Stand Up To Partisan Gerrymandering!!!

I am writing as your constituent to urge you to reject gerrymandering in all forms, in all States, regardless of who may benefit politically. When politicians draw or manipulate district lines for partisan gain, accountability vanishes. Elections cease to reflect the will of the people and instead reinforce entrenched power. Gerrymandering intensifies polarization, discourages competition, and silences communities—particularly communities of color—by diluting their electoral influence. Fair democracy depends on independent redistricting processes that prioritize compact, community-based, and representative maps that truly matches the State. A historic standoff is underway in Texas. In August 2025, over 50 Democratic state legislators fled Texas to deny a quorum and block a hastily called special session aimed at approving a controversial mid-decade congressional map. This map, backed by Governor Greg Abbott and former President Trump, would create up to five new Republican-leaning U.S. House seats—including in majority-Hispanic districts like those in San Antonio—despite modest gains in statewide vote share. Governor Abbott has responded with civil arrest warrants, daily fines, and even legal maneuvers to attempt to remove fleeing lawmakers from office. The stakes are high: the proposed redistricting is seen as the most aggressive partisan map in the nation, amounting to a “durable gerrymander” that entrenches Republican control regardless of shifting voter sentiment. Meanwhile, Missouri’s GOP is considering its own mid-decade redistricting—a move prompted by pressure from the Trump White House and state Republican leaders. The goal: redraw congressional districts, particularly around Kansas City’s 5th District, to eliminate one of the two remaining Democratic seats held by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver. This aggressive partisan effort follows the rollback of Missouri’s 2018 “Clean Missouri” reforms that had aimed to reduce gerrymandering—only to be reversed by voter-approved measures in 2020. These developments exemplify how gerrymandering is not a theoretical wrong but a real-time assault on fair representation. Whether in Texas, Missouri, or elsewhere, these tactics undermine democratic norms, silence communities, and escalate political conflict. This is not about one party gaining an edge—it’s about whether every vote carries the same weight nationwide. I urge you to support federal legislation that prohibits partisan redistricting, mandating instead independent redistricting commissions in every state. Without these reforms, the integrity of our elections—and trust in our democracy—will continue to erode. Thank you for your time. I look forward to your leadership in defending fair representation.