Democrat, GOP redistricting wars heat up. Voters will lose. | Opinion

I’m convinced that when Benjamin Franklin warned, “A republic, if you can keep it,” he could just as easily have been speaking about today’s redistricting battles.

Consider the Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling striking down Louisiana’s congressional map containing a second majority-Black district. The court found that drawing districts predominantly on the basis of race violates the Equal Protection Clause, while largely preserving the broader framework of the Voting Rights Act. The ruling on racial gerrymandering could carry major consequences for upcoming elections and potentially boost Republican odds of holding the U.S. House of Representatives.

Partisan gerrymandering has become a toxic cycle, with each party retaliating when given the chance, redrawing maps to preserve or expand its advantage. The result is an endless legal and political arms race that could shape the November midterm elections, when House control could again hinge on a razor-thin margin.

The redistricting debate reveals how quickly both parties abandon lofty rhetoric about “fairness” once they gain power, shifting the focus from genuine representation to pure partisan advantage.

Redistricting wars spread as both parties redraw maps to lock in power

Redistricting wars are now unfolding across key Republican- and Democratic-controlled states, as both parties increasingly use mapmaking to entrench political power.

In Florida, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis led an aggressive mid-decade redistricting push, with state lawmakers approving new congressional lines on April 29 that are expected to add at least four GOP-friendly House seats.

Florida is now the eighth state this cycle to redraw its congressional map outside the normal census process.

Texas did this, too. On April 27, the Supreme Court allowed Texas’ newly redrawn congressional map to move forward, overturning a lower court ruling and ending a prolonged legal battle over Republican efforts to secure up to five additional GOP seats. The fight drew national attention in 2025 when Democratic state lawmakers fled Texas in an attempt to block the vote.

Outraged and not to be outdone, California Gov. Gavin Newsom redrew his state's congressional districts to favor Democrats when voters approved Proposition 50 in November.

The Supreme Court of Virginia has heard oral arguments in a challenge to the state’s redistricting amendment and will decide whether Democratic lawmakers properly followed the rules for placing the constitutional amendment on the ballot. If it remains in place, the new map could eliminate almost all Republican-leaning congressional districts in Virginia and give Democrats four more U.S. House seats.

Democracy dies in redistricting

Republicans have long accused Democrats of using partisan gerrymandering as a political power grab. Just look at congressional maps in states like Illinois, Maryland and Wisconsin.

But now Texas’ map appears just as aggressively gerrymandered.

I understand why Texas Republicans made this push. I understand the temptation to strike back. If Democrats manipulate maps to their advantage, why shouldn’t Republicans do the same?

But where does that logic end? Are we prepared to redraw congressional maps every five years indefinitely and still call it democracy?

America’s voters deserve fair representation. That becomes impossible when whichever party holds power continuously reshapes district lines for partisan gain. The redistricting debate reveals how quickly governing principles collapse into political gamesmanship once control is secured.

If we hope to preserve our democratic republic, order must be restored to this process. The only question is who will be willing to do it first.

Nicole Russell is an opinion columnist with USA TODAY. She lives in Texas with her four kids. Sign up for her newsletter, The Right Track, and get it delivered to your inbox.