Democrats are struggling to convince the public that they are outraged that there is gerrymandering afoot in Texas. It is no easy task, particularly after Texas Democrats selected Illinois as their sanctuary state, a state considered the most gerrymandered in the country. Trump received 45 percent of the vote in the state, but Republicans have only 14 percent of the congressional seats. Even the New York Times admitted that gerrymandering has favored Democrats across the nation. However, the winner of the Claude Rains award must be Marc Elias, who has expressed disgust over the notion of gerrymandering despite the fact that his group was denounced by courts for outrageous gerrymandering efforts.
The origin of the term was based on re-districting associated with Elbridge Gerry, a Founding Father, vice president, and governor of Massachusetts. He signed off on a district designed to guarantee a seat for the precursor of today’s Democratic Party. The district resembled a salamander, so the Boston Gazette deemed it the “Gerry-mander.”
That effort pales in comparison to what was done in Illinois to deny Republicans a fair share of congressional seats. This is the Illinois map:
The 13th congressional district stretches from East St. Louis to Springfield, 90 miles away. It then takes a sharp turn east to grab Decatur and Champaign. This monstrosity was approved by Democrats who are now insisting that they will respond to Texas with a gerrymander war, as if they were political pacifists until a few days ago.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker portrayed his party as the victim of conniving pols and pledged to respond in kind. Yet, it was Pritzker who approved the redistricting that guaranteed that, while Republicans represent almost half of the voters, they will receive less than twenty percent of the congressional seats.
The same is true in California, where Governor Gavin Newsom is also pledging to retaliate despite previously engaging in rampant gerrymandering. Republicans constituted roughly 40 percent of the congressional vote in 2024 but received only about 17 percent of the House seats. Across the country in 17 blue states, the Dems won 56.7 percent of the popular House vote but secured 143 of the 185 House seats — 77.7 percent.
New York has achieved that same expanded democratic representation despite the fact that Trump received 45 percent of the vote. Republicans are confined to a small handful of districts.
I have long opposed gerrymandering by both parties. However, the claims of disgust and outrage by Democrats border on the comical.
That brings us to Marc Elias, who is again trying to raise clients and donations off the outrage.
Elias has not only been sanctioned in past litigation, but past courts have also criticized his group. In Maryland, Elias filed in support of an abusive gerrymandering of the election districts that a court found violated not only Maryland law but the state constitution’s equal protection, free speech and free elections clauses. The court found that the map pushed by Elias “subverts the will of those governed.”
Elias is currently looking at a likely demand for testimony in the new grand jury investigation into the Russian conspiracy. He featured prominently in the filings of Special Counsel John Durham. It was Elias who made the key funding available to Fusion GPS, which in turn enlisted Steele to produce his now discredited dossier on Trump and his campaign.
During the campaign, reporters did ask about the possible connection to the campaign, but Clinton campaign officials denied any involvement. Weeks after the election, journalists discovered that the Clinton campaign hid payments for the Steele dossier as “legal fees” among the $5.6 million paid to Perkins Coie.
New York Times reporter Ken Vogel said at the time that Elias denied involvement in the anti-Trump dossier. When Vogel tried to report the story, he said, Elias “pushed back vigorously, saying ‘You (or your sources) are wrong.’” Times reporter Maggie Haberman declared, “Folks involved in funding this lied about it, and with sanctimony, for a year.”
It was not just reporters who asked the Clinton campaign about its role in the Steele dossier. John Podesta, Clinton’s campaign chairman, was questioned by Congress and categorically denied any contractual agreement with Fusion GPS. Sitting beside him was Elias, who reportedly said nothing to correct the misleading information given to Congress.
With the likes of Marc Elias leading the cause against gerrymandering, the Democrats have reached a level of hypocrisy that knows no equal.
For the public, this growing war should support a movement to put an end to gerrymandering by all parties. Politicians will then have to look to voters, not maps to maintain their power.
“If you ain’t cheatin’, you ain’t trying.” Blue Rule #1
Oh my GOD!! Democrats are committing POLITICS!! How dare they? MAGA is SO far above that!!
Hahahahaha you made a big funny. Next time say MAGA a few more times, it worked so well back in November.
Committing politics? Running away to avoid a loss is not politics. It’s cowardice, it’s dereliction of elected duty and apparently illegal in Texas. Keep doing what you’re doing Demowits, keep doing what you’re doing!
Sean Hannity was discussing today on his radio show the discrepancy between the Republican Congressional vote in the following states and the share of Congressional seats won by Republicans in those states in 2024: Illinois; California; New York; Connecticut; Massachusetts; New Mexico; Oregon; and Maryland. In general, Republican got less than the half of the seats which they should have won if their seats reflected the raw votes. He will probably repeat these figures on his show tonight. The Democrats have been gaming this system for a long time. All Republican states should now start fixing the maps in their states.
