Gerrymander
Definition
A gerrymander is a district map drawn to favor one party, group, or incumbent rather than to reflect where people actually live. It works through packing (concentrating opposing voters into few districts) and cracking (spreading them thin across many).1
Why it matters
Gerrymandering lets whoever controls the map-drawing process lock in election outcomes before a single vote is cast, turning a legislature's own membership into a self-perpetuating choice rather than a contested one. Federal courts have refused to hear partisan gerrymandering claims since 2019, so a gerrymander's only checks are state courts, state constitutions, or independent redistricting commissions, where they exist.
Seen in the wild
In 2025, Texas Republicans redrew the state's congressional map mid-decade at President Trump's urging, aiming to convert the existing 25-13 U.S. House split toward as many as 30 Republican seats. The Supreme Court allowed the map to be used for the 2026 midterms.2