Fact check: What are the most recent examples of gerrymandering by Democrats in the United States?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, there are limited recent examples of actual gerrymandering by Democrats in the United States. The sources reveal several key findings:

Confirmed Democratic Gerrymandering Examples:

• Illinois, New Mexico, and Nevada are cited as states where Democrats have redistricted "just as ruthlessly as Republicans" ^[1]
• Oregon is mentioned alongside Illinois and New Mexico as having Democratic gerrymanders, though these are described as "less reliable and weaker than those drawn by Republican counterparts" ^[2]
• Maryland has an ongoing legal challenge in Benisek v. Lamone involving a congressional redistricting plan enacted by the Democratic-controlled Maryland General Assembly ^[3]

Threatened or Proposed Actions:

• California Governor Gavin Newsom and New York Governor Kathy Hochul have threatened to retaliate against Texas by pursuing redistricting plans that could eliminate GOP-held swing districts ^[4]
• California Democrats are specifically considering redrawing maps to "flip five GOP seats" ^[5]
• Democratic officials in some states are discussing ways to "sidestep redistricting commissions to counter Republican redistricting in Texas" ^[6]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The analyses reveal several important contextual factors missing from a simple focus on Democratic gerrymandering:

Structural Limitations on Democratic Gerrymandering:

• Democrats have "fewer options to match Republicans due to independent commissions in many Democratic-controlled states" ^[1]
• Democrats would face "major legal and political hurdles" in states like California and New York when attempting retaliatory redistricting ^[7]

Comparative Scale and Impact:

• "The bias in this cycle's maps strongly favors Republicans" despite some Democratic gerrymandering efforts ^[2]
• Any Democratic retaliation is characterized as "tit-for-tat" responses to Republican initiatives rather than original aggressive gerrymandering ^[7]

California's Unique Situation:

• California's electoral map was "drawn by a bipartisan commission" and is "not a dramatic outlier" despite claims of Democratic gerrymandering ^[8]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question, while factually neutral, may inadvertently promote a false equivalency narrative. The analyses suggest several potential biases:

Incomplete Framing:

• Focusing solely on Democratic gerrymandering without acknowledging that Republican gerrymandering appears more extensive and impactful based on the available data ^[2]
• The question doesn't account for the structural differences between how Democrats and Republicans approach redistricting, with Democrats more constrained by independent commissions

Missing Republican Context:

• The analyses consistently reference Republican gerrymandering in Texas as the primary catalyst for Democratic threats of retaliation ^{[6] [5] [4]}
• Texas Republicans are actively pursuing redistricting that could "eliminate five Democratic US House seats ahead of the 2026 midterms" ^[5]

Beneficiaries of the Narrative:

• Republican politicians and strategists would benefit from promoting focus on Democratic gerrymandering while their own efforts proceed with greater impact
• Media outlets benefit from presenting "both sides" narratives that may not accurately reflect the scale and scope of gerrymandering by each party

The evidence suggests that while Democrats have engaged in gerrymandering, their efforts are more limited in scope, often reactive rather than proactive, and constrained by institutional barriers that don't equally affect Republican redistricting efforts.