JD Vance’s Gerrymandering Outburst Backfires as Critics Blast Texas Map Manipulation

Vice President JD Vance is under fire after making a bold claim about California’s congressional map, but critics quickly turned the spotlight on Texas—where gerrymandering is drawing national concern.

On Wednesday, Vance took to X (formerly Twitter) and called California’s redistricting “outrageous,” claiming the state gives Republicans just 17% of congressional seats despite winning around 40% of the vote. His comment, however, didn’t go over well online.

Social media users, political analysts, and even California Governor Gavin Newsom clapped back—pointing out that California’s maps are drawn by an independent citizen-led commission, while Texas lawmakers are actively redrawing maps to favor Republicans in the 2026 elections. Critics labeled Vance’s post as hypocritical and accused him of turning a blind eye to the real redistricting power plays happening in GOP-led states.

“Try again, dumb dumb,” Newsom posted in a fiery reply, attaching a graphic showing the “Most Gerrymandered States” in 2025. Unsurprisingly, California wasn’t on the list—but Texas was front and center, along with states like Ohio and North Carolina.

The backlash was swift and brutal. One user wrote, “Literally today, Texas is gerrymandering cities like Dallas and Houston—while you’re busy whining about California?” Another pointed out that Vance had never once criticized gerrymandering in his home state of Ohio.

Adding more heat, progressive political groups like The Lincoln Project chimed in, mocking Vance for what they called a “deliberate distraction tactic.”

Meanwhile, Texas Republicans are moving fast to approve their controversial new district map before the special session ends on August 19. The new map aims to help fulfill Donald Trump’s strategy to flip more seats red and tighten GOP control of the U.S. House.

Texas Democrats are planning disruptive actions, including storming out of sessions to block the vote, similar to prior efforts to slow conservative legislation.
Vance’s post ignited the American voting power struggle ahead of the 2026 midterms as political tensions rose.

Whether accidental or strategic, the vice president’s post has backfired, turning California’s map into a national flashpoint—and exposing Texas as the real redistricting battleground.