When Both Sides Rig the Map: Why Gerrymandering Is a Two-Party Problem

If you listen to the political noise, you might think gerrymandering is a “red state” problem. Republicans are often called out for drawing district lines that tilt the playing field in their favor. But take a closer look, and the truth is harder to ignore: both major parties are playing the same game, and voters lose every time.

The Mismatch Between Votes and Representation

One way to see the problem is to compare how people vote statewide to how many seats each party ends up with in the U.S. House. The difference between those numbers is a “representation mismatch.”

Texas

• 2024 presidential vote: 56.1% Republican, 42.5% Democrat

  
  

• House seats: 65.8% Republican, 34.2% Democrat

  
  

• Mismatch: ~9%

  
  

Texas gets plenty of criticism for its maps. But its mismatch is smaller than what we see in some deep-blue states.

California

• 2024 presidential vote: 58.5% Democrat, 38.3% Republican

  
  

• House seats: 82.7% Democrat, 17.3% Republican

  
  

• Mismatch: ~22.6%

  
  

Now, some lawmakers in California are openly talking about redrawing the map mid-decade to flip five more Republican seats. If that happens, the mismatch could spike to more than 32%, with one party holding over 90% of seats despite winning under 60% of the vote.

Illinois

• 2024 presidential vote: 54.4% Democrat, 43.5% Republican

  
  

• House seats: 82.4% Democrat, 17.6% Republican

  
  

• Mismatch: ~27%

  
  

Illinois flies under the radar, but its mismatch is among the largest in the country.

It’s Not Always the Same Kind of Gerrymander

The reasons behind these mismatches aren’t always identical. In states like Illinois or Texas, maps are drawn directly by the legislature, often with partisan intent. In California, the state uses an independent redistricting commission, and the current mismatch is partly due to where voters live. Democrats tend to cluster in urban areas, winning some districts by huge margins while losing others narrowly. That “packing” effect can distort results even without a partisan gerrymander.

But when lawmakers try to override those independent maps for a partisan advantage, whether in California, Texas, or anywhere else, it’s the same anti-democratic playbook.

Why It Matters for All of Us

When either party rigs maps, it reduces competition. Safe districts mean fewer voters get a real choice, fewer elections change hands, and politicians become less accountable. That’s not a partisan loss, it’s a loss for democracy itself.

How We Break the Cycle

We can’t fix this with finger-pointing. We need reforms that apply to every state, no matter which party is in charge.

Here’s what works:

1. Independent redistricting commissions, with real protections against mid-decade political overrides.

   
   

2. Multi-member districts, where each district elects several representatives, making it harder to “draw out” the other side.

   
   

3. Proportional Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), so that representation matches the way people actually vote.

   
   

These changes won’t happen because politicians suddenly decide to give up their power. They’ll happen because voters demand them, loudly, clearly, and together.

The truth is simple: voters should choose their leaders. Leaders should never choose their voters.

Want to see how we fix all the ways parties rig the system?

Read the 📜 Ballot Fairness & Representation Act