WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch Who's Going to Win the Gerrymander Wars?
Aug 7, 2025
The podcast dives into the fierce gerrymandering battles ignited by Republicans in Texas, with Democrats gearing up for a counterstrike in California and Illinois. It discusses the strategic manipulation of district boundaries and its threats to voting rights. The complexities of California's gerrymandering situation are highlighted, especially in light of past initiatives and Governor Newsom's ambitions. The escalation of partisan tactics raises concerns about the future of elections and representation while pondering potential reforms to ease the ongoing turmoil.
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Gerrymandering Escalation and Texas Ambitions
- Gerrymandering has escalated as parties refine voter targeting to protect or reclaim House majorities.
- Texas Republicans aim to gain five seats, but this may be optimistic given current voting distributions.
Texas Gerrymander Vote Distribution
- Republicans can likely gain three seats in Texas by redistributing Republican votes more evenly.
- Winning an additional two seats in Southern Texas depends heavily on swinging the Hispanic vote.
Illinois' Democratic Gerrymander Tactics
- Illinois Democrats control more House seats than their vote share justifies through gerrymandering.
- Their districts include oddly shaped boundaries to maximize Democratic representation at a partisan cost.