I am writing as your constituent to urge you to reject gerrymandering in all forms, in all states, regardless of who may benefit politically. Gerrymandering hurts everyone.
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 reflect the state’s true population.
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 only modest gains in statewide vote share.
Governor Abbott has responded with civil arrest warrants, daily fines, and legal maneuvers to attempt to remove these 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” designed to entrench Republican control regardless of shifting voter sentiment.
Meanwhile, Missouri’s GOP is considering its own mid-decade redistricting—a move driven by pressure from the Trump White House and state Republican leaders. The plan would redraw congressional districts, particularly around Kansas City’s 5th District, to eliminate one of the two remaining Democratic seats, currently held by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver. This push follows the rollback of Missouri’s 2018 “Clean Missouri” reforms, which had aimed to curb gerrymandering but were weakened by 2020 voter-approved changes.
These developments show that gerrymandering is not a distant, theoretical wrong—it is 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 is about ensuring that every vote carries the same weight nationwide.
I urge you to support strong federal legislation that prohibits partisan redistricting and mandates independent redistricting commissions in every state. Without these reforms, the integrity of our elections—and public trust in our democracy—will continue to erode.
Thank you for your time, and I look forward to your leadership in defending fair representation. Please stand up for what’s right and SAY NO TO GERRYMANDERING!
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