Gerrymandering is unconstitutional. It actually is.
What clause of the Constitution does it violate?
OMG… QUITE ENLIGHTENING! TY, Prof. Turley.. for laying this all out in such Clarity! A great roadmap here to guide the GOP efforts for creating a more equal distribution…. ..marc-elias’s reputation seems to grow more and more into a nastier piece of work…
In downstate Illinois this failed state is referred to as …HELLINOIS.
Love it!
In upstate it’s Africa!
Gerrymandering was banned just like secession so why is this even an issue?
When and where and how was gerrymandering banned? And what type of gerrymandering are you talking about?
Blah, blah, blah. TRUMP started this war because he’s afraid of losing control of the House–and with good reason–not just lying about releasing the Epstein files, but his mishandling of the economy, his inability to help stop the wars in Gaza, Ukraine and elsewhere after lying about having it solved in 24 hours, the bad unemployment news, firing cancer researchers and other government employees, and the failed diversionary tactics–the list goes on and on. Excerpted from “The Texas Observer” newspaper–7/23/25–which calls Abbot’s obedience to Trump’s gerrymandering command “unprecedented”:
“Timing-wise, that re-mapping was done as it typically is: after the decennial federal census. Yet, just four years later, Republicans are—upon receiving orders from their supreme leader President Donald Trump—coming back to Austin for a second bite at the gerrymandering apple as Team MAGA hopes to shore up its razor-thin majority in the U.S. House in 2026.
Governor Greg Abbott has put redistricting on his call for the current special legislative session, which convened Monday, citing the need to address constitutional concerns around a few specific racially gerrymandered congressional districts in Houston and DFW (something Trump’s Department of Justice quite conveniently chose to criticize and about which the Texas GOP has never before cared).
There are reports that Republicans will try to redraw as many as five currently Democratic districts—from South Texas and Houston to Dallas and possibly Austin—to favor the GOP to flip in the upcoming midterms. ”
So it’s not Democrats who started this gerrymandering war, but they’re not going to stand idly by and watch the Republicans gerrymander away the rights of voters of color because Trump’s popularity is so low and because of the economic damage he’s already done. I’ve seen interviews with Texas state representatives who have freely admitted that the redistricting is being done solely to help Republicans win by diluting the rights of non-Democratic voters–not because of changes in population, demograpics or any non-political reason.
GIGI GIGI GIGI MAGA MAGA MAGA. Nobody cares. Please just go away.
What kind of freak comes to the blog of a law professor and writes this kind of rambling, incoherent diatribe? You do know that all of humanity can see your mental illness when you do this, right?
Wrong Gigi. Again.
DOJ civil rights chief says Texas redistricting drama prompted by legal warning, not gerrymandering
“We took a look at Texas, and we found that four of their districts in Texas are comprised of these so-called coalition districts,” Dhillon said Tuesday on the “Just the News, No Noise” TV show. “In other words, to get to a special minority district, you have to add together multiple minorities or count on a certain percentage of a crossover white vote. And this is too complex, too weird and too inconsistent with equal protection.
“So we wrote to Texas, telling them that even though that law had been struck down a couple of years ago, their districts were now not in compliance with the Federal Voting Rights laws, and so they needed to take action to fix them,” she added. “That is what triggered the Texas Legislature and the Texas governor to call the legislature into session to put new maps together.”
https://justthenews.com/government/federal-agencies/harmeet-dhillon-says-texas-redistricting-fight-began-after-prompting
Rabble:
Newsome, Pritzker, Hochul, and Wu want to gerrymander a war? How? They (and their predecessors) already gerry’d the hell out of their states! They have no lines left to bastardize!
Plus, their states have been losing people prodigiously, if U-Haul’s numbers are to be believed. If anything, they should be losing seats to the ones gaining, which just so happen to be… OMG! Texas and Florida, no way! It’s almost like this is yet another “Orange Man Bayad” strike that, once again, has fallen through because nobody listens to their tripe anymore.
“They (and their predecessors) already gerry’d the hell out of their states! They have no lines left to bastardize!”
Seriously, short of putting Republicans into camps, how could they possibly gerrymander any more than they have already?
A constitutional amendment is needed. It should specify that congressional districts must be contiguous and compact. Notably, contiguous is easy to define (the district cannot consist of two disconnected pieces). And there are mathematical models for compactness, which is therefore measurable in a politically neutral way.
Obviously some states have weird shapes (like Maryland) and so you won’t get maximal compactness, but if someone objects to a particular map then they can show it is unconstitutional by offering one that has better overall compactness scores than the one they are challenging.
OldManFromKS,
Thank you for posting that. I have been wondering what could be the solution to this mess. I appreciate you offering a possibility. While sounds like a possibility, I dont think either party would be willing to even consider the idea let alone seriously.
