After Texas, the state of Missouri was one more in which Republican politicians began a process to alter the drawings of US electoral districts to increase party chairs in the 2026 legislative elections.
The practice, known in the US as “gerrymandering”Or“ electoral manipulation ”, in free translation, has been gaining strength with the pressure of President Donald Trump. It requires republican states controlled states to alter electoral districts maps to increase the number of republicans in the country’s representatives.
Critics point out that strategy erodes US democracy. Professor of History at the University of Brown, United States, James N. Green, pondered Brazil agency that Trump fears losing the majority in Parliament in 2026.
“Historically, since 1938, the president always loses some chairs in the House in elections to the legislature between the presidential elections. He is afraid of losing control of the House. Most of him are only three Republican deputies. If he loses the House, he cannot start budget analysis without the support of Democrats,” he said.
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Texas
In late August, the state of Texas changed its districts, increasing by five the number of deputies for the country’s chamber. Texas Democratic Deputy Vince Perez said the change made the vote of a white person to have the same weight as the votes of five black people.
“Today, white Hispanic and texes represent about 40% of the population of our state. Equal in number. However, according to this proposed map, 26 of the 38 electoral districts – 70% of our delegation – will be controlled by districts of a white majority,” said the parliamentarian.
Professor James Green, who is also president of Washington Brazil Office (WBO), explained how electoral manipulation can be done.
“They can draw the district line [dividindo] The centers of cities, where there are a larger portion of black and black or other more liberal people, and extend this district to the field, putting the majority of Republicans, ”he said.
Unlike Brazil, where the election to the House is for the proportional model in the United States, it is district. To be elected, the candidate has to receive the majority of votes in a given district, and cannot, for example, receive votes from other districts in the same state.
As with each district there is a majority election between specific candidates, the minority of voters of a district does not elect representatives or has its votes considered in other districts.
Proposals for electoral manipulation through the borders of the districts then seek areas where most are favorable to a certain political view.
In the example used by Green, by drawing the district division line into a black and urban majority area, redesign divides this population into two different districts, where it becomes a minority in front of white and rural populations that were included in the same area, even being distant.
“The American system is not at all democratic. The Brazilian system is more democratic. And the American discourse of greatest democracy is boring chat,” said Professor Green.
Missouri
This Thursday (5), the Missouri Parliament began the analysis of the review of the electoral districts. There is an expectation that the vote will be completed next week. Governor Mike Kehoe commented that the change aims to prioritize the “conservative” values of the state.
“The conservative and common sense values of Missouri must be truly represented at all levels of government, and the Missouri map offers just that,” said the Republican governor.
The initiative was celebrated by President Trump on a social network, calling the state deputies to approve the map proposed by the governor.
“The much fairer and more enhanced congress map will give the incredible Missouri people the tremendous opportunity to elect another Republican,” said Trump.
California
On the other hand, California, controlled by Democrats, promised to redesign its districts to nullify the advantage gained in Texas. “Let’s fight fire with fire,” said California governor Gavin Newsom.
However, California has more rigid laws to alter the electoral maps, and change needs to be referendum, scheduled to take place in November.
Professor James N. Green explained that the review of electoral districts usually occurs after the population’s census every 10 years, and should follow objective criteria for demographic change.
“However, throughout history, there have been cases where governors with a majority in a certain state have changed the districts, to favor the party in power. This practice began to be denounced as non -democratic. Some states have created independent committees to make these redesign. In other states, these changes are up to the state assembly,” he added.
Trump’s pressure to redesign electoral districts made the discussion reach the republican states of Indiana, Florida and Ohio.
The Democratic States Illinois, New York and Maryland also consider changing the limits of electoral districts to counteract changes in republican states.
