Overview

• Texas Republicans approved new congressional lines at President Trump’s urging, with the plan designed to add as many as five GOP-leaning seats.
• California Gov. Gavin Newsom is pushing Proposition 50, a temporary map presented as a response to Texas that Democrats say would neutralize GOP gains and is slated for the Nov. 4 ballot.
• Proponents of Newsom’s approach argue Democrats should counter-gerrymander to safeguard representation after the Supreme Court’s 2019 Rucho decision removed federal courts from policing partisan maps.
• A competing view contends federal involvement in state redistricting would breach federalism principles, asserting these battles belong in state arenas and under state constitutions.
• Reform advocates highlight congressional options such as multimember districts paired with cumulative voting to curb gerrymandering by eliminating line-drawing incentives.