Fact check: What are the most gerrymandered Congressional districts in the US?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, Texas and Illinois emerge as the most frequently cited examples of heavily gerrymandered states ^[1]. According to experts referenced in the sources, Florida and Texas have the worst examples of gerrymandering ^[1]. The analyses reveal that gerrymandering is a bipartisan issue, with both Republican-controlled states like Texas and Democratic-controlled states like Illinois engaging in the practice ^[1].

The sources highlight Texas Republicans' recent redistricting efforts as having "little precedent" and being characterized as a "power grab" ^[2]. The analyses also reference the Supreme Court's 2019 decision in Rucho v. Common Cause, which effectively allowed partisan gerrymandering to continue by ruling that federal courts cannot intervene in such cases ^{[3] [4]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The analyses reveal several important contextual elements missing from the original question:

• The legal framework has fundamentally changed: The Supreme Court's Rucho v. Common Cause decision has given states "increasingly unfettered power in redistricting" ^[5], meaning gerrymandering practices that were previously challengeable are now legally permissible.
• Ongoing litigation across multiple states: Court cases are currently active in Louisiana, New York, Mississippi, South Carolina, Alabama, and Colorado ^[6], indicating that gerrymandering battles extend far beyond the commonly cited examples.
• The potential for escalation: The analyses warn of a possible "gerrymandering arms race" where states engage in retaliatory redistricting ^[2], suggesting the current situation may worsen.
• Broader democratic implications: Congressman Michael Lawler argues that gerrymandering has "eroded the foundations of democracy, polarized the electorate, and made bipartisan compromise increasingly rare" ^[7].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself does not contain misinformation, but it lacks important nuance. The question implies there are definitively "most gerrymandered" districts, when the analyses suggest that:

• Measurement challenges exist: The sources don't provide specific metrics or rankings for individual congressional districts, focusing instead on state-level examples ^[1].
• The issue is evolving rapidly: With ongoing court cases and the potential for redistricting battles, any current assessment may quickly become outdated ^{[2] [6]}.
• Partisan framing risks: The analyses show that both major political parties benefit from gerrymandering when in power - Republicans in states like Texas and Florida, Democrats in states like Illinois ^[1]. This suggests that focusing solely on "worst" examples without acknowledging the bipartisan nature of the problem could perpetuate partisan narratives rather than addressing the systemic issue.