Americans across all states are represented in the U.S. House of Representatives, with each state’s number of representatives determined by its population. After every census, states must redraw congressional districts to reflect population changes, a process known as redistricting. The balance of power in Congress can shift significantly based on how these district maps are drawn.
Federal law limits the total number of House members to 435, requiring that seats be distributed among the states according to their populations. When one state gains population and receives additional seats, another must lose them. For instance, following the 2020 census, Florida gained one seat while Texas gained two; meanwhile, New York and California each lost a seat.
Redistricting is subject to constitutional rules set by the Supreme Court. Each district within a state must have an equal population, and redistricting cannot dilute minority voting power under the Voting Rights Act—a frequent source of litigation during this process.
The party controlling a state’s government after the census oversees redistricting and often seeks to draw districts that favor its own candidates—a practice known as gerrymandering. In 2019, the Supreme Court ruled that partisan gerrymandering does not violate the Constitution. However, critics argue that such practices undermine democratic values and diminish minority influence at the polls.
With a narrowly divided House of Representatives, both major parties have incentives to maximize their electoral advantages through redistricting. This year in Texas, Republican leaders adjusted five districts to make them more favorable for their party after determining they could otherwise elect Democrats. In response, Democratic-controlled states like California and New York have sought ways to minimize Republican-held districts.
“Republican leaders in Texas realized this year that they were giving Democrats five districts that, if redrawn, would likely elect Republicans instead,” said Dr. James Todd, associate professor of politics and chair of PBA’s Department of Politics. “The Texas legislature redrew its map to make these five districts more Republican.” He added: “This move has prompted Democratic states like California and New York to squeeze out their Republican districts.” Dr. Todd cautioned: “However, they had better be careful. There are many more Democratic districts in Republican states than vice versa. The result of this redistricting war could be a solid Republican hold on the House of Representatives for decades.”
Dr. Todd teaches American government and politics at Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) and frequently speaks on topics including U.S. politics and constitutional law.
