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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Sam Levine in New York

Democrats are fighting fire with fire over redistricting – but will democracy burn?

empty desk in texas legislature
Desks lie empty as the Texas house fails to reach a quorum on 5 August after Democrats left the state to prevent redistricting. Photograph: Bob Daemmrich/Zuma/Shutterstock

The mid-decade redistricting war looming between Republicans and Democrats is exposing an idea that’s corroding American democracy – voters may not matter that much in determining who controls the US House.

After Texas Republicans unveiled a Donald Trump-fueled plan to pick up five additional US House seats last month, the California governor, Gavin Newsom, unveiled a plan on Thursday to throw out districts drawn by an independent commission and put in place new ones that would add five Democratic seats in response. Republicans are also expected to push ahead with plans to redraw maps in Ohio, Missouri, Florida and possibly Indiana, in their favor.

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