Fact check: What are the most notable examples of presidential gerrymandering in US history?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, presidential gerrymandering appears to be a misnomer in the original question, as the sources focus on congressional and legislative gerrymandering rather than gerrymandering specifically related to presidential elections. The most notable examples of gerrymandering in US history include:

Historical Origins:

• The practice originated in 1812 with Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry, giving the term its name ^[1]

Key Legal Cases:

• Baker v. Carr, Wesberry v. Sanders, and Rucho v. Common Cause shaped legal principles surrounding gerrymandering, establishing the "one person, one vote" principle and defining limits of partisan gerrymandering ^[2]
• Current cases include Gill v. Whitford and Benisek v. Lamone, which highlight ongoing challenges in determining discriminatory effects ^[3]
• Additional cases like Callais v. Landry, New York Communities for Change v. Nassau County, and Mississippi State Conference of the NAACP v. State Board of Election Commissioners address voting power dilution ^[4]

Contemporary Examples:

• Texas and Florida have created significant partisan advantages through gerrymandering ^{[5] [6]}
• North Carolina is cited as another state with notable gerrymandering practices ^[5]
• Illinois has engaged in redistricting that led to partisan advantages ^[1]
• California and Texas are currently engaged in an intense redistricting battle that could impact the balance of power in Washington DC ^[7]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several important contextual elements:

Reform Efforts:

• Some states have implemented reforms to reduce partisanship in redistricting and have tried to take partisanship out of the redistricting process ^{[8] [5]}
• The Freedom to Vote Act has been cited as a potential solution to gerrymandering issues ^[5]

Current Political Dynamics:

• Republican lawmakers in Texas passed a new congressional map that will likely decrease Democratic representation in the 2026 midterms ^[6]
• Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom of California signed a law calling for a special election to approve a new map that counteracts GOP redistricting in Texas ^[6]
• The issue has evolved from one that "barely registered with voters to one of the most salient" ^[5]

Technical Aspects:

• The sources explain important concepts like "packing" and "cracking" - techniques used in gerrymandering that weren't mentioned in the original question ^[8]
• State-level reforms and state courts can address part of the problem but are unlikely to be comprehensive solutions everywhere ^[5]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains a fundamental conceptual error by referring to "presidential gerrymandering." The sources consistently discuss congressional and legislative redistricting, not presidential election manipulation through district drawing. Presidential elections use the Electoral College system based on state boundaries, which cannot be gerrymandered in the traditional sense.

The question's framing suggests gerrymandering directly affects presidential elections, when the sources indicate the primary impact is on House elections and state legislative races ^[5]. This mischaracterization could mislead readers about how gerrymandering actually functions in the American electoral system.

Additionally, the question lacks acknowledgment that gerrymandering is a bipartisan practice, with both parties engaging in redistricting manipulation when they control state governments, as evidenced by examples from both Republican-controlled states like Texas and Florida, and Democratic-controlled states like Illinois ^{[1] [5] [6]}.