Over the last few months, you’ve probably heard more about fair maps and redistricting than you have in years. 

Redistricting usually happens once every 10 years, after the Census Bureau releases new population numbers. Sometimes a court forces a state to redraw maps between cycles, but that rarely happens. 

Unless a president looks at bad polling and decides to rig the game. That’s exactly what’s happening in 2025. President Trump directed Texas officials to redraw their map to elect five more Republicans to Congress. 

Despite massive protests, Texas legislators obeyed his demand. Their action triggered an arms race among several states to redraw maps for partisan advantage. But as the nation’s leading anti-gerrymandering organization, Common Cause hasn’t stood on the sidelines. 

Here’s how we’re defending fair maps across the country: 

Texas – Texas started this entire fight. We couldn’t stop the gerrymandered map from passing, but we made sure the public knew who was behind it and how lawmakers sold out their constituents. That fight showed us this wouldn’t be a one-time event. We needed clear, consistent standards to guide our response. 

So, we created six fairness criteria that keep Common Cause at the forefront of redistricting reform. We failed Texas’ map under those criteria for ignoring public input, acting unilaterally, and serving no proportional purpose. 

California – In response to Texas, Governor Gavin Newsom led state legislators to draw a new map giving Democrats five additional seats — a direct, proportional response to Texas’s move. As a 50+ year nonpartisan organization, we would not cave now and simply rubber stamp any map. California still needed to meet all six of our criteria. 

By releasing our fairness criteria, we told California leaders: Common Cause will not stand by while anyone dismantles the gold standard of independent redistricting — the California Citizens Redistricting Commission. To meet our criteria, any state that redistricts must publicly endorse independent commissions, and support a national law banning gerrymandering for unfair partisan gain. 

Because Common Cause demanded accountability, we got it. The commission remains protected in the long run; the maps directly answer Texas’s changes, and voters had a say through a statewide vote. 

Missouri – Missouri became the third state to follow the President’s push for partisanship. We joined local allies who filibustered the measure and, when that failed, organized a ballot campaign to repeal the map. 

Missouri legislators ignored public input, supported President Trump’s attempts to gerrymander his way out of accountability in the midterm elections, and failed our fairness criteria. We continue to oppose this unfair map. 

Bắc Carolina – Common Cause was already fighting unfair maps in court when legislators again followed the President’s lead and adopted a map that gave Republicans one more seat. We fought hard to defeat this effort during the legislative debate. When a new map passed, we added a new claim to our ongoing lawsuit that challenges this map as well.  

Virginia – Responding to North Carolina and Missouri, Virginia entered the mid-decade redistricting fight. Lawmakers voted to send a referendum to the people on new maps, but it must now be approved in a second legislative session that will begin next year to actually be placed on the ballot for a statewide vote. The state hasn’t released the map yet, but we’ve already warned legislators: follow the Fairness Criteria, or we’ll oppose the plan. 

Tiểu bang Indiana – Thousands of Common Cause members delayed redistricting in Indiana by three months, even as the White House pushed for faster action. Governor Mike Braun tried to call a December special session, but legislators advanced the regular session instead. That victory gives us hope. More than 20,000 Hoosiers have said loud and clear: no mid-decade redistricting. Common Cause continues to lead that fight. 

Other States – Illinois, Maryland, Florida, and Kansas are also weighing mid-decade redistricting, and Common Cause is active in each one. In Kansas, we’re supporting partners who remind legislators that voters reject mid-decade maps. In Illinois Và Tiểu bang Maryland, we’re warning lawmakers: follow the Fairness Criteria, or face opposition. And in Florida, we’re stating plainly — mid-decade redistricting is a partisan act, and the Florida Constitution bans it. 

The fight for fair maps isn’t over — and Common Cause will keep leading it wherever and whenever it demands. 

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