Democrats desperately look for a redistricting edge in California, New York and Maryland - POLITICO

[In It to Win It]

4. Well, in this particular political moment, we find ourselves a little handcuffed. That's just the reality of it.

California and New York, our biggest states to combat GOP redistricting efforts, have their commissions, state constitutions and state courts that stand in the way. The commissions in Democratic states take their redistricting duties seriously. The courts in Democratic states tend to not be a rubber stamp to a zealous Democratic gerrymander. That is great governance, but those are handcuffs we've given ourselves against in the larger redistricting battle against Republicans.

On the GOP side, there is Texas, Ohio and Florida that have signaled they are either open to redistricting or will do it.

Texas has the most free rein of any of these states. Their state constitution doesn't have any rules against it and they don't have a redistricting commission. There are no hurdles to redistricting for them.

Ohio has hurdles on paper, but not in practice. If I recall correctly, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that Ohio's maps were unconstitutional so they have to redraw their maps, but that was when the court had 3 Democratic justices and a moderate Republican Chief Justice who was very strict about enforcing Ohio's anti-gerrymandering amendments creating a majority. Those justices aren't there anymore as 2 of the 3 Democratic justices lost their elections, and the one moderate retired. After the 2024 elections, that court went from a 4-3 to 6-1 Republican majority. Also, Ohio has a redistricting commission that happens to be filled with Republicans.

Florida also has hurdles on paper, but not in practice. Florida has anti-gerrymandering amendments but so far no one with the power to enforce these amendments has shown any interest in actually enforcing them.