Category Archives: redistricting

My New One at MSNBC Opinion: “Trump started a redistricting war. Only Congress can stop it.”

August 5, 2025, 10:33 amredistricting, Supreme Court, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

I have written this piece for MSNBC Opinion. It begins: A sudden war over redistricting has broken out in Texas and looks to spread across the country, with California, New York and elsewhere considering tit-for-tat Democratic partisan gerrymanders to… Continue reading

My New One at Slate on the Supreme Court Potentially Killing the Remaining Pillar of the Voting Rights Act: “The Supreme Court Just Signaled Something Deeply Disturbing About the Next Term”

August 4, 2025, 7:27 amredistricting, Supreme Court, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

I have written this piece for Slate. It begins: Reading the tea leaves from cryptic Supreme Court orders can be perilous business because the justices are not bound by the questions they ask at oral argument, the offhand comments they… Continue reading

“Texas House Democrats flee the state in bid to block GOP’s proposed congressional map”

August 3, 2025, 4:11 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Texas Tribune: Texas Democratic lawmakers fled the state Sunday in a bid to block passage of a new congressional map designed to give the GOP five additional seats in the U.S. House next year, raising the stakes in what’s… Continue reading

“Democratic governors advise strong counteroffensive on redistricting”

August 2, 2025, 1:08 pmchicanery, redistrictingRick Hasen

Politico: A group of Democratic governors is urging its colleagues to get tough in countering Republican-backed efforts to gerrymander Texas’ congressional districts. “It’s incumbent upon Democrat governors, if they have the opportunity, to respond in kind,” outgoing Kansas Gov. Laura… Continue reading

“How the New Texas Map Changes the Outlook for Control of the House”

August 2, 2025, 1:03 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Nate Cohn for The Tilt: So far this election cycle, most analysts have assumed that Democrats will win the House next November. No, it’s not a guarantee. But the party out of the White House usually does well in midterms,… Continue reading

“Texas House panel advances redrawn congressional map that would add more GOP seats”

August 2, 2025, 1:01 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Texas Tribune: A Texas House panel on Saturday advanced a draft congressional map aimed at adding five new Republican districts next year over protests from Democrats that the proposal would suppress the votes of people of color. The chamber’s redistricting… Continue reading

“How the Supreme Court enabled the Texas-California redistricting fight”

August 1, 2025, 8:16 amredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Bob Egelko for the SF Chronicle.

California: “Gavin Newsom floats November special election for his anti-Trump redistricting push”

July 31, 2025, 3:40 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Politico: Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday he will likely call a November special election to have voters approve new House maps that boost Democrats. By embracing a public vote, Newsom teed up a nationalized contest that opens a prominent front… Continue reading

Wice: “Congressional bills threaten equal representation, census accuracy”

July 31, 2025, 8:52 amcensus litigation, redistrictingRick Hasen

Jeff Wice Newsday oped: Fair representation in Congress is under attack. Several bills aim to limit the population used for allotting the 435 congressional districts among the states. …These current efforts threaten equal representation, and census accuracy, for Long… Continue reading

The Downballot on Why the Texas Gerrymander is Likely to be Effective and Not a “Dummymander”

July 31, 2025, 8:47 amredistrictingRick Hasen

Downballot: Texas Republicans unveiled a congressional redistricting proposal on Wednesday that would, as Donald Trump asked, further gerrymander the state’s map by making five Democratic-held seats more likely to flip in next year’s elections. The plan, which could change… Continue reading

Michael Li Answers Reader Questions about Texas Gerrymandering at Bolts

July 31, 2025, 8:45 amredistrictingRick Hasen

Read here.

As redistricting eyes turn again to California

July 31, 2025, 7:06 amelection law and constitutional law, redistrictingindependent redistricting commissions, state constitutionsJustin Levitt

Justin here. I find much of the work of the UCLA Voting Rights Project to be really valuable — but I have to say, I agree with Rick’s take on their read of the California Constitution‘s provisions on redistricting.… Continue reading

UCLA Voting Rights Project Experts Argue, Wrongly in My View, that the California Legislature Could Engage in Re-Redistricting California’s Congressional Districts without Voter Approval

July 30, 2025, 4:22 pmdirect democracy, redistrictingRick Hasen

What a difference half a day makes. Contrary to the earlier reporting from Politico that California Democrats might try to call a special election to get voter approval for a Democratic gerrymander of congressional districts (to counter the expected… Continue reading

“Texas House Republicans unveil new congressional map that looks to pick up five GOP seats”

July 30, 2025, 8:32 amredistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Texas Tribune: Texas GOP lawmakers released their first draft of the state’s new congressional map Wednesday, proposing revamped district lines that attempt to flip five Democratic seats in next year’s midterm elections. The new map targets Democratic members of… Continue reading