High Profile Democratic Strategist Slams Party Over Gerrymandering Double Standard

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Democratic lawmakers from Texas have fled to other states to block a redistricting plan expected to boost Republican seats. But critics, including a high-profile Democrat strategist, argue their party has long engaged in the same tactics they now condemn.

Key Facts:

  • Texas Democrats left the state to avoid voting on a GOP-led redistricting plan.
  • The plan would add more Republican seats due to Texas’ population growth.
  • Democratic strategist Julian Epstein said blue states like Massachusetts, Illinois, and California have gerrymandered Republicans out of power.
  • Republican Rep. Brian Harrison accused Democrats of “total hypocrisy” and “faux outrage.”
  • California Gov. Gavin Newsom pledged to counter Texas’ plan with his own district changes.

The Rest of The Story:

Texas Republicans argue their new congressional map reflects population changes revealed in the most recent census, which showed significant growth—especially among voters likely to favor the GOP. The proposal could give Republicans more seats in Congress.

In protest, Democratic legislators fled Texas, traveling to states like Illinois and New York, where they were greeted by supportive governors.

These governors promised to pursue their own partisan district changes as a form of retaliation.

Democratic strategist Julian Epstein criticized his own party, pointing out that many blue states have already eliminated Republican representation through district maps.

“The Democrats don’t have clean hands here,” he told Fox News, noting that states such as Massachusetts and New Jersey have drawn maps heavily skewed against Republicans.

Rep. Brian Harrison said Democrats have been gerrymandering for years and only object now because Republican-led states are doing the same. He cited states where Republicans have no representation at all despite strong GOP voter bases.

Commentary:

The outrage from Texas Democrats rings hollow when compared to their party’s long record of manipulating district lines in blue states. For years, Democratic-controlled legislatures have carved districts into bizarre shapes to protect their power, often leaving Republican voters with no meaningful representation.

Now that Texas is taking steps to align congressional districts with its shifting population—a population that has grown more Republican in recent years—Democrats are resorting to the same obstructionist tactics they often accuse the GOP of using.

By fleeing the state, they are avoiding a vote rather than defending their position through the democratic process.

Even some Democrats, like Julian Epstein, admit their party’s hypocrisy. Blue states such as Massachusetts, New Mexico, and California have effectively wiped out GOP voices through aggressive gerrymandering.

This is not a defense of the practice in any state—it’s an acknowledgment that both parties have engaged in it.

The key difference in Texas is that the new map would reflect actual population trends. The state has seen a major influx of residents, many of whom lean Republican, yet Democrats want to preserve old boundaries that favor them politically.

Redistricting based on population is not just a political tool—it’s a constitutional requirement following the census.

These fleeing lawmakers claim moral high ground while engaging in a stunt that undermines the democratic process they claim to protect. Their absence prevents debate, blocks legislative function, and sets a precedent that political theater is preferable to governance.

The Bottom Line:

Texas’ redistricting battle is less about fairness and more about political power. Democrats fleeing the state to block the vote are engaging in the same gamesmanship they condemn in others.

The state’s growing population—and its political lean—justifies updating district lines to reflect reality. In this fight, the claims of moral superiority from these lawmakers don’t match their own record.

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