Fact check: What states have use redistricting to gerrymander seats over the last 20 years?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, multiple states have engaged in redistricting efforts that could be considered gerrymandering over recent years. The sources identify several key states involved in this process:

Primary states mentioned include:

• Texas - Republicans have been actively redrawing congressional maps ^{[1] [2]}
• California - Democrats are responding with their own redistricting efforts, with Governor Gavin Newsom leading a plan that could give Democrats five new seats through a November special election ^{[3] [4]}
• Indiana, Missouri, and Florida - All identified as states where parties could redraw congressional maps ^[1]

Additional states identified include:

• Ohio, New York, Illinois - Mentioned as states that may follow suit in redistricting efforts ^[2]
• Maryland - Listed among states where parties could redraw maps ^[1]

The sources indicate that each state has its own rules governing redistricting, making the process variable across different jurisdictions ^[2]. The redistricting efforts appear to be part of a broader "redistricting arms race" with both Republicans and Democrats engaging in strategic map redrawing ^[1].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several important contextual elements that the analyses reveal:

Recent political dynamics: The sources indicate that current redistricting efforts are occurring in response to pressure from President Donald Trump and represent a departure from traditional redistricting cycles that typically follow the census ^{[1] [5]}. Texas Republicans want to break the tradition of redistricting only after census or court rulings ^[5].

Partisan motivations: The analyses show this is not just historical gerrymandering but an active political battle between Republicans and Democrats, with California's efforts specifically designed to counter Trump's Texas gerrymander ^[4]. Governor Gavin Newsom is specifically named as leading California's redistricting charge ^[3].

Timing and process variations: The sources reveal that redistricting rules are vague and variable across states, and some states are considering special elections to approve new maps, such as California's proposed November special election ^{[5] [3] [4]}.

Beneficiaries of different narratives:

• Republican politicians and Trump benefit from portraying redistricting as necessary political strategy
• Democratic leaders like Gavin Newsom benefit from framing their efforts as defensive responses to Republican gerrymandering
• Both parties' fundraising apparatus benefits from the ongoing "redistricting arms race" narrative

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question appears relatively neutral but contains some limitations:

Temporal framing: The question asks about "the last 20 years," but the analyses focus primarily on recent and ongoing redistricting efforts rather than providing a comprehensive historical overview of the past two decades ^{[1] [2] [5]}.

Assumption of completed action: The question implies that redistricting has already occurred, when the sources indicate that many of these efforts are still in planning or proposal stages, with some requiring special elections for approval ^{[3] [4]}.

Lack of distinction between types: The question doesn't distinguish between routine post-census redistricting and the current extraordinary mid-cycle redistricting efforts that represent a break from traditional practices ^[5].

The question could benefit from acknowledging that this appears to be an active, ongoing political battle rather than a historical review, with specific named political figures driving current efforts in multiple states simultaneously.