Texas vs. California: Gerrymandering, Redistricting, and the Law

Content: In recent weeks, both Texas and California have moved aggressively on redistricting—each in very different ways.

Texas: Mid-Decade Redistricting

Texas lawmakers pushed through a mid-decade redistricting plan that increases Republican representation in Congress by roughly five seats. Supporters argue the map is legal under state law, but critics say it dilutes minority voting strength and violates the Voting Rights Act. Courts are expected to decide its fate.

California: Counter-Redistricting via Proposition 50

In response, California approved a ballot measure (Proposition 50) to let voters decide on a new congressional map favoring Democrats. If passed this November, the map would be temporary—lasting through 2030—before reverting back to the state’s independent redistricting commission. Though controversial, this path is legally defensible because it comes through a voter-approved constitutional amendment.

The Bigger Picture: Gerrymandering in America

Both cases highlight the ongoing battle over gerrymandering in the U.S. Texas is testing the limits of mid-cycle, legislature-driven maps, while California is testing whether voters will support a partisan override of their own independent system.

Summary:

• Texas: Legal under state law but contested in federal court.

• California: Legal via voter amendment, though politically charged.

Ultimately, the courts—and voters—will decide.