How Republican efforts to redraw congressional maps ‘failed epically’

Republicans redrew congressional districts in 15 seats to improve their prospects, but after Democrats’ strong midterm showing they appear set to lose all but two of those seats. The results suggest the strategy backfired politically, with Republican losses in Texas, Florida and North Carolina, where they had hoped to gain as many as 10 seats combined.

Experts caution that the outcome does not mean gerrymandering had no effect: Democrats performed exceptionally well, and the new maps still benefited Republicans compared with fairer alternatives. In Texas, Republicans won 24 of 38 seats despite Democrats Gina Hinojosa and James Talarico each receiving more than half the statewide vote; the article says Republicans had previously held 25 seats and had sought up to five more through redistricting. In North Carolina, a map intended to add a Republican seat did not prevent Democrat Don Davis from winning re-election.