my hand tied behind my back,” she said, according to Politico.
Her remarks came as Democratic lawmakers in the Empire State introduced a constitutional amendment allowing for a mid-decade redistricting effort before the 2028 elections — similar to Texas’ action. This change could result in Democrats gaining 22 of the state’s 26 congressional districts.
New York Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie argued, “It’s difficult to ask New York, California, and other Democratic-leaning states to play nonpartisan while Republicans play very partisan.”
However, blue states have not been as “nonpartisan” about redistricting as Heastie would like us to believe. Indeed, the past decade shows that the Democrats love redistricting more than Eric Swalwell loves Chinese spies.
Texas Dems really fled to a state where the map looks like this to protest gerrymandering. Deeply unserious people. pic.twitter.com/8vmPmxPETC
— Nick Lindquist (@nick_lindquist) August 4, 2025
After the 2010 census, Maryland’s legislature altered its congressional maps to reconfigure the historically Republican sixth congressional district to include left-leaning suburbs near Washington, DC. This flipped the district and allowed Democrats to secure a seven to one congressional delegation.
Illinois has been notorious for gerrymandering. The state’s Democratic lawmakers redrew congressional maps after the 2020 census to gain an electoral advantage. The new maps created a 14-3 Democratic edge in its congressional delegation even though Illinois has been competitive in statewide elections.
Illinois is the most gerrymandered state in the country.
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) August 4, 2025
Republicans won 45% of the vote in Illinois in 2024.
Republicans were only able to win 3 seats out of 17.
Democrats kept 14 seats while only winning 55% of the vote. pic.twitter.com/qJdmVMgkA1
New Mexico has also embraced gerrymandering. Its legislature redrew its maps in a way that shifted its second congressional district from Republican-leaning R+14 to Democratic-leaning D+4. They did this by redistributing Republican areas in ways that diluted their influence. It was a clear example of partisan gerrymandering.
I could provide more examples, but I’d likely need to write billions more articles. But you get the point, right?
For Democrats, the issue of gerrymandering is a “good for me, but not for thee” principle.
This is why gerrymandering will never stop. Both parties use it to gain electoral advantages. It’s only a problem when the folks on the other team do it.