I wonder if a truly neutral AI could offer a solution. Or be the one to draw up the map with your suggestion in mind.
“a truly neutral AI”
No such thing, sorry
AI models are programmed by liberals who are latent socialists who are ultimately communists.
I would love to meet a conservative AI model.
That would be Stephen Miller, an absolute conservative phenomenon; an AI Neutralizer!
If you have Stephen Miller, you don’t need an AI model.
Upstate – Possibly, but also it may be that whichever party believes it is not gaining, and possibly losing, from the decade-after-decade gerrymandering may want to start it. It could be that House Members and Senators from purple states would go along too. Maybe that’s wishful thinking.
Kansas, there are some reasons for gerrymandering. Certain groups, such as farmers, require representation either directly or indirectly. It would not be hard to create a computer program that would pick out excessive gerrymandering, yet permit legislators to do their jobs.
Just slide longitude and latitude lines until the number of citizens is met. The shape of State won’t matter.
I really get tired of talking about gerrymandering.
The only way to deal with this is a constitutional amendment that sets the rules on size, location and boundaries. Especially if you wanted to retain connection between the congressman and their constituents. This might be accomplished by a bipartisan law but in today’s atmosphere that is a pipe dream
You will also have to have the census bureau board mandated as an independent body to count the voters, with equal representation from both parties with a chairmen (selected by the board) who votes to break ties. That should minimize undercounts and overcounts.
No more having the presiding president capture the census to his office and pressure the census towards his party.
It’s illegal to do anything based on race, color or screed. SCOTUS has ruled that.
Gerrymandering is illegal. Implement longitude and latitude. Whatever color is your a person and all representation is by persons.
Someone sue please.
this two party dog and pony show is what we Declared Independence from. It is obsolete.
Texas to Illinois to NY to ?
Cliff’s Notes: Gerrymandering has turned into Gerrywandering.
(sorry. it’s really not funny.)
Lin,
Not funny perhaps, but your take is rather witty and clever!
NotReallyaFarmer
Not particularly witty.
I would say the comment is half-witty.
BTW, NotReallyaFarmer, I presume that there are more thunderstorms keeping you indoors away from your “farm” chores today, so you can spend the entire day obsessively commenting here.
Hahahahahah, you’re such a comedian, you make fun of people for being farmers. You’re so smart. It’s shocking that Democrats have lost the blue collar vote.
Actually I make fun of him because he is NOT a farmer.
He CLAIMS to be a farmer, but he is here commenting all day, every day.
He is one of the most prolific commenters, posting around 20 times every day.
Like all MAGA morons, he lives in an imaginary fantasy land completely disconnected from reality.
Sure, you’re also clairvoyant. Keep hating on the blue collar vote. Maybe you can import a few million more “pliable” voters to replace them with. It’s working so well.
Perhaps he is a gentleman farmer. Perhaps he employs laborers on his farm. Perhaps he does all his morning chores, posts for a while, does other chores, and posts a while again, and so on.
Any of those scenarios is as plausible as your bald assertion he isn’t as he says. It speaks of a perhaps quite nasty mind to seize upon the one option which makes the gentleman a liar.
“It speaks of a perhaps quite nasty mind to seize upon the one option which makes the gentleman a liar.”
Leftists are petulant and angry children at heart. Jealous and bitter.
Maybe he is a “gentleman” farmer as you suggest.
In that case, the most likely explanation for his presence here all day, everyday, is that he “employs” a small army of undocumented aliens to work his “farm”, for slave wages, if he pays them at all.
He certainly could not find Americans to do farm work, because he would have to pay them a real living wage.
“is that he “employs” a small army of undocumented aliens to work his “farm”, for slave wages, if he pays them at all.”
Just because leftist pot farmers do that, you shouldn’t assume that he does as well.
Ellen Evans,
Well thank you for the “gentleman” farmer compliment. I do not think I would go that far. But you are not too far off from the mark. Been doing this for a number of years, so, yes, I have a routine that works best for me. Also, I do take a number of breaks as it is hot out there. Come into the house to cool down, sit in front of the fan, drink lots of water or iced tea. I go through a pitcher a day, sometimes two. Then, there is the fact there is this thing called technology, like Wi-Fi and 4g or 5g. As I have mentioned in the past, NPR was pitching a article about exercise. I was so interested I tuned in out in the fields. For some tasks I employ some of the local boys. They are Amish, not illegals and I pay them a fair wage.
The annony moron does not know anything about farming or something I learned in the Marines called time management, management of resources. I have already been working for about three hours. Just siting down to a cup of tea and breakfast here shortly.
So Prof. Turley is outraged by D13? And says nothing about D15 that virtually surrounds it?
D13 looks like a butt crack emanating from the black hole of St. Louis, but D15 looks like both cheeks. Gerrymandering sure is in the eye of the beholder.
