A redistricting expert is warning Republicans that their gerrymandering push in Texas could backfire in a big way.
During an appearance on CNN, John Bisognano, president of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, explained that grassroots donors and voters across the political spectrum are voicing strong opposition to what’s happening in Texas. He noted that if Republicans light this fire, they may be the ones who end up “getting burned.”
Here’s the context: The Texas House recently moved forward with a new congressional map that favors Republicans by shifting five seats red. Critics say the map deliberately weakens the political power of Black and Latino communities. According to reports, the plan was requested directly by Donald Trump to help him keep a grip on the House during the midterms.
In response, Democratic leaders in other states are looking for ways to counterbalance Texas. California Governor Gavin Newsom is pursuing a ballot measure that would allow voters to approve their own redistricting map, likely creating additional Democratic seats. Governors Kathy Hochul of New York and J.B. Pritzker of Illinois have signaled similar openness to defensive strategies.
Bisognano emphasized that Democrats have been fighting gerrymandering in court for years, particularly in Texas, and expect more legal battles soon. He also pointed out that public awareness is growing more people are beginning to understand that gerrymandering isn’t just political maneuvering, but a direct attack on democratic representation.
It’s worth remembering that Democrats in Congress previously tried to pass legislation banning partisan gerrymandering nationwide. Republicans blocked it, knowing that fair maps would make it harder for them to hold power in states where their policies are unpopular.
As Bisognano explained, the moves in states like California aren’t just about partisanship; they’re about preventing one party from rigging the system so thoroughly that democracy itself becomes hollow. With Trump under pressure from an unpopular budget and tough midterm prospects, Republicans appear to be leaning even harder on redistricting as a survival tactic.
If anything, this fight highlights just how central fair maps are to the health of democracy. When voters lose the ability to choose their representatives, representation itself becomes meaningless.
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