Gerrymandering Math

Texas has a full House again.

Democratic lawmakers who fled the state to stall a vote on redistricting are expected to return to Austin today, allowing the vote to move forward on a new map that will (probably) flip five congressional seats in Republicans’ favor. The mapwork is part of President Trump’s effort to expand Republicans’ narrowly held control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2026 midterm elections.

While the Lone Star lawmakers were on hiatus, California’s Governor Newsom (D) proposed his own map that would (probably) add five more blue seats. Democrats will seek approval to put the new map—which sidesteps the state’s independent redistricting commission—on its November 2025 ballot.

Liking that math, Texas Democrats are returning home, saying they’ll move their battle to the courts and “pass the baton” to California.

Verse to consider whether gerrymandering math keeps you up at night or puts you to sleep faster than high school algebra… “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.” 
Psalm 19:14 (CSB) (read full passage)