"I hate it": Redistricting arms race gives lawmakers heartburn

House members are watching with growing discomfort as Democrats in California and other blue states consider joining Texas Republicans in pursuing mid-decade redistricting to gain an advantage in the 2026 midterms.Why it matters: It threatens, as one Democratic lawmaker put it, a "race to the bottom" that will encourage both sides to test the limits of gerrymandering and further fan the partisan flames engulfing the country.But with President Trump bearing down on Texas Republicans to change their maps and California Democrats wanting to respond in political self-defense, members of both parties feel they have little choice.Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) told Axios of his state's possible redistricting: "How I feel is terribly conflicted. I hate it. I really worry about a race to the bottom on something that I consider pretty despicable.""But I understand why the governor and others are considering it. The only reason it would even be possible is what Texas and others are doing just stinks so badly that it's pissing people in California off."State of play: Texas Republicans began a special session Monday, which Gov. Greg Abbott said would include an attempt to redraw the state's U.S. House districts.Redistricting is normally only done after the decennial census — most recently in 2020 — or in response to a court order. However, Trump has put pressure on Republicans to undertake the unusual effort in the hopes of creating as many as five new GOP-leaning seats.Republicans in Ohio are also looking to redraw districts to try to unseat several Democrats.In response, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, has threatened to try to revisit his state's districts to create more Democratic-leaning seats.What we're hearing: Democrats may not stop at California, and are eyeing other blue states, including New York, New Jersey, Minnesota and Washington, senior House Democrats told Axios.Democrats are "definitely looking into what's going on and trying to level the playing field," said one House Democrat. "It's crazy what's happening in Texas."House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told reporters Thursday: "It's all options on the table at this moment."Even though California has a constitutionally mandated independent redistricting commission, several House Democrats from the state told Axios they are confident Newsom could find a legal pathway.What they're saying: While lawmakers have largely stuck by their parties' plans as a necessary evil in an increasingly existential political environment, others expressed trepidation at the escalating brinksmanship."We're only supposed to be redistricting every 10 years," said Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.). "At some point, the partisanship gets too much. ... I just think it goes too far."A House Democrat from California, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Axios: "It's a difficult conversation, because we're literally doing it to gerrymander — everything that we stood against, and the reason we created the independent redistricting commission.""If we do it," the lawmaker added, "let's be very upfront and transparent about it. Don't leave it to an independent commission. Everybody knows what we're doing."Yes, but: Other relative moderates in both parties said they are more than comfortable with mid-decade redistricting, pointing to the other side's actions as justification."It's not only Texas," Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), whose own seat could be threatened by the redistricting plan, said, noting Newsom's comments.Gonzales added that Trump is a "political genius" and that "if we can pull off squeezing five more seats out of Texas, that's a game changer."Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) said if Republicans are "going to stoop to midterm redistricting to politically advantage the party, I think it's certainly something that should be on the table."The bottom line: Even Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), an arch-centrist who represents the reddest district of any House Democrat, declined to condemn potential redistricting in California — but he did warn Republicans against what is known as a dummymander."I won in a seat that the president has won by 7-10 points. ... You want to draw some of your incumbents out of R+12, R+15 seats into R+6? We'll find some good candidates who can win there."Axios' Kate Santaliz contributed reporting for this story.

Comments

World news

Ibiza Rocks cancels all events after two British men die at resort in a fortnight

Independent

Comments

World news

Ibiza Rocks cancels all events after two British men die at resort in a fortnight

House Speaker Mike Johnson backtracks on his push for Epstein files release saying Trump needs ‘space’

DOJ officials to meet with Ghislaine Maxwell on Epstein case to ask ‘what do you know?’

