Fact check: Which states have the most gerrymandered congressional districts?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, several states consistently emerge as having the most severely gerrymandered congressional districts:

Most Frequently Cited States:

• Texas and Florida are identified as having the worst examples of gerrymandering ^{[1] [2]}
• North Carolina appears repeatedly across multiple sources as one of the most gerrymandered states ^{[3] [4] [2]}
• Illinois is consistently mentioned for its gerrymandering practices ^{[3] [4] [1]}
• Ohio is identified among the worst gerrymandered states ^{[3] [4]}

Additional Severely Gerrymandered States:

The analyses reveal a comprehensive list of problematic states including Maryland, South Carolina, Wisconsin, New York, Nevada, Tennessee, Utah, and Indiana ^{[3] [4]}. Court cases indicate that Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Colorado have also been involved in gerrymandering disputes ^[5].

Partisan Impact:

The gerrymandering practices in these states give significant advantages to Republicans, particularly in Texas, Florida, and North Carolina, reshaping the political map and affecting the balance of power in Congress ^[2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several important contextual elements:

Temporal Context:

• The analyses reference gerrymandering issues relevant to the 2026 midterm elections and practices from the 2020s redistricting cycle ^{[3] [4]}
• Recent court cases are ongoing, including a Utah gerrymandering lawsuit with a ruling expected ^[6]

Bipartisan Nature:

While Republican gerrymandering is more frequently cited, both parties engage in the practice. Illinois serves as a prime example of Democratic gerrymandering ^{[3] [1]}, creating what sources describe as an "endless cycle of gerrymandering" ^[1].

Legal and Political Dynamics:

• President Trump and Governor Newsom have been directly involved in redistricting efforts in Texas and California respectively ^[7]
• The Supreme Court's rulings have weakened voting rights laws, making partisan gerrymandering easier to implement ^[8]
• Texas Democrats' walkout represents one potential strategy to combat gerrymandering ^[9]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself does not contain misinformation, as it simply asks for factual information about gerrymandered districts. However, the framing could lead to incomplete understanding:

Oversimplification Risk:

The question might imply that gerrymandering is easily quantifiable and rankable, when the analyses suggest it involves complex legal battles, varying methodologies, and ongoing court cases across multiple states ^{[5] [6]}.

Missing Systemic Context:

The question doesn't acknowledge that gerrymandering has become a systematic issue affecting the entire electoral process, with sources describing potential outcomes ranging from "a full-on arms race" to legislative efforts to address the problem ^[9].

Beneficiaries of Current System:

The analyses reveal that Republican leadership particularly benefits from the current gerrymandering landscape in key states like Texas, Florida, and North Carolina, while Democratic leadership benefits in states like Illinois, creating incentives for both parties to maintain the status quo rather than pursue comprehensive reform ^{[3] [1] [2]}.