The Brian Lehrer Show Red/Blue Redistricting
Aug 20, 2025
Jeffrey Wice, an expert on redistricting and adjunct professor at New York Law School, dives into the contentious world of political boundaries. He discusses Texas's efforts to redraw maps for partisan gain ahead of the 2026 midterms and contrasts this with California's strategies. Wice highlights the impact of these redistricting battles on minority representation and the complexities of U.S. voting rights. Insightful anecdotes reveal the challenges of achieving fair representation and the ongoing legal skirmishes shaping electoral maps.
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Mid-Decade Maps Spark A National Power Race
- Texas plans a mid-decade congressional redraw to likely flip as many as five Democratic seats to Republicans.
- California and other states are responding with their own plans, creating a national power race ahead of 2026.
Federal Rules Are Limited; States Set Constraints
- Federal redistricting rules are minimal: equal population and the Voting Rights Act matter most.
- The Supreme Court allows mid-decade redistricting unless state law prohibits it, and New York law forbids mid-decade changes.
Voting Rights Act Protects Minority Opportunity Districts
- Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act prohibits minority vote dilution and can force creation or maintenance of opportunity districts.
- Republicans argue they're using politics, not race, but eliminating minority districts in polarized areas risks a Section 2 violation.