‘Twinned with Epstein Island’ sign appears on Trump golf course ahead of Scotland visit

Fugitive Moldovan oligarch implicated in $1 billion bank fraud detained in Greece

‘Devastating’ toxic algal bloom declared natural disaster in Australia amid warnings Bondi beach could be next

Trump claims he never ‘wrote a picture.’ His sketchy Epstein lie has now been exposed

Trump to pull America out of UNESCO once again

Ex-police officer gets 3-year prison sentence over Breonna Taylor death

Why the Government’s new small boats sanctions won’t solve crisis

I was forced out of my home by HS2 – now I fear I won’t be able to buy it back

Hockey Canada's reckoning was heralded three years ago. Instead, its crisis mushroomed

MLK Jr’s daughter tells Trump ‘now do the Epstein files’ after 230,000 pages released on civil rights leader

Tony Blair government lobbied by Australia not to meet Indigenous ‘troublemakers’, archives reveal

Trump accused of ‘running scared’ over Epstein files as he peddles Obama-Russia ‘hoax’: Live

Hunter Biden says his father was on Ambien before 2024 debate disaster: ‘A deer in headlights’

Two types of tuna recalled over listeria contamination fears

70 years on and Stalin’s ‘gifted’ skyscraper still looms over this Polish city

Teenage boy mauled to death by crocodiles while on walk with family in Mexico

Ibiza Rocks suspends music events after deaths of Britons at venue

When is VJ Day 2025 and what is the date about?

Who was Janine Downes, and why has her 1991 murder remained unsolved?

A new Section 28 is here – and it will harm gender-nonconforming children

I work seven days a week to afford my £970 mortgage – I ended up using a food bank

Five names who could host MasterChef – and why Nigella is the best choice

Inside the Ofwat ‘s**tshow’: How doomed regulator lost control of sewage dumpers

Trump and Netanyahu weren’t on the same page for long

A new Supreme Court case is an existential threat to the Voting Rights Act

Late night hosts unite to support Stephen Colbert with Coldplay kiss cam spoof after cancellation

New Astronomer CEO describes ‘unusual and surreal’ attention following Coldplay kiss cam scandal

Child airlifted to hospital after mountain lion attack on popular National Park trail

Shot in the head or pounded by Israeli bombs: How a week of bloodshed shattered Syria’s fragile peace

Stephen Colbert tells Trump ‘go f*** yourself’ as he warns the gloves are off after cancellation

Two Tesla court cases raise the question: Can Elon Musk be trusted?

‘Twinned with Epstein Island’ sign appears on Trump golf course ahead of Scotland visit

Trump's Labor Department proposes more than 60 rule changes in a push to deregulate workplaces

Uranium enrichment ‘a question of national pride’, says Iran’s foreign minister

The child-free pick up the slack for parents in August – it’s got to stop

Want to take the whole of August off? It would cause more inequality than Covid

I live in France – everyone pities the Britons who work in August

Seven ‘healthy’ foods that are awful for your teeth

There's a growing sentiment gap between rich and poor Americans

AI grows up without rules

Trump's forever grudge ties Epstein files to Russia "hoax"

Scoop: The overlooked data Trump economists see predicting a boom ahead

Stage set for Ontario to host major summit of Canada’s leaders

Nova Scotia gardeners, homeowners endure Japanese beetle infestations

N.B. family says son with autism kicked out of ER for being loud, disruptive

Carney to brief premiers on U.S. trade discussions as Trump deadline bears down

WHO says Israeli forces attacked its Gaza facilities and detained staff

Rescuers use explosives to free injured explorer from underground cave

Fire breaks out on Virgin Australia plane mid-flight likely due to power bank

Mystery over death of Ukrainian anti-organised crime chief in Benidorm pool

Take responsibility for your pension – it’s not fair to rely on younger people

British F-35 jet stranded in India for over a month takes off after inspiring memes

Swarms of Russian drones attack Ukraine nightly as Moscow puts new emphasis on weapon

From dying reefs to flooded graves, Vanuatu is leading a global climate case

The UK says it will sanction those who enable migrant journeys across the English Channel

'Porta Potty' party model 'beaten and thrown from roof' after a twist of fate

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky says fresh round of peace talks with Putin’s team set for Wednesday