Every 10 years, states redraw the areas that congress people represent.
This redrawing is also called redistricting. It’s intended to support changing populations over time. But sometimes, officials in power redraw voting maps to have a better shot at winning more seats for their preferred party in an election. This is known as gerrymandering.
Here are two examples: In August, the Texas Legislature redesigned the U.S. congressional districts held by five Democrats in the state. They spread their representation over areas that have voted Republican in the past. That way, Republicans would have a better chance of winning those seats in the next election. Democrats in California then announced their own plan to get rid of five Republican districts.
There are some rules about gerrymandering. The Supreme Court has ruled that each congressional district must represent roughly the same number of people. Lines can’t be drawn to favor or exclude any particular racial groups. But aside from those requirements, the U.S. Constitution leaves redistricting largely up to the states.
States normally redraw their congressional districts after every U.S. census. The next census is set to take place in 2030. But Texas and California have each drawn maps designed to unseat members of the U.S. House of Representatives . . . in time for the 2026 elections. Californians will vote in November whether to approve or reject the proposed changes. In Texas, the public doesn’t get to vote, but judges will review the proposal.
What does the redistricting mean for Congress? As of September, there were 219 Republicans and 214 Democrats in the House of Representatives. That is close to a balance. Each party wants to hold a majority, so each seat really counts in the next election. If Republicans grow their majority at all, it becomes easier to advance Republican goals. If Democrats gain more seats in the House, they may be able to slow President Donald Trump’s agenda.
Some states have rules about redistricting between election cycles. Tennessee has a statute forbidding the practice. At least 10 state constitutions also rule it out.
About 20 states have laws against redistricting for the purpose of gaining an edge in an election. A handful of states appoint regular citizens to handle redistricting decisions, so that they won’t be as biased. In Virginia, former Delegate Mark Cole helped set up an independent redistricting commission. This makes it more difficult to gerrymander.
Will other states follow Texas and California’s lead? Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe signed into law a new congressional map that is likely to give Republicans an additional seat. As of September, at least eight others were considering a shuffle: Indiana, Illinois, Florida, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
Cole says he’s surprised states like Texas haven’t tried a midcycle redistricting sooner. “Gerrymandering will always be a factor to some degree or another as long as politicians are involved with drawing their own districts,” he says.
Why? Political gerrymandering may be legal. But legal isn’t always right, because people can be tempted to favor individual gain. Our God loves honesty, justice, and integrity.
