Fact check: When was the last gerrymandering by democrats?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, there is no specific date or timeframe identified for when Democrats last engaged in gerrymandering. However, the sources reveal ongoing gerrymandering activity by Democrats in 2025:

• California Democrats recently passed a redistricting bill signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom that could give Democrats five new congressional seats, specifically designed to counter Republican gerrymandering in Texas ^{[1] [2]}
• Illinois is mentioned as a place where Democrats drew gerrymandered maps in the context of the 2024 election cycle ^[3]
• Democratic governors in Illinois, New York, and Maryland have discussed the possibility of redistricting in response to Republican actions ^[2]

The sources consistently frame current Democratic gerrymandering efforts as reactive measures to Republican gerrymandering, particularly in Texas ^{[4] [1] [5]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The analyses reveal several critical pieces of context missing from the original question:

• Both parties engage in gerrymandering regularly - this is not a practice exclusive to one party ^{[5] [3]}
• The current redistricting battle is part of an escalating "arms race" between parties, with each side justifying their actions as responses to the other's gerrymandering ^[2]
• The North Carolina gerrymandering case created legal precedent that led to the current redistricting battles in Texas and potentially other states ^[6]
• Mid-decade redistricting (outside of the normal post-census cycle) has become a new political weapon, with Texas leading this trend ^[5]

Beneficiaries of different narratives:

• Democratic politicians like Gavin Newsom benefit from framing their gerrymandering as defensive responses to Republican actions ^[1]
• Republican strategists benefit from portraying Democratic gerrymandering as equally problematic while downplaying their own efforts
• Reform advocates benefit from highlighting both parties' participation in gerrymandering to push for systemic changes

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains an implicit assumption that may be misleading:

• The question implies Democrats are not currently gerrymandering, when in fact they are actively engaged in redistricting efforts as of 2025 ^{[1] [2]}
• The framing suggests gerrymandering is primarily a Democratic practice, while the sources clearly indicate both parties engage in this practice ^{[5] [3]}
• The question seeks a "last time" as if it's a historical practice, when gerrymandering is an ongoing, contemporary political strategy used by both parties ^[2]

The question's framing could benefit Republican narratives by suggesting Democratic gerrymandering is a thing of the past, while potentially misleading readers about the current reality of bipartisan gerrymandering practices.