Fact check: What are the most recent examples of Democratic Party gerrymandering in the United States?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, recent examples of Democratic Party gerrymandering are limited and less extensive compared to Republican efforts. The most concrete recent examples identified include:

• Illinois, New Mexico, and Oregon - where Democrats have engaged in gerrymandering, though these efforts are described as "less extensive and less reliable than Republican gerrymanders" ^[1]
• Maryland - cited as an example of an "extreme gerrymander by Democrats" from six years ago in a Supreme Court case ^[2]
• California - while the congressional map favors Democrats, it was actually "drawn by a bipartisan commission and is not an outlier in terms of partisan bias" ^[3]

Notably, much of the recent Democratic activity appears to be reactive rather than proactive. Sources indicate that "Democrats responded to match Republican gerrymandering after the 2020 census" ^[4] and that Democratic governors in California and New York are planning to "respond to Texas' mid-decade redistricting by potentially drawing new, friendlier House maps" ^[5].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several crucial pieces of context:

• Scale and frequency disparities: Multiple sources emphasize that "while both parties engage in gerrymandering, Republicans have been more aggressive in using this tactic" ^[6] and that "Democratic gerrymanders are less common and less extreme than Republican ones" ^[3]
• Defensive vs. offensive strategies: The analyses reveal that recent Democratic gerrymandering efforts are largely reactive responses to Republican initiatives. For example, California Governor Gavin Newsom "threatened to retaliate against Texas' proposed redistricting by adopting an even more extreme district map in California" ^[7]
• Legal and structural constraints: Democratic efforts face significant "legal hurdles and complexities" ^[5], suggesting institutional barriers that may limit their gerrymandering capabilities compared to Republican-controlled states
• Current political impact: Sources note that "Republicans have an artificial head start due to state-level gerrymandering" in the 2024 election cycle ^[1], indicating the current imbalance favors Republicans

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

While the original question appears neutral on its surface, it potentially creates a false equivalency by implying that Democratic gerrymandering is as prevalent or impactful as Republican gerrymandering. The analyses consistently show this is not the case.

The question's framing could benefit those who want to minimize Republican gerrymandering advantages by suggesting "both sides do it equally." This narrative would particularly benefit Republican strategists and politicians who rely on gerrymandered districts, as it deflects criticism of their more extensive gerrymandering efforts.

The timing of asking for "most recent examples" is also significant, as it coincides with ongoing Republican redistricting efforts in Texas and Democratic responses, potentially creating a misleading impression that Democrats are equally active in gerrymandering when the evidence suggests they are primarily responding to Republican initiatives.