Fact check: How many times did democrats redistrict states since 1980

1. Summary of the results

The analyses reveal that none of the sources provide a specific numerical answer to how many times Democrats have redistricted states since 1980. However, the sources confirm that both Republican and Democratic states have continued the practice of partisan gerrymandering throughout this period ^[1].

The sources do provide some specific historical examples of Democratic redistricting efforts:

• California after the 1980 census, where Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative leaders drew "very weird-looking, politically lopsided districts" ^[2]
• Illinois is mentioned as a prime example of a state with Democratic majority that has used gerrymandering ^[3]

Current redistricting efforts are also discussed, with Democrats in states like New York and California potentially responding to Republican redistricting efforts by redrawing their own maps, though they face legal hurdles due to state laws and the need for constitutional amendments or special elections ^[4]. The sources indicate that California, New York, and Illinois are planning to redraw congressional maps in response to Texas' redistricting efforts ^[5].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks crucial context about the complexity and legal constraints surrounding redistricting. The analyses reveal several important missing elements:

• Redistricting occurs primarily every 10 years following the census, meaning there have been only 4-5 redistricting cycles since 1980 ^{[6] [4]}
• Both parties engage in gerrymandering when they control state governments, making this a bipartisan practice rather than exclusively Democratic ^{[1] [3]}
• Some states have taken steps to limit partisanship in redistricting through independent commissions or other reforms ^[3]
• Advanced computer algorithms have made gerrymandering more sophisticated and "egregious" in recent decades ^[3]
• Legal and constitutional barriers exist in many states that limit how frequently or easily redistricting can occur outside of the regular decennial cycle ^[4]

The question also omits the fact that public opinion is increasingly seeking fair maps regardless of political affiliations ^[3], suggesting growing bipartisan concern about the practice.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

While the original question appears neutral on its surface, it contains an implicit assumption that could be misleading. By asking specifically about Democratic redistricting without acknowledging that both parties engage in this practice, the question could perpetuate a false narrative that gerrymandering is primarily a Democratic strategy.

The analyses clearly show that gerrymandering is a bipartisan issue, with both Republican and Democratic states engaging in the practice ^{[1] [3]}. Texas is frequently cited as a Republican example of aggressive gerrymandering, while Illinois is mentioned as a Democratic counterpart ^[3].

Additionally, the question's framing suggests that redistricting happens frequently at the discretion of political parties, when in reality redistricting is primarily tied to the constitutionally mandated decennial census cycle ^[6]. This timing constraint significantly limits how often any party can redistrict, regardless of their political control.

The lack of available specific numerical data in the sources suggests that comprehensive tracking of partisan redistricting efforts may not be readily accessible, which could indicate either insufficient research on the topic or the complexity of categorizing redistricting efforts by party affiliation across different time periods and legal contexts.