“They’ve been far more ruthless”: Redistricting battle reaches boiling point as GOP strategist claims Democrats’ maps are more aggressive despite Republican push in Texas

Texas – A fierce political battle over congressional maps is intensifying across the United States, with accusations flying over which party is pushing the limits further. At the center of the latest clash is Chuck DeVore, a strategist tied to the Texas Public Policy Foundation, who argues that despite Republican efforts, Democratic-led states remain far more aggressive in how they draw their districts.

His central claim is blunt: even after recent Republican-led changes, red states are “not even remotely as gerrymandered” as places like California and Massachusetts. That argument comes as both parties increasingly treat redistricting not as a routine process, but as a high-stakes political weapon.

A Fight That Didn’t Start in Texas

According to DeVore, the current escalation didn’t begin with Republican actions in Texas, but with Democrats elsewhere. He pointed specifically to New York, saying the conflict was triggered “with their 2024 back changes.” “That needs to be made very, very clear. Everyone seems to forget that New York did kick this off,” he said, framing the situation as part of a longer political pattern rather than a sudden shift.

From there, he broadened the argument, suggesting that Democrats have historically been more strategic in this arena. “They’ve been far more ruthless and efficient when it comes to gerrymandering,” he said, even referencing Elbridge Gerry, whose name gave rise to the term itself. Calling it an “age-old tradition,” DeVore implied that modern tactics are simply a continuation of a long-running political playbook.

The California Model Under Scrutiny

Much of his criticism focused on California, a state often cited for its independent redistricting system. While that system is designed to limit partisan influence, DeVore argued it has not worked as intended.

He claimed Democrats effectively found ways around the structure by shaping how decisions are made. In his telling, they created “synthetic communities of interest” to influence district boundaries, guiding outcomes without directly controlling the process.

“But if you go back to California, right? … the Democrats had figured out how to game it,” he said, arguing that control over the process itself allowed them to maintain an advantage.

The result, he suggested, is a system that appears neutral but still produces highly partisan outcomes. “California’s districts, as they stood at the beginning of the year, were more aggressively partisan and efficient than Texas’s districts were after Texas did what it did,” DeVore argued.

That comparison is key to his broader point: even when Republicans redraw maps to gain seats, he believes they are still not matching the level of precision seen in blue states.

Texas, Florida, and the Stakes Ahead

In Texas, Republican lawmakers have worked to adjust district lines in ways that could add four to five seats in Congress. But DeVore downplayed the scale of that effort, arguing that even those changes fall short when measured against Democratic strategies elsewhere. “In other words, Texas goes through this whole rigmarole to pick up four to five seats… the resulting districts in Texas were less aggressive than the old districts were in California,” he said.

He also pointed to actions in California under Gavin Newsom, suggesting Democrats responded to Republican moves by escalating their own strategy. “Ok, fine. You guys want to play, you know, we’ll kick it into hyperdrive,” he said, describing what he sees as a rapid intensification of the fight.

Beyond Texas, DeVore highlighted Florida as another key battleground. Under Ron DeSantis, he said, the state has shifted from competitive to reliably Republican, a change he views as critical in the broader struggle for control of Congress. “I just look at the fact that under Governor DeSantis and under Republican leadership, Florida has gone from a purple state to a reliably red state,” he said, tying redistricting directly to political outcomes.

Control of Congress Driving the Conflict

At the heart of the issue is control of the House of Representatives. DeVore warned that if Democrats regain power, the consequences could be immediate and far-reaching. “Given the fact that if the Democrats take over the House, it is guaranteed that they’re going to gin up fake impeachment charges against President Trump and do everything possible to stop all of the important reforms that the President is trying to push through,” he said.

That belief appears to shape his broader call to action. “This is really important for the nation that we do as much as we can,” he added, framing redistricting not just as a political tactic but as a necessary step to influence the country’s direction.

A Battle Far From Over

Despite the heated rhetoric, the fight is far from settled. Both parties continue to adjust maps, challenge them in court, and respond to each other’s moves in a cycle that shows no signs of slowing.

DeVore closed with a clear message about how Republicans should respond. “Given the fact that even with the efforts in Texas and other states, Republican districts are still not even remotely as gerrymandered as they are in California or Massachusetts or Virginia… So I’d say, ‘Go for it,’” he said.

As the next election cycle approaches, redistricting is no longer just a technical process—it has become a central battlefield. And with both sides convinced the other is pushing harder, the pressure is only building, setting the stage for an even more intense political showdown ahead.