Oh boy, you say the names Podesta and Elias and wow do the Democrat flying monkeys descend upon you. It’s almost a “tell”.
I am not necessarily in favor of Gerrymandering, but the dems can bleep right off. They are beyond the pot calling the kettle black, and so many of us have no more patience for their idiocy. This is beyond absurd. It is not new. It is patently clear that our modern dem party only believes in democracy when they win, and it is beyond tired. Spare us, DNC.
Let’s get their approval into the single digits, I do not want this party as it is currently constituted and continues to trend toward anywhere near power ever again in my lifetime. And I am not a conservative. F****** absurd; the dems from Texas ran away; that is dereliction of duty, they are not ‘refugees’. And it isn’t the first time. Their disdain for our intelligence is the icing on top.
I would really like to know what generational liberals like the Professor are somehow holding out hope for in regards to their party. I do not believe in a one party system, but I’d be perfectly happy to see our modern dem party as it is right now to simply die an ignoble death.
Seriously. It’s infuriating to see Democrat trolls here pretending like they haven’t been doing precisely this for decades. Spare us.
I believe gerrymandering started in Boston over 200 years ago.
I come from solid blue voters, and consider myself both liberal and conservative, without being “an” either. Much like the farmers in outlook. But you won’t catch me voting for anyone in the D column any time soon. They’ve jumped a whole ocean of sharks, and I won’t even try to follow. Not that I would want to.
I’ve said it here before, going back years…, ditch congressional districts and make voting for congress a statewide proposition.
We already have that. They are called Senators.
Then why would we need them? Congressional representatives are supposed to carry to Washington the interests and concerns of a local population within the state. If they aren’t going to do that, why would Senators not be sufficient?
Why do we need them? AI would do a better job. Party politics shifts to rhetoric war of how to program AI. On your doorstep soon enough. D’s half corrupt. R’s, of course, completely corrupt.
Turls, what’s really sad about this, as you carry R talking points forward around the gerrymandering they’ve taken to full dosage since 2010, is Jenine Pirro ate your lunch again getting named attorney in D.C. This of course leaves you getting continued schill duty for fox on your blog as you get passed over yet again…
Looks like you get more push piece assignments and congressional appearances where people like Elias expose your legal shortcomings in public…
You’re a full fledged member of the group of establishment R’s who thought they could coast by with Maga adjacent content, thinking it would move you up the ladder — but has really just brought scorn your way.
With that, I read this slop and see a bitter man, totally flailing in the presence of Elias. Sad, really.
Sad.
But she earned her nickel, and in the end, isn’t that what really matters?
Oh GIGI, look at you desperately attacking a successful law professor, while you’re in the basement clicking on links, trying to earn your daily ramen ration. You’re just pathetic.
Nice come back, GIGI. Really high brow. Enjoy your ramen!!!!
Thanks I will!! And I trust you’ll continue to lick your own ass. That talent continues to pay off for you!!
Another high brow response from the ramen eater! Hey GIGI do you really think (hah) that you have any effect on the posters here, other than bringing us a measure of levity from your borderline insane rants? Rage on loser!!
He’s at the bank.
WOW ano.
You said a whole lot of nothing.
That’s our GIGI. Full of rage at her failed life, lashing out at successful people who didn’t waste their own lives like she did.
‘China is happy:’ New memos expose Homeland Security’s concerns about Tim Walz CCP connections
“The latest records provide more details about the internal Homeland Security discussions of Walz’s history with China.”
https://justthenews.com/government/security/china-happy-new-memos-shed-more-light-agency-concerns-about-tim-walz-ccp
I saw that Upstate…. DOJ needs to take a close look at Timmy
DustOff,
Based off the logs, they thought the FBI should be brought in. Yet our leftists friends insist it was the Russians who wanted Trump to win in 2016.
@Anonymous
You remain a perfect idiot.
Don’t sell GIGI short, she’s also moronic and imbecilic. She’s the triple threat of stupidity!
What kind of sociopath is a person like George, who has been repeated called out and proven to be a serial liar, and yet has the gall to return here over and over as if she had any credibility left to make comments on any topic whatsoever?
@Anonymous
Really, there’s only one kind of sociopath, the sociopathic kind. And the modern left is absolutely populated with them. Birds of a feather, I guess.
Marc Elias and Perkins Coie… a union forged in one of Dante’s lower rings….
Karl Marx’s firm.
Maybe all states should just create a grid of districts with equal sized boundaries regardless of party.
Neutral court-appointed committee. Naw, that would be totally corrupted, wouldn’t it?
Well sort of anon. Total number of population provides number of reps , then a grid for x number of reps are the districts. Actually the grid needn’t be equal in size due to population density. It’s actually illegal to vote by color, race, religion, ethnicity etc.