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How Texas’ Mid-Decade Redistricting Could Affect Voters in One Houston Community

Then-U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner addresses a crowd at Houston City Hall in October 2024. Turner died in March, and his 18th District congressional seat has been vacant since then, with a special election set for Nov. 4. The district is one of five Republicans have targeted in a mid-decade redistricting effort aimed at gaining an advantage in Congress.

Douglas Sweet Jr. for The Texas Tribune

How Texas’ Mid-Decade Redistricting Could Affect Voters in One Houston Community

Adrian Izaguirre grew up in Houston’s South Park neighborhood, a historically low-income community tucked between Interstates 610 and 45, south of downtown. He still calls that place home.

For years, he has seen his neighbors struggle to find affordable housing and access to quality education. On any given day, Izaguirre and other residents in the predominantly Latino and Black neighborhood would have a hard time quickly accessing a local hospital. There are few nearby.

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The Hidden Cause (and Higher Stakes) of the Gerrymandering Crisis

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks about the “Election Rigging Response Act” at a press conference at the Democracy Center, Japanese American National Museum on August 14, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Newsom spoke about a possible California referendum on redistricting to counter the legislative effort to add five Republican House seats in the state of Texas.

Getty Images, Mario Tama

The Hidden Cause (and Higher Stakes) of the Gerrymandering Crisis

The first shots in the gerrymandering wars have now been fired. Texas Republicans rammed a new gerrymandered map through the legislature, forcing police escorts on Democratic lawmakers until the power grab was complete. California Governor Gavin Newsom has fired back with his “Election Rigging Response Act”— a response that will, sadly, also involve rigging elections. The Act would sideline California’s Citizens Redistricting Commission until 2031 so Democrats can oust five Republicans from California’s congressional delegation as payback.

To be clear, the actions taken by Texas and California are not equal—one’s a brazen power grab, the other a response to that power grab. But it’s still deeply concerning that California could become the first state to backtrack from independent redistricting, just when increasing polarization makes these and other independent institutions even more essential.

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Meet the Faces of Democracy: Dave Bjerke

Dave Bjerke spends much of his (limited) free time with his family, as a combination swim team-soccer-marching band dad.

Issue One

Meet the Faces of Democracy: Dave Bjerke

More than 10,000 officials across the country run U.S. elections. This interview is part of a series highlighting the election heroes who are the faces of democracy.

Dave Bjerke, the nonpartisan Director of Elections and General Registrar of Voters in the City of Falls Church, VA, has been working in elections in Northern Virginia, just miles from the nation’s capital, for nearly 20 years.

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Gerrymandering, California, and a Fight the Democrats Can Only Lose

California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks about the “Election Rigging Response Act” at a press conference at the Democracy Center, Japanese American National Museum on August 14, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

Getty Images, Mario Tama

Gerrymandering, California, and a Fight the Democrats Can Only Lose

California Democrats are getting ready for a fight they can’t win. And taxpayers will foot the bill for the privilege.

Governor Gavin Newsom, backed by national party operatives, appears poised to put a statewide gerrymander on the ballot under the banner of “fighting Trump.” The plan? Overturn California’s Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, redraw congressional maps, and lock in party control well into the next decade